Ticking/Clicking sound speeds up with RPMs...?

phoenix6 · 06-30-2005, 04:28 AM

OK Back again. My GFs saturn SC1 95 standard is messing up again. We were chillin outside the movies and the car was idling. 15 mins later we hear this Ticking sound, she revs it just a lil in neutral and the ticking sound goes faster with higher RPMs. As the RPMs drop they hit like 250! The car almost died but stayed on. Anyone know whats going on??

Robert-sl2 · 06-30-2005, 09:59 PM

As for the drop in RPM, that is normal, saturns will drop to almost stalling if you snap the throttle to WOT then closed very very quickly for some reason, it's just what they do.

As far as the ticking, did you check the oil level? Other Fluids as well.

my99sl1 · 06-30-2005, 10:03 PM

sounds like it may be low on oil

if its not then it could get worse and may lead to a broken rod

phoenix6 · 06-30-2005, 10:24 PM

She said after she left the parkin lot it stopped doing it. Ill check her oil level tonight when I go over there.

jeffmeden · 06-30-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix6

She said after she left the parkin lot it stopped doing it. Ill check her oil level tonight when I go over there.

sounds like lifter tick, if its a nice sharp tick that is in time with the engine RPMs. check the oil level and make sure she is changing it every 3k or less (more if it's on pure synth). Its a perfectly normal thing for older cars to do, when one of the lifters gets insufficient oil flow to lash its distance from the valve and the cam. Changing the oil and keeping it well topped off helps to combat it. If it were more of a loud klank noise, that would be the spun bearing problem my99sl1 suggested.

ian12 · 07-01-2005, 12:35 AM

did you here this noise outside the car and was the hood up or down? if noise was pretty loud and more like knocking noise its either valvetrain parts or oil. if noise is a light tick tick tick and pretty rapid its more likely just your fuel injectors. fuel injectors can get pretty noisy and can mislead you to a bigger problem. start it up put a long screwdriver next to a fuel injector stick your ear on the plastic end of the screwdriver and listen to the injector to see if thats the noise.

phoenix6 · 07-01-2005, 05:21 AM

Its either Injectors or Lifters then. Well top off the oil tomorrow. The hood was down, I was standing in the doorway when the door was open and she was i nthe car. we heard it clearly.

scottyr94 · 07-01-2005, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix6

Its either Injectors or Lifters then. Well top off the oil tomorrow. The hood was down, I was standing in the doorway when the door was open and she was i nthe car. we heard it clearly.

Most likely the lifters. You must be sure you keep the oil topped at all times. Make it a habit to check it. I wouldn't do one of those 'I'll check it tomorrow' things, that is how you will end up with bigger problems down the road.