Help Identifying Ticking Sound
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
Help Identifying Ticking Sound
I had LGMotorsports install their street series headers/x-pipe on my base 03 C5, 49,000 miles, M6, no other mods. I picked it up Saturday, and after about 45 minutes of driving, it developed a "tick" that does not go away, very annoying. Tick was not there before. Now, my plan is to take it back to them when they open back up on Tuesday, but I have been wanting to drive the car as you can probably imagine until then. My question is, does this sound like a lifter noise or an exhaust leak? (I've had vehicles in the past that had rod knocks so I'm thinking it is not that, and I have the piston slap when cold, so I am familiar with that sound as well.) It starts shortly after start up and the sound is noticeably louder from underneath the vehicle, but I am not sure if that is because the ticking sound may be in the engine and resonating through the exhaust. I'll attempt to get my video uploaded so you can understand what I am experiencing. (Water is from AC running.)
video here:
I jacked the car up and checked everything, all was tight.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
video here:
I jacked the car up and checked everything, all was tight.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
I went back out about an hour ago, started it up in the dark (wanted to verify there wasn't a light show going on under the hood), and the noise is gone, for now. I let it run for about 10 minutes, no noise. I'm taking it for a drive in the morning to see if it comes back. We'll see.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,314
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
I went back out about an hour ago, started it up in the dark (wanted to verify there wasn't a light show going on under the hood), and the noise is gone, for now. I let it run for about 10 minutes, no noise. I'm taking it for a drive in the morning to see if it comes back. We'll see.
My suggestion would be to look for a loose bolt where the headers attach to the cylinder heads, and if they're snug, then check all the exhaust clamps underneath....and also make sure the 02 sensors are screwed in tight.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
Actual mechanical issues generally don't "cure" themselves. The only change to your car, I assume, is the header install, therefore whatever the problem is, should only be something related to that, unless somebody at the shop took your car for a test ride, after the install, and got a "little happy" with it, and damaged something. Hopefully, that's not it.
My suggestion would be to look for a loose bolt where the headers attach to the cylinder heads, and if they're snug, then check all the exhaust clamps underneath....and also make sure the 02 sensors are screwed in tight.
My suggestion would be to look for a loose bolt where the headers attach to the cylinder heads, and if they're snug, then check all the exhaust clamps underneath....and also make sure the 02 sensors are screwed in tight.
In the meantime, once it gets cooled down, I can't keep still so I'll get out there and check for loose components. I'm really looking at the front O2 sensors as well, sounds low under the car down in that area.
Thanks for everyone's help!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,314
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
By the time I got home and pulled in the garage, couldn't hear it. We'll see tomorrow. Taking it back over to LG and let them inspect it.
In the meantime, once it gets cooled down, I can't keep still so I'll get out there and check for loose components. I'm really looking at the front O2 sensors as well, sounds low under the car down in that area.
Thanks for everyone's help!
In the meantime, once it gets cooled down, I can't keep still so I'll get out there and check for loose components. I'm really looking at the front O2 sensors as well, sounds low under the car down in that area.
Thanks for everyone's help!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
Update on this... When I took it back to the shop to complete the dyno/tune, the sound was not there. Drive home from shop and in a couple days, sound was back but not as "loud". Took it back to shop yesterday and they checked the exhaust system for leaks, nothing found, and again, sound barely noticeable. Only I could hear it. On my way back home, I noticed when I drove down my alley the tick was loud but in driveway idling, ticking was not very noticeable.
Some of you probably already know where I'm headed with this... So, I get on the forum and search again and this time I find a member that had a similar problem, LOOSE SPARK PLUG! Found it, Tightened it up, no ticking sound. So relieved!
Some of you probably already know where I'm headed with this... So, I get on the forum and search again and this time I find a member that had a similar problem, LOOSE SPARK PLUG! Found it, Tightened it up, no ticking sound. So relieved!
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
From: MA
Header bolts are loosening up. If you read the instructions that LG put out you need to tighten up the header bolts after intitial installation. I did have to tighten the bolts after I drove it for a couple days. The locking bolts are a good addition.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 410
Likes: 3
From: Garland Texas
When I took it back to LG, they checked the header bolts and all of the exhaust fittings, all were good. I was surprised they didn't check the plugs/wires, etc. It is fixed for now, but I will definitely be checking the header bolts down the road, sooner the better. Thanks!