Any car guys/gals in the house?

[unpopular]

My 04 Dodge Durango, V8 5.7L Hemi has a ticking noise. I figured it was a "hemi tick" or at worst, a lifter problem. Upon inspection I have come to the conclusion that it was broken exhaust bolts.

- The sound increases in frequency with engine speed
- The sound is nearly inaudible at the valve cover
- The sound is loudest under the car and near the front wheel wells
- The sound seems to be coming from the manifold heat shield area
- The ticking is loudest on the passenger side, which the muffler guy said most of the bolts are broken
- The sound seems modestly louder after driving a bit
- The sound is typically inaudible inside the cabin, unless next to a wall with the windows rolled down
- The sound is occasionally audible inside at around 2.3K, but only at load, never in park and is loudest when moving up hill

From this information, would you also conclude the issue is exhaust related, or should I still be concerned of a more pressing issue?

 

[Wizard1500]

If I thought it was exhaust bolts, I would try them, one at a time. I may be wrong, but I wouldn't think it would tick....but, I've driven diesels for years.....

 

[runnah]

Metal on metal ticking?

Could be that the bolts on the exhaust manifold have broken and the manifold is slightly slapping against the block creating the ticking noise.

Could also be an heat shield rattling around.

Is the ticking in sync with the cylinders firing? Meaning when the engine goes "chug-chug-chug" the noise goes "tick-tick-tick"?

 

[JohnnyWrench]

Can you see the bolts in question? If they were broken... wouldn't the heads be gone? Or could rust be keeping the hex heads in place while the length of the bolt is broken?

This seems like a question for a Dodge Forum.

 

[Braineack]

can post a video to youtube? exhaust leaks sound like what you describe.

 

[unpopular]

If I thought it was exhaust bolts, I would try them, one at a time. I may be wrong, but I wouldn't think it would tick....but, I've driven diesels for years.....

From what I gather, it is a common thing to confuse.

Is the ticking in sync with the cylinders firing? Meaning when the engine goes "chug-chug-chug" the noise goes "tick-tick-tick"?

Yes. In fact, I think that it is possible that within the cabin the ticking is over-powered by the "putting" sound of the exhaust. The exhaust is loud, but hemis are pretty loud engines, too.

Can you see the bolts in question? If they were broken... wouldn't the heads be gone? Or could rust be keeping the hex heads in place while the length of the bolt is broken?

This seems like a question for a Dodge Forum.

Cross posted

Driving around with broken exhaust header bolts is pretty common. Not sure how everything holds in place.

 

[Dave442]

Have you held a wooden rod (old broom handle) up against the areas in question with your ear to the other end? This can help isolate a sound.

I had a spun bearing one time that gave a clicking sound and that is best heard under the car near the front of the engine (in the case of the front crankshaft bearing being the culprit).

 

[tirediron]

It very definitely sounds exhaust related to me, and the fact that it doesn't seem to go away or reduce in intensity the longer you drive probably rules out a cracked manifold. If "most" of the manifold bolts are broken on one side, that is a pressing problem. Hide thee out with drill and tap (and your best tractor-starting words) to effect repair.

Edit: This: "The sound increases in frequency with engine speed" doesn't fit with the broken bolt theory however. Does it increase w/ engine RPM even when cold, or going from curb idle to say 1500RPM? When you lift the hood with the engine at operating temperature and idling, is there any indication of exhaust under the hood?

 

[Trever1t]

If you come to the conclusion that it's loose or broken bolts, why not fix it? Like Chevy, Hemis do have a tick, some louder than others.

I Drive a 2015 scat pack with a 392 I've only got 3500 miles and I have a little bit of a tick.

 

[unpopular]

Edit: This: "The sound increases in frequency with engine speed" doesn't fit with the broken bolt theory however. Does it increase w/ engine RPM even when cold, or going from curb idle to say 1500RPM? When you lift the hood with the engine at operating temperature and idling, is there any indication of exhaust under the hood?

