So now that I've got my car up and running again I've noticed a ticking sound coming from what seems to be the driver's side rear wheel area. It does it any time the motor is running, even while just sitting at idle. Nothing seems to change the sound such as revving it or driving it. It's just a constant rapid tick-tick-tick-tick that sounds kinda like a broken exhaust hanger or some sort of slight metal on metal contact.

I haven't been able to get a good fix on the exact location of the tick, but it's been driving me nuts... I'll upload a video clip tomorrow some time to give a better idea of what it sounds like. Any one else ever experience something like this?

 

could be a loose heat shield...i had the one under my fuel tank fall apart, sounded terrible...

 

I *think* there's some electronically-controlled emissions equipment in that area. Gas tank vent/purge stuff. Might be confusing it with a Nissan Maxima, though. If that's clicking on/off, that could be the sound. Slide under there and look up behind the LR wheel well, look for wires. Unplug anything you find briefly and see if the sound changes or goes away.

 

Ok, so I go outside to take the video, start up the car, and the ticking isn't there... But, after letting it idle for about 5 minutes to let it warm up a bit, lo and behold it has returned... Here's the video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opdTvTLj3gE

 

cant be an engine part.. if u increase rpm, the ticking should become faster.. so.. but... mechanical mystery...

 

wow, that's way different than i was expecting...sounds like a 2 stroke 250 at idle...lol

I honestly have never heard anything like that...and it does not change frequency with engine rpm?

 

That is a horrific sound almost like my tob

I am thinking it's the fuel pump, you had an issue with the bad fuel before (cause/effect) Maybe this is a warning sign of failure .... I think it makes sense anyway. There isn't much else in that area .

 

Doesn't change at all with RPM. And it didn't even start happening this morning until the car warmed up for a few minutes.

 

I had thoughts about the fuel pump. I'm probably gonna pull the bottom of the back seats off sometime today and listen directly at the pump to try and narrow it down...

The only other thing that is in that area is that black box thingy that's under there. Not sure what that thing is, but could be another possible source of the noise. I'll see if I can source some ramps to get the back end off the ground a bit so I can get a better look.

 

that black box under the seat, to my understanding, is the amp to the sound system.

 

It's a black box under the car, near the bumper, on the driver's side. I'll try to get a pic of it cuz it's difficult to describe...

 

I could look it up in the master manual but I'm lazy ATM I'll find it soon though , even if it's to late I'll still post lol

 

This box:

 

i was wondering what the frack that thing was when i did my exhaust...never bothered to investigate...

 

might be this thing, eh...