Ticking - 1600 K Series

[chris_speed]

Hi chaps, could do with a bit of help.

Ticking sound coming from the front of the 7's engine yesterday morning that has been getting a bit worse in the last week that I've noticed it, then halfway home in the afternoon it got to the extent that I'm pretty sure it had a misfire and was well down on performance, though I've always had a crap arse-dyno. Certainly sounded a bit crap. Got home, checked plugs (all ok) tightened the bolts hanging the exhaust manifold on, as the sound seemed to be emanating from that side, and toward the front of the car/top end exhaust side and I think it's better. Ticking still there though, think it's quieter, and pretty sure there's no misfire now on the drive into work this morn. Still didn't quite seem to go quite right though.

Had a similar problem on my last car - was a cracked inlet manifold on the swan neck throttle bodies, so had an air leak but this is definitely coming from the exhaust side. Noise stops when you rev the car. Makes no difference whether it's hot or cold. Oil pressure is normal under all circumstances.

Any guesses people? Guys that quote ticking on Blatchat are nearly always people with hydraulic tappets. Mine's been converted to solid followers, so no chance of that.

Thanks

Edited by chris_speed on Tuesday 24th July 09:01

Edited by chris_speed on Tuesday 24th July 09:03

Edited by chris_speed on Tuesday 24th July 09:04

[one eyed mick]

Would imagine ex mani gasket is you prob it would take edge of perf and give a ttttttt noise ,you state mani fixers wre loose so gskt must be suspect

[Dave J]

could be a follower has collapsed, I had happen. the follower went concave with a bout 16thou clearance and a ticking noise.
easy to determine with the cam cover off and a feeler guage.

[chris_speed]

Cheer guys. No telltale black marks around gasket, I had a good look. Dave's guess sounds a good one. What are the risks of driving it home?

[Dave J]

how can anyone say without knowing what the clearance is and the distance from home ....

[BBL-Sean]

I read somewhere about a similar noise coming from a bent blade on an alternator fan.

[Incorrigible]

Check the crankshaft pulley bolt too

Online diagnosis is always going to be impossible but, if it's a regular ticking I would be suspecting something in the valve train which you're only going to be able to check with more work.

Next step is to take the front and top covers off and do some measuring

[chris_speed]

Cheers guys. My exhaust has been blowing a bit at the 4into1 section for a while now, so thinking that can't help matters, I used some gungum on it last night. The ticking is now louder, so that makes me suspect exhaust gasket, as the other poster said, which has got to the be the better news. I still can't (after many attempts ) get to the one bolt for the exhaust manifold, so am going to a friends to try and tighten that up tonight, as he's got more tools than me Many thanks for your posts guys, I'm sure you all know what it's like when the fear of a ££££ bill arrives.. My last one was only 2 months ago, hence the worry