Ticking sound when gas pedal is pressed

[Goobersbro]

Okay just bought my 97 2.3 a week ago and so far have got it running great. Did plugs and wires, filters, fluids, tires, Ect....got rid of the check engine light and the abs light.


Down to one of the last two problems or maybe it's not a problem.

So when I press on the gas and rev the engine or accelerate I hear a ticking noise not sure how to describe it. Almost like an exhaust leak or sticky lifter. However it does not go with the engine rpm. The tic is consistent throughout the revs and only while on the gas pedal. If I rev it way up and then let off the gas, it immediately stops. I can almost cruise down the road and get it to go away if I just maintain throttle.

I had my wife get in the truck tonight and rev it and she could hear it in the cab but I couldn't not hear it under the vehicle or in the engine compartment. Definitely doesn't seem like a sticky lifter as I would hear that at idle and I would definitely hear that in the engine bay with the hood open. It also doesn't seem like an exhaust leak as while I was under the vehicle I didn't hear it. It's possible it's so loud in the engine compartment and under the vehicle it's drowning the tick sound out but not likely.

It almost sounds like it's coming from the left side of the vehicle at either the back of the engine or in the dash. It's super annoying at this point and about the only thing I hear lol. Any thoughts on this. Does this sound like a common problem?

Truck has 129000 miles and as said has had a major overhaul/ tune up done all I have left once I fix this damn tic is the dome light which seems to be caused by a sticking latch in one of the doors.

 

[Mark_88]

Almost sounds like a tachometer drive tick...if it goes away at steady pedal and you can't hear it otherwise outside of the cab...

I'm pretty sure that is all electronic since when I took out the instrument cluster on my 96 there were no cables attached...just wires.

But it could be something inside the cluster that drives the needle to the tach or even the speedo...they have to have some sort of drive gear inside unless you have a completely digital dash (which the 96 doesn't have).

Make sure the radio/stereo is off because I used to hear a static ticking noise through my stereo...mine that was caused by a faulty ground wire...maybe the previous owner hooked something up wrong.

 

[Goobersbro]

I don't have a tach on the truck. I can hear the sound with the stereo on or off same goes for heat/ac with the ac and radio both off I can hear the sound and with nothing on I can hear the sound.

My buddy thinks it's an exhaust leak and when my wife gets back with the truck we are going to go over it but I'm pretty confident in saying it's not an exhaust leak. If it was an exhaust leak wouldn't the ticking get faster or at least louder when the vehicle is revved and also wouldn't it be there at idle also?

 

[Goobersbro]

So we both now think it may be electrical or related.....it only ticks after a certain rpm after more investigation and it stays on you can rev it up at idle and slowly and then at a certain rpm the tick comes and continues as you rev up.

If comes consistently on around the same rev it's touch because I don't have a tach so it's my ear.

I am going to re confirm this but when I first tried to get the tick to happen it wouldn't and then when I turned on the headlights it immediately started then when I turned them back off it stayed so I am going to try it again and see if it's related.

My buddy thinks something electrical might be shorting out somewhere and that's what is making the ticking and it is doing it with the revs because the alternator is cranking out more power

 

[Mark_88]

Well, electrical is what I thought when you said it wasn't heard under the hood. Turning on the headlights could indicate a wonky relay since they use a relay...and if you've ever heard a relay tick then you'd probably recognize it as such, but the relays are usually under the hood...so maybe try it with the lights on and listen to the power box with the relays in it...I think it's right under the hood on the driver side...but they may have put some under the dash...actually, I recall someone posting recently about finding a relay box up under the dash near the center...can't remember what it was for.

 

[Goobersbro]

Well that doesn't work. This time the tick didn't come on when I turned the lights on. It took about one minute and then it came back at higher revs. Can't hear it in the engine bay neither could my buddy, also when I put my head under the dash I can't hear it only with my head by the steering wheel or cluster can I hear it. It sounds like it's coming from directly behind my speedometer. At this point I guess I will stop worrying about it if it's not negatively affecting anything and not throwing any codes. Just have to listen to the stereo a little louder.

 

[Goobersbro]

Well, electrical is what I thought when you said it wasn't heard under the hood. Turning on the headlights could indicate a wonky relay since they use a relay...and if you've ever heard a relay tick then you'd probably recognize it as such, but the relays are usually under the hood...so maybe try it with the lights on and listen to the power box with the relays in it...I think it's right under the hood on the driver side...but they may have put some under the dash...actually, I recall someone posting recently about finding a relay box up under the dash near the center...can't remember what it was for.

Yea I am an electrician by trade and definitely know the sound of a relay I put my head by the power box this last go around and heard nothing this is also why I put my head under the dash by the fuse panel inside yet I still didn't hear it. It is pretty faint but non the less annoying my buddy didn't hear it at first as he was thinking it would sound different but once I showed him via my fever the rhythm it was clicking too he could hear it.

 

[Mark_88]

Maybe your hearing is too good...lol~!

I turn the radio up when I hear a noise I don't like...all those horns and everything when I'm leading a bunch of idiots driving fast cars and they can't pass me...

Anyway, hope you find it...I know how annoying some noises can be...like rattles behind me from something loose in the back...or the rubber strap that kept tapping against my back window because I forget to tighten it down.

Which reminds me...I once had a noise that I couldn't find what it was. I thought it was my drive shaft rubbing on something or a wonky U-joint. Heard it when I took off and sometimes going around a corner. Looked everywhere...then I looked behind my seat and there it was...a metal thermos was rolling back and forth hitting the metal on my seatbelt...but at least it didn't cost me $100 to fix...

 

[Goobersbro]

Mainly just concerned as I just bought the truck and obviously it was used and beyond that I bought it knowing it had some issues most of which I have worked out. The body was clean as was the interior the rest of the issues I used as negotiation points.

So maybe it's a normal sound, maybe it's not not a normal sound but not that big of a deal. All I care about is that nothing is wrong lol

At this point I'm going to assume it's not a big deal and move onto the dome light then just drive the truck when I need it and be happy

 

[vstar650ca]

Get yourself a stethoscope from a auto parts store.I have had converter heat shields with a broken fastener cause such noises in the cab.

 

[Mark_88]

OH, yeah, heat shields...almost forgot about those things...one on my Tempo rattled like something was going to explode...good to check those for sure!

 

[Goobersbro]

Mother of God found it So after lots of annoying ticking and searching and searching and searching I could not find it. So today I went and purchased a stethoscope. Well after putting my stethoscope on damn near everything I still couldn't find the noise except for when I placed it on the driver side front fender, and on the battery.

Then after thinking about it I remembered this ticking sound started after I fixed the evap system. Well when I went through and replaced the evap system, I didn't like how the old evap solenoid was just floating so I strapped it to the bottom of the battery tray. Well.....when it would activate which was after the car was warm and then above a certain rpm it would transfer that opening and closing that the solenoid does onto the battery tray and then onto the fender thus making the non noticeable ticking sound quite loud and annoying.


So I went ahead and unstrapped it from the battery tray and instead strapped it to one of the power steering lines and ta duh noise is gone. Truck is now perfect did the last of the tune ups today minus a fuel filter and got the ticking noise fixed. Thanks guys for all the help and input much appreciated

 

[Mark_88]

Glad you figured it out...quite often I can backtrack a new issue by remembering what I recently did...lol...some of my fixes have resulted in similar annoying noises or side effects...and thanks for the update!