Clicking or Ticking sound

[marlon95]

from the motor i can hear some mysterious ticking or clicking sound if the motor is idling. it is not a regular clicking. makes me mad, because when i open the hood or go underneath, because of the irregularity, i can't pinpoint it. because i've worked with high voltage Short
Wave tranmitters, i can almost recognize this sound as arcing (spark plug wires?). but i'm not sure, because in the dark i don't see any flashing. the motor is running fine, accelaration and everything is OK. when driving i don't hear it anymore.
it's kind of embarrasing too, when idling in traffic, it can be heard (taks.........taks..taks), standing 12 foots from the car.
thanks guys.

[Crazy Canuk]

Do you notice any shaking with the car? An arcing wire will produce a missfire too.

I had a missfire and it did alot of clicking but there was always a slight (and sometimes extream) vibration with it.

Also does it still have the sound when the car gets warm? Everyday my car sounds like that for a min because the oil is still cold in it but it goes away if I let is sit for a min.

[97LT1Z28]

How many miles on the car?

Do you think it could be coming from something inside the timing cover? Something that loud could be the Crank Position Reluctor Wheel inside the Timing cover or the timing chain. Hopefully not . . . . .

When trying to pinpoint a noise or ticking sound, I always take a piece of hose (about 2 - 3 ft long) and hold one end against my ear. While the motor is running, I would pop the hood, aim the other end at different parts of the engine and use it like a stethoscope to pinpoint the noise - works like a champ.

[TraceZ]

You can also remove the belt and test run the motor without it. That will eliminate any noise from the accessories or belt.

[joe ws6]

im not sure our f-bodies have them, but on alot of my other cars the pvc check vavle will click.

[Joe K. 99 Zeee!!]

Don't get too hung up on mechanical/electrical. It could also be a leak at one of your exhaust manifolds...blown out gasket. I had one on my '96 and it sounded mechanical. I would describe it as a tick that gets faster and louder with RPMs. It also gets worse over time. Not a big deal, mainly annoying and if bad enough could throw your fuel to air ratio off as the O2 sensors in the exhaust don't pick up correct readings.

Also the LT1 cars are known for the ticking of their injectors. It's almost a tapping sound and that's normal.

[Joe 1320]

i can almost recognize this sound as arcing (spark plug wires?). but i'm not sure, because in the dark i don't see any flashing. the motor is running fine, accelaration and everything is OK. when driving i don't hear it anymore.
it's kind of embarrasing too, when idling in traffic, it can be heard (taks.........taks..taks), standing 12 foots from the car.
thanks guys.

If you suspect the wires/ignition, try the in the dark hood open test again. Only this time mist a little water from a spray bottle and see if it kicks off the problem.

Could also be an exhaust manifold or gasket leak. A crack in the manifold or leaking gasket at the head can make a sound that is almost identical.

[marlon95]

thanks you all for your help! i checked again (with a short piece of tube), and the sound is coming from underneath the motor,passenger side. after reading your posts, i think it seems it is not arcing.
The car runs fine, and has 28750 miles. (i know it's low, but i live on an island, so this car has never seen any freeway or highway). at the point where the sounds seems to come from, i don't see any light-arcing. it seems it is coming manifold-exhaust pipe. i can't stay too long below the car, because when the radiator-fans kick in, it is impossible to investigate any further.
i still have to do the test with the alternator belt taken off, maybe i can pinpoint it better.

[Joe 1320]

nd the sound is coming from underneath the motor,passenger side. after reading your posts, i think it seems it is not arcing. . it s eems it is coming manifold-exhaust pipe. .

I swear these cars are notorious for the passenger side manifold gasket to leak. My 87,93,94 and 97 all developed a passenger side exhaust leak.

[thenuge876]

My car did as well, and it could be that you aren't hearing it as much if it is just starting to devlop, have a buddy or something give it a little gas while your checking it with some tubing or something and see if the tick increases or gets louder, might help in diagnosis as well.

[96Camaro]

My car does it too. Although I think mine is an exhaust leak.