Ticking Sounds

[Walrus]

1998 Accent GL ...

After recently dumping a lot of money to get the automatic transmission rebuild (UGH!) the car seems to drive like new... so now I'm starting to nit-pick to ensure everything is in the best possible working order before I proceed to do any modding.

There are two small issues that I just want to get opinions on. The car seems to drive and perform as well as can be expected, so I'm all ready assuming these are normal...

1) I believe it's the PCV valve - it makes rather loud ticking sounds at times. Is this normal or a symptom of it sticking?

2) This one is slightly more subtle. If the car is in gear but I'm not giving it throttle there seems to be a very constant but quiet ticking sound. Not sure exactly where it's coming from but I'm pretty sure it's not the engine itself. It sounds more to the right of it and may even be something inside the transmission. If I put the car into neutral the sound goes away, the same as if I put just a slight amount of pressure on the throttle. I've noticed that if I unplug the idle switch the sound is eliminated as well. Any ideas as to what I could be hearing? It's more of an annoyance then anything - I hate the idea of something not working as it should.

Thanks!

[Walrus]

...or does anyone else notice this happening in their cars as well?

[Killco]

I would have to assume that one of those ticking sounds is simply the injectors working. I have noticed that Hyundai injectors are particularly loud (at least in my opinion). Here is an old-school trick you can try. When the car is running, hold a screwdriver with a long shaft tightly to your ear and then place the driver end on the engine in various areas where you think the sound is coming from. It will work like a poor-man's stethiscope. Start with the area around the injectors and see if that's it. If they are ticking, that's pretty normal. You will also get valve tick in small engines no matter what you do. If the ticking is not loud enough to hear with the hood closed then it's nothing to worry about (most of the time ). Next time you get gas fill the tank and get a bottle of Red Line fuel system cleaner and pour it in. If it's the injectors, PCV valve, or various other components of the fuel and emisions systems they should get quieter.

[Walrus]

Thanks for the reply


I get a slight amount of valve noise which is fine and I just dismiss. I considered the fuel injectors as a possibility but when I put my head close it doesn't seem to be coming from that area - more around the transaxle so I guess it must be something in there (I'll give the screwdriver trick a try). It's mostly only noticable when I'm in a drive thru - if I'm coasting forward in D, I can hear it but it will go away when I put some stress on the throttle. Even the slightest bit does it - N eliminates it too. Strange.

I'll check out the Red Line, it's worth a shot. Thanks!

[irishmanskeske]

screwdriver trick= awsome!! that always works so good man

[Walrus]

Seems to be coming from where the transmission meets the engine. Today I noticed it sounded like a chain rattling at times, along with the clicking.

[Walrus]

torque converter, maybe?

[^scythe^]

That would be my guess...
But i have no knowledge of auto transmissions as i have a manual...

OOOO i just remembered that i had a very loud ticking a little while ago (could hear it from inside the car and from outside when the hood was closed)...
Some of my belts were cracked (timing belt mainly)...
So when i took it into the dealer to get the belts replaced i told them that there was a ticking...
They checked it out and told me it was the speedo cable (was a bit loose or something), they tightened it or cable tied it somwhere...





Cheers
scythe