Non-engine ticking noise?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 22
Likes: 19
Non-engine ticking noise?
Hi everyone. I’m curious if anyone else has a very light sounding ticking noise coming from their car when they’re driving. It’s definitely not the engine, the noise only occurs when the car is actually moving. It does seem related to vehicle speed (the faster the car is moving the faster the tick is) but I haven’t been successful in correlating it to engine speed. When the ambient air temperature is cold, it’s far more pronounced and when it’s hot outside there’s no noise. It seems to stop entirely above ~70 degrees. Engine temperature and transmission temperature don’t seem to impact it at all. The best way I can describe the noise is that it sounds like small rocks are getting thrown up in the wheel wells but I’m certain that’s not what I’m hearing. If the windows are up you can’t hear the noise.
I’ve tried having the dealer diagnose it but after a few attempts they say they haven’t been able to reproduce. I’ve tried several times getting a video on my phone to pick the ticking noise up but it’s not loud enough.
I’ve tried having the dealer diagnose it but after a few attempts they say they haven’t been able to reproduce. I’ve tried several times getting a video on my phone to pick the ticking noise up but it’s not loud enough.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 22
Likes: 19
It’s hard to pin down front or back and left vs right. It may be underneath the car. I only hear it when the windows are down and it’s often an echo off of something that allows me to hear it clearly.
When I initially started hearing it, something stuck in the tire was my first thought. I’ve had it for two winters now though, so I’m confident that’s not the source.
When I initially started hearing it, something stuck in the tire was my first thought. I’ve had it for two winters now though, so I’m confident that’s not the source.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 433
From: FEMA Region 4
It’s hard to pin down front or back and left vs right. It may be underneath the car. I only hear it when the windows are down and it’s often an echo off of something that allows me to hear it clearly.
When I initially started hearing it, something stuck in the tire was my first thought. I’ve had it for two winters now though, so I’m confident that’s not the source.
When I initially started hearing it, something stuck in the tire was my first thought. I’ve had it for two winters now though, so I’m confident that’s not the source.
The door panel isn't hard to remove using a trim tool to pop connectors the and there are YouTube videos showing where the clips are located. I'd give this a try or take it to a car stereo shop.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 840
Likes: 749
From: Alexandria, VA
The reason I asked where it was coming from is my car make the exact same noise with the passenger window down. The noise was an intermittent fast clicking independent of speed that I initially thought was something stuck in the tire. It did this for months until I stumbled on a YouTube video by horsepower obsessed about a rattle coming from his door panel. The dealer couldn't find the noise and ordered a new door panel, but he fixed it while the panel was on order. It was a wire connector rattling and he was able to duplicate the noise by hitting it with his finger with the door panel removed. Mine was a similar speaker connector to the mid-bass driver in the door panel. There is a piece of felt tape applied to isolate the connector, but it was not attached in the right spot, so the connector rattled. I repositioned the tape on the connector and also wrapped it with some felt backed tape to further isolate it. I haven't heard the noise sense.
The door panel isn't hard to remove using a trim tool to pop connectors the and there are YouTube videos showing where the clips are located. I'd give this a try or take it to a car stereo shop.
The door panel isn't hard to remove using a trim tool to pop connectors the and there are YouTube videos showing where the clips are located. I'd give this a try or take it to a car stereo shop.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 129
Likes: 63
From: Louisiana
Hi everyone. I’m curious if anyone else has a very light sounding ticking noise coming from their car when they’re driving. It’s definitely not the engine, the noise only occurs when the car is actually moving. It does seem related to vehicle speed (the faster the car is moving the faster the tick is) but I haven’t been successful in correlating it to engine speed. When the ambient air temperature is cold, it’s far more pronounced and when it’s hot outside there’s no noise. It seems to stop entirely above ~70 degrees. Engine temperature and transmission temperature don’t seem to impact it at all. The best way I can describe the noise is that it sounds like small rocks are getting thrown up in the wheel wells but I’m certain that’s not what I’m hearing. If the windows are up you can’t hear the noise.
I’ve tried having the dealer diagnose it but after a few attempts they say they haven’t been able to reproduce. I’ve tried several times getting a video on my phone to pick the ticking noise up but it’s not loud enough.
I’ve tried having the dealer diagnose it but after a few attempts they say they haven’t been able to reproduce. I’ve tried several times getting a video on my phone to pick the ticking noise up but it’s not loud enough.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 433
From: FEMA Region 4
If you’re sure it’s tied to wheel rotation, I’d remove the front wheels and try the wheel click TSB that involves cleaning the rotor hats and lubing the pilot bushing. You could also swap the wheels from one side to another to see if the noise changes.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 22
Likes: 19
I did some research on this and found videos online. This is exactly the noise I’m hearing. You’re right about the cornering and sheer load too, I forgot to mention that in the original post. Thank you!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 433
From: FEMA Region 4
If you’re sure it’s tied to wheel rotation, I’d remove the front wheels and try the wheel click TSB that involves cleaning the rotor hats and lubing the pilot bushing. You could also swap the wheels from one side to another to see if the noise changes.
The rattling clip in my door panel only made the noise when the window was down. I believe air entering the door caused the clip to rattle. It sounded exactly like a rock stuck in the tread.
The rattling clip in my door panel only made the noise when the window was down. I believe air entering the door caused the clip to rattle. It sounded exactly like a rock stuck in the tread.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 129
Likes: 63
From: Louisiana
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,789
Likes: 2,415
From: DFW/Long Island
And sorry that it turned into a lemon law thing...