Jump to content

What is that ticking noise?????


Recommended Posts

My 89 Mj is ticking from under the hood. It does not tick when I first start it, but about 2-3miles down the road I start hearing tick, tick, tick. When I press the gas it gets faster, however, it doesn't do it if I pput it in neutral or park. Atleast if it does I can't hear it. Any ideas? Only thing I have done to it was the gauge swap, changed the sending units, and new air filter. As always; any help is appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is your speedometer "jumping"? Or jumpy, wiggly, wobbly at all on any speed?

 

My speedo cable was not fully engaged in the new gauge cluster and made the speedo click, or tap, generally made noise...up to about 45 mph. After that it smoothed out. There is about 1/4" wiggle room between the T-case connection and the cluster input.

 

Check it out! :wrench:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your losing power when the ticking starts I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts your exhaust manifold bolts are loose. Check the front top easy one first then try the one on the lower back of the manifold. You have to go up from the bottom to get to it. When its cold the gap is small when it heats up the gap gets larger. If you find any of them are loose go through and re tighten the bolts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If your losing power when the ticking starts I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts your exhaust manifold bolts are loose. Check the front top easy one first then try the one on the lower back of the manifold. You have to go up from the bottom to get to it. When its cold the gap is small when it heats up the gap gets larger. If you find any of them are loose go through and re tighten the bolts.

I started listening real close and if you reaved the engine it could be heard a llittle. So I tightened the bolts on the valve cover and it seemed to work for the time. I haven't tried the others yet, it got dark. I didn't drive it very far seeing how I found it when it was parked. I drive 15 miles to work so I'll see how it does in th a.m.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can make a poorboy's stethoscope with a piece of 1/2" PVC about 18" long. Move it from part to part and isolate the noise while the engine is running.

 

Don't stick it in the fan BTW.

 

wooden dowel works good too :wrench:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still Ticking!!!!

 

It doesn't sound like a lifter though. Honestly it sound like an exhaust leak, where it is I just don't understand where its coming from which seem to be close to the front. Not actually from the engine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you ever check your Manifold bolts? They vibrate Loose. Two of my bolts were hand tight. I had the same exact thing. When was cold no ticking, as soon as it heated up it started ticking. Try run a unlit propane torch around the manifold. If RPM's increase over a certain spot theres your problem. I'm still putting my money on loose or cracked manifold.

Also after it heats up, while idling try depressing your EGR valve all the way. Your motor Will bog way down if it does not die completely it will start to make your Popping ticking sound. Thats exhaust escaping from the gap between your Exhaust manifold and your block.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check you harmonic balancer. Mine did the same ticking a few years back. The rubber was coming apart and allowing the outer hub to rub on the front cover. With yours ticking in gear and not in neutral, the engine thrust bearings may be worn enough to allow enough end play of crank and allow the balancer to contact with front cover.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check you harmonic balancer. Mine did the same ticking a few years back. The rubber was coming apart and allowing the outer hub to rub on the front cover. With yours ticking in gear and not in neutral, the engine thrust bearings may be worn enough to allow enough end play of crank and allow the balancer to contact with front cover.

:huh???: Forgive me... Like I always say,"I am not a mechanic nor do I claim to be one." I have heard of a harmonic balancer, but what is it? where is it? and what does it do? Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you ever check your Manifold bolts? They vibrate Loose. Two of my bolts were hand tight. I had the same exact thing. When was cold no ticking, as soon as it heated up it started ticking. Try run a unlit propane torch around the manifold. If RPM's increase over a certain spot theres your problem. I'm still putting my money on loose or cracked manifold.

Also after it heats up, while idling try depressing your EGR valve all the way. Your motor Will bog way down if it does not die completely it will start to make your Popping ticking sound. Thats exhaust escaping from the gap between your Exhaust manifold and your block.

Bingo!!!!! :bowdown:

I think that will do it. I looked at all of them and the front 2 were real loose. The first one was so loose that the washer nut thing behind it could be wiggled. Sorry about the terminology. I started it (before after listening and listening you could hear it a little), drove it, and no ticking atleast major. What exactly causes the bolts to come loose? Any way to prevent it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it is vibration from the motor, 25 years of running will cause somethings to loosen up. It also probably has something to do with heating and cooling of the manifold and block. Things expand when they get hot and shrink when cool. This with road vibrations and motor movement will wiggle them right out. Maybe Lock tight? Did you check all of them all of them? Did you get at the ones on the bottom of the manifold? I had no ticking after tightening. It might have blown out your gasket. So you may not want to get them so tight you won't be able to get them back out. Maybe someone else can chime in with torque specs. I just went pretty tight. Checking them with every oil change wouldent hurt.

Wheres my doughnut? J/K.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe it is vibration from the motor, 25 years of running will cause somethings to loosen up. It also probably has something to do with heating and cooling of the manifold and block. Things expand when they get hot and shrink when cool. This with road vibrations and motor movement will wiggle them right out. Maybe Lock tight? Did you check all of them all of them? Did you get at the ones on the bottom of the manifold? I had no ticking after tightening. It might have blown out your gasket. So you may not want to get them so tight you won't be able to get them back out. Maybe someone else can chime in with torque specs. I just went pretty tight. Checking them with every oil change wouldent hurt.

Wheres my doughnut? J/K.

Anyidea on how many bolts there is on the manifold just so I'm not looking for something that isn't there?

Hey man, Thanks again. comanche.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's pretty obvious. Got a flashlight?

 

Start tightening them from the center bolts out to the ends with the engine cold.

Thanks genius!!!!! Just remember what's obvious to you may not be to me. I can tighten everyone I find, but if there was one that is hard to find I wanted to know about. He did say on one you have to go from the bottom up and to be perfectly honest there always seems to besomething behind or under something else. Again, like I stated in this post and others in the past, " I am in no way a mechanic nor do I claim to be one." Thanks for the advice everything is clear now or maybe it's obvious.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wasn't busting your chops. But I believe once you look at it, it will be obvious, even if you're not mechanically inclined.

 

This I do know: More Jeeps are actually fixed with tools and flashlights than with a keyboard and monitor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Little harsh there cruiser54...

 

The intake and header on 88 MHD share the same bolts to mount, so if you think your only tightening the header you're also tightening the intake which is good also, just don't over torque.

 

And try google to figure out how many bolts, bound to be someone out there to answer lol. If I knew I would tell you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...