engine tick / click
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 371
Likes: 5
From: North West, Georgia
after reading this a few times.
My 02 PU has the similar tick. About 45 seconds and its gone..
However im about 99% sure its a warm up lifter tick.
Been that way for about 90k miles and no trouble so far.
Odd that lots have been in the 02 year .. diffrrent lot of lifters maybe
My 02 PU has the similar tick. About 45 seconds and its gone..
However im about 99% sure its a warm up lifter tick.
Been that way for about 90k miles and no trouble so far.
Odd that lots have been in the 02 year .. diffrrent lot of lifters maybe
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
I have a double o with 15K ,it has ticking during warm up but goes away in 60 sec. or so. I have a 67 with 80k and it has the ticking during cool weather starts but goes away as it warms up. I've had this Vet for 38 years and it still runs well... Im sure its a warm up lifter tick in both cars. My question is, what did GM do or not do to the c5 engine for this to happen at such low miles in so many cars?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 826
Likes: 52
From: Chicopee MA
Ok I have the noise that the dealer thinks is piston slap but I disagree with his findings.For one the tick noise starts after 2.5 mins. and last till about 6 mins.All the piston slap that I have seen occurs at initial start up.Second every thing I read was that 02's were the last year with the old style pistons.The dealer assured me my 03(even though it is an early 03 Aug 02)it had the newer style pistons.They are afraid of doing anything till we sit down with the factory rep.I have a complaint in with GM who's knows where this is going.By the way I just went out of warranty.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
My 2002 Z06 does it also. Ticks for the first 3 minutes after a cold start up and then gets quiet after some warm-up. It takes it about a full minute after startup to start ticking, so I don't think it's a lifter. If it was a lifter it would tick the second it was started.
WOW
That sounds just like mine!!! I have been thinking its the Morel lifters, but maybe its not. Sounds like all us 02's have similar sounds.
Has anyone with this problem pulled their lifters? For that matter, has anyone without this problem pulled their lifters? Mine were the fully encapsulated lifter, wondering if there is a common theme to this.
Last edited by vettenuts; Oct 28, 2006 at 07:47 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
Looks like this one has been beat to death. Throwing in my .02 anyway.
1. Piston Slap would / could occur if the pistons were forged. Forged pistons are set up with loose tolerances because they expand under heat. We don't have forged pistons. Chances are unlikely it's piston slap. Besides, if you've ever heard piston slap.. you'd know it. It usually isn't just one piston and therefore makes noises like marbles in a can.
2. Lifter tick is a product of chevy small blocks. Z06's probably don't have the tick at all since they use different lifters and roller rockers.
3. As for damaging your engine while the tick is present.. if it is a lifter that needs to be pumped up (typical) it means the valve is NOT opening therefore the piston can't hit it. Just poor running. Taking it easy is a good idea, but more because you could damage the push rod.
yes, mine has it too.
yes, I take it easy until the corner stop sign.
yes, I hate it and when I do a cam or something, I'll switch them out to a better set of aftermarket lifters.
1. Piston Slap would / could occur if the pistons were forged. Forged pistons are set up with loose tolerances because they expand under heat. We don't have forged pistons. Chances are unlikely it's piston slap. Besides, if you've ever heard piston slap.. you'd know it. It usually isn't just one piston and therefore makes noises like marbles in a can.
2. Lifter tick is a product of chevy small blocks. Z06's probably don't have the tick at all since they use different lifters and roller rockers.
3. As for damaging your engine while the tick is present.. if it is a lifter that needs to be pumped up (typical) it means the valve is NOT opening therefore the piston can't hit it. Just poor running. Taking it easy is a good idea, but more because you could damage the push rod.
yes, mine has it too.
yes, I take it easy until the corner stop sign.
yes, I hate it and when I do a cam or something, I'll switch them out to a better set of aftermarket lifters.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Originally Posted by Todd157k
Looks like this one has been beat to death. Throwing in my .02 anyway.
1. Piston Slap would / could occur if the pistons were forged. Forged pistons are set up with loose tolerances because they expand under heat. We don't have forged pistons. Chances are unlikely it's piston slap. Besides, if you've ever heard piston slap.. you'd know it. It usually isn't just one piston and therefore makes noises like marbles in a can.
2. Lifter tick is a product of chevy small blocks. Z06's probably don't have the tick at all since they use different lifters and roller rockers.
3. As for damaging your engine while the tick is present.. if it is a lifter that needs to be pumped up (typical) it means the valve is NOT opening therefore the piston can't hit it. Just poor running. Taking it easy is a good idea, but more because you could damage the push rod.
yes, mine has it too.
yes, I take it easy until the corner stop sign.
yes, I hate it and when I do a cam or something, I'll switch them out to a better set of aftermarket lifters.
1. Piston Slap would / could occur if the pistons were forged. Forged pistons are set up with loose tolerances because they expand under heat. We don't have forged pistons. Chances are unlikely it's piston slap. Besides, if you've ever heard piston slap.. you'd know it. It usually isn't just one piston and therefore makes noises like marbles in a can.
2. Lifter tick is a product of chevy small blocks. Z06's probably don't have the tick at all since they use different lifters and roller rockers.
3. As for damaging your engine while the tick is present.. if it is a lifter that needs to be pumped up (typical) it means the valve is NOT opening therefore the piston can't hit it. Just poor running. Taking it easy is a good idea, but more because you could damage the push rod.
yes, mine has it too.
yes, I take it easy until the corner stop sign.
yes, I hate it and when I do a cam or something, I'll switch them out to a better set of aftermarket lifters.
As for durability, the only thing I know is my Pontiac has had piston slap since I bought in new in 94, runs great today, gets 30 mpg and has 170K miles on it. If I don't get another 100K miles out of the Pontiac I will be disappointed.
Bottom line, not sure what the noise is as mine doesn't sound like piston slap, but it's awful fishy we all have the same noise and I am now running aftermarket Morel lifters, so not sure the lifters are the issue.
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
Originally Posted by Whiteonrice
Quite a difference in noise between a bad lifter and piston slap. The dealer would have to keep it overnight and start it when cold to hear piston slap. A bad lifter will usually make the noise when it loses oil pressure hot or cold. So when you first start the engine and the oil pressure is low you will hear the lifter. As you know the cam is turniing half the speed of the crank so the piston slap sound will be twice the speed of the lifter. Good luck dealing with these wonderful GM service and warranty types, I feel for you. BTW my 02 has piston slap. 
Rick
Rick
You sound quite knowledgable. My 92 L98 makes a tapping noise for about a block befor disappearing. In the summer it dosen't make any noise at all, but with the cooling temperature of fall it has returned on a cold start. I'm hoping it is as simple as oil flow to a lifter.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 251
Likes: 9
From: Franklin KY
I know this sounds stupid of me, but mine was doing the same (99 conv). Check the plugs and wires. One of my plugs was loose! Blew out yesterday! No damage, just a dumbass (me) that couldn't find that ticking noise! New plug fixed the noise!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 874
Likes: 0
From: Bonita CA
well, a lifter tick would be a much more slower tick sound than a piston slap sound at any RPM. Keep in mind that the cam spins at half the speed of the crank. If it is one piston that is slapping you should hear one at every revolution. If it is a single lifter, then you should have a knock once every two crank revolutions.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 2
From: Peoples Republik of Kalifornia Ka
Originally Posted by JR_VETTE
It could also be piston slap...especially since it does it when cold.
