Scary Sound, Need some Help...

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Srt10ram, Jan 20, 2013.

Car Parts
  1. Srt10ram

    Srt10ram Full Access Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
    What's up everybody. Yesterday I encountered a ticking noise coming from, what I think was the DS top part of the motor. I started early in the morning moved it down the driveway and no sound was there. Late in the afternoon I started it to take it for a drive, and this sound was there. It was loud enough to here inside the cab, so I got out and started looking around with it still idling. I found it was coming from the Driver-side half of the motor, probably in the valve-train. It almost sounded like a stuck valve. This might've been a dumb decision, but I rev'ed it up to about 2-2.5k rpm and the noise just disappeared. Let it idle awhile all the gauges looked fine (Oil Temp, A/F, Oil Press.), it was idling fine, and then took it out for a spin. Drove completely normal and no noises. The oil was changed less than 800 miles ago.

    The truck has 16k miles and hasn't had a problem, besides 2yrs. ago when I discovered a bolt in the oil pan @ 4500 miles. Long story short, I brought it in, and the mechanic(s) at dodge assumed it backed out from under-tightening. They ended up replacing the valve spring girdle on the driver side. Since that, nothing has gone wrong or any weird noises have popped up. Scared the shit out of me when I heard the noise, got me thinking maybe I should get another extended warranty cause the one I had expired last year.

    Has anyone had this happen or heard of this happening? Really clueless right now...

    If this sounds comes back I'll be sure to get a video and post it here.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2013
  2. fastestbrickonearth

    fastestbrickonearth Full Access Member

    Messages:
    3,040
    Likes Received:
    4
    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2009
    Location:
    vineland nj
    Pull of your valve covers see what you can see. Look for broken spring, bent rods, and if everything looks good do a leak down test. If you find one with a higher loss scope that cylinder. Hopefully its nothin big
     
  3. Srt10ram

    Srt10ram Full Access Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
    I'll probably end up doing that in the next few weeks. The truck is never driven anyway. I really don't see how anything major could be wrong with it. There's never been noises, no lose in power, etc. These Viper motors sure are fragile in stock form... It's really ashame they didn't come forged and built strong from the factory.
     
  4. Ironhead

    Ironhead Full Access Member

    Messages:
    11,306
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2008
    Location:
    h-town
    there are thin metal baffles in top of the valve covers that on one end sometimes come in contact with lifters .check that before you start to freak out ;)
     
  5. SrtBrad

    SrtBrad Michel Productions

    Messages:
    12,870
    Likes Received:
    7
    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2007
    Location:
    North from City of Angels (Lancaster}
    There have been several members with the same noise that you are describing. Most of the time it's a collapsed lifter under normal operation or a bent rod (rpm's too high). My guess its a bad lifter.
     
  6. VENOMOUS1 RACING

    VENOMOUS1 RACING Has Left the Room - Banned from VTCOA!

    Messages:
    12,751
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    May 15, 2009
    Location:
    Wacko Waco,TX
    What ironnugget meant to say was baffle screws can come loose or ROCKER ARM come loose and contact each other. Different metals and temp changes cause a stretch/shrink effect on parts. If clearance isn't sufficient, you'll hear it.
    Springs can and will break ! Especially on low mileage engines that are rarely driven. Springs hate staying in a compressed position for long periods!!
    Drive your trucks!!!:D
     
  7. Brat

    Brat Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    17,857
    Likes Received:
    10
    Joined:
    May 29, 2006
    Location:
    wesley chapel,fla.
    That's great advice.:rock:
     
  8. Srt10ram

    Srt10ram Full Access Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
    Alright but what I don't get is the sound went away just like that, within a matter of a second... If it was a bent rod or broken spring/lifter why would the sound