ticking noise

[pistonmember]

Ive always noticed my clio 1.2 8v has a slight ticking noise on idle.

Its got a full service history and just 33,000 on the clock.

The ticking has suddenly got louder and i can hear it getting faster with revs increasing. I cant access a garage for a week due to work, is this something i should be concerned about?

[pistonmember]

My 1.2 8v

[ImpossiblyDaft]

Checked the oil level?

[98elise]

Sounds like a noisy tappet. If the oil level is ok then there is nothing to panic about.

[Dog Star]

A lot of cars make a ticking that appears to be from some kind of solenoid under the bonnet - something to do with the injection/pump.

[Barryboyni]

Wouldn't spend too much repairing it. Cheap as chips those engines, £100ish and around 3 hours to swap out. Could nearly do them with my eyes closed now.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Could be tappets, or other engine-related stuff....but he says it's getting noticeably louder, quite quickly.

I've had cars with noisy tappets, injectors, and other bits - but you generally can't hear them inside the car, and they don't usually suddenly get louder.


My internet diagnosis is - exhaust gasket, or exhaust header with a hole / split.

This kind of failure DOES quickly produce a very noticeable ticking noise, that you CAN usually hear inside the car.


Hope this helps!

[SV8Predator]

Dog Star said:

A lot of cars make a ticking that appears to be from some kind of solenoid under the bonnet - something to do with the injection/pump.

Good post...

[Dog Star]

SV8Predator said:

Dog Star said:

A lot of cars make a ticking that appears to be from some kind of solenoid under the bonnet - something to do with the injection/pump.

Good post...

Haha - fair point and I was about to say in response to Ray I'd forgot the bit about it getting louder. Don't forget a loose spark plug too, OP.

My "solenoid" comment was just because our current V70, my old SL and previous SLK all had a little valve/solenoid ticking away under the bonnet. I was actually trying to be helpful (and failing)

[pistonmember]

So hopefully it should be ok for a little while?

[pistonmember]

I dont know if its relevant but when i go over a speed bump something makes a noise under the car like its loose, like a clunk/squeek. All springs seem intact and when i push the car down on each corner theres no noise, just over speed bumps.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

pistonmember said:

So hopefully it should be ok for a little while?

Depends what it is matey!

Start the car and get your head under the bonnet in the daylight tomorrow. Spend time trying to work out where it's coming from.

If you think you can hear it coming from a particular engine part - then go and get a screwdriver, put the sharp end on the part, and stick the plastic end onto the outside of your ear. Works like a sort of stethoscope, and you can hear a noise even better - or move it around, poking lots of different parts, to nail down where it's coming from.

It if is the exhaust manifold, or exhaust manifold gasket, that's usually fairly obvious once you get your ear near it. It's a really loud ticking noise usually.

Then if you're careful (VERY careful not to touch anything!) then put your hand near each of the cylinder's exhaust outlets by the gasket - you will then probably be able to 'feel' the exhaust gas blowing out of the hole.