The ticking sound is always present, but gets louder after it comes to temperature. When absolutely cold, it's noticeable, but quiet - so yes. If I put it in idle park, it will tick ... tick ... tick, and get faster with acceleration to about 2K, at which point it seems drowned out by the engine noise.

It doesn't seem to be loud enough to be heard in the cabin, except when the engine is warm and the is in drive. Never in park or going driving down hill.

I've revved the engine to 4K and have never heard the sound inside while parked, only sometimes while driving starting around 2.3K, which would suggest that it gets louder with acceleration when under load (does that make sense?).

I *know* that there are broken bolts. This has already been determined by a muffler specialist. I'm just concerned if something else, something more substantial, could be responsible for the tick.

But no. I have not noticed any fumes under the hood or in the cabin, however, the fan on this engine is always on, so it might be blown out away from the leak.

If you come to the conclusion that it's loose or broken bolts, why not fix it? Like Chevy, Hemis do have a tick, some louder than others.

I Drive a 2015 scat pack with a 392 I've only got 3500 miles and I have a little bit of a tick.

I am going to get the bolts fixed, And yeah, it could just be a hemi tick. Just reading online all the horror stories.... you know how people are, they only post about bad experiences.

I don't think it's a lifter issue, though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it doesn't make sense to me for it to be loudest underneath the vehicle. Unmistakable lifter problems also have a different quality, more like a poorly maintained sewing machine. Under the hood, it just sounds like a higher-milage engine - old, whirring bearings on the AC compressor and alternator pulleys, and some modest valve action and fuel injector sounds - nothing out of the ordinary.

I know that sound can travel in weird ways, but you really have to listen for it under the hood even after it's been driven around and is loudest, and even then it sounds more like it's from the bowels than the top. It also doesn't sound like it's coming from the front of the engine, either.

I'll use a vacuum tube to get a better idea tomorrow.

 

[tirediron]

How many miles & how long since you replaced your serpentine belt & idler (if applicable)?

 

[unpopular]

How many miles & how long since you replaced your serpentine belt & idler (if applicable)?

We just bought it with 143K. Pre-purchase inspection was clean, and we've had it at the dealer for a tuneup.

Neither reported any serious problems, but neither reported the broken bolts either. It had original plugs, and the plugs were reported in "good condition", no sign of damage, oil deposites, etc. We've put about 1000 miles on it, oil is clean on the stick, no signs of deposits. The crank case smells like clean oil, not burned up sludge. Clear exhaust at 4K. Judging by the pre-purchase inspection, it seems well taken care of, aside from a nasty permanent air filter that I just ended up replacing (it was stupid big, sat too low anyway) and being about 40K miles overdue for plugs.

I kind of understand the air filter, since when you get the oil changed they'll always say "you have a permanent filter that needs to be cleaned", and you drive off and forget about it. And the cost for a tuneup on this thing is like $200-300, so I get how that could be put off for a couple years, too.

But, they put in new brakes and refinished the drums recently. Interior and exterior is good, and there seems to have been a degree of pride of ownership. We are the third owner, according to Carfax.

Serpentine is in good shape. Idlers, IDK. I asked them to check when I had the tuneup done, but I didn't get any word back about that and forgot to ask. There is/was an occasional " bird chirp" that sounds like an idler, especially on cool mornings. We'll see if it comes back, but it was about 70 or 80 degrees when I had it in, so they probably didn't hear it.

I do notice some very slight variation in idle speed when the air conditioner is on, maybe 100-200 RPM. If the idle speed weren't as low as it is (500 RPM), I probably wouldn't even notice it.

 

[unpopular]

BTW - I would NOT classify this as a "chatter" sound. It's a distinct tick...tick...tick, not the clippyclickclippyclickclippyclick that you get in very ill-sounding engines.

 

[tirediron]

Gots AC?

 

[unpopular]

Yes. Works fine.