Metallic tapping sound from engine on startup
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
Metallic tapping sound from engine on startup
When I start my car I head a consistent metal tapping noise. After the car warms up or a short drive the noise is gone. I have attached a short clip of the noise. If anyone has an idea of what is cause this noise and if it is something to be concerned about please let me know.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
Sounds almost like a belt chirp/squeak. Are you sure it's metal? Try shooting some water on the belts when it's making this noise. If the noise goes away it means it's a belt. Also, valvetrain noises and lifter tick aren't uncommon in these engines. What's your oil pressure at startup when it's making this noise? If it goes away when warm I wouldn't worry about it.
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
I will take a closer look for exactly where the sound is coming from then. The water pump was replaced a few thousand miles ago so hopefully it is not that. And my oil pressure goes well past 40 psi during a cold start then sits right at 40 at idle.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 106
From: The Natures Coast/Caribbean
The LS 1 does tick sometimes, mine did the other day. Also my 2001 Z/28 also ticked, even more so than my Corvette, they’re know to tick or slap whatever. I found this in LS 1 Tech forum dated 2006, “ I bitched to GM so much about the tick, after the whole run around I finally got all new internals. Guess what, it still ticks. Granted its no where near as bad as before, but it does come back and it sounds like ****. Ive learned to accept it. As long as this thing keeps bitch smackin mustang GTs Im happy.“
I hope this eases you somewhat. Had mine since 06, if it ticks or slaps and runs, drive it and 😀 smile.
I hope this eases you somewhat. Had mine since 06, if it ticks or slaps and runs, drive it and 😀 smile.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
The LS 1 does tick sometimes, mine did the other day. Also my 2001 Z/28 also ticked, even more so than my Corvette, they’re know to tick or slap whatever. I found this in LS 1 Tech forum dated 2006, “ I bitched to GM so much about the tick, after the whole run around I finally got all new internals. Guess what, it still ticks. Granted its no where near as bad as before, but it does come back and it sounds like ****. Ive learned to accept it. As long as this thing keeps bitch smackin mustang GTs Im happy.“
I hope this eases you somewhat. Had mine since 06, if it ticks or slaps and runs, drive it and 😀 smile.
I hope this eases you somewhat. Had mine since 06, if it ticks or slaps and runs, drive it and 😀 smile.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
I haven't had issues with my Corvette, but my GTO is terrible for belt noise, especially after it sits for a long time (which it tends to do). My dad's 2002 Tahoe pinged something fierce when it was cold, but went away when warm. We confirmed it wasn't belts and stopped worrying about it from there since the oil pressure was always good and the oil always came out clean
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
In cold weather mine sounds like a diesel for the first few blocks. I worried about it when I bought it in 2007 with only 20K miles. Somewhere between then and the 150K miles now I stopped worrying about it.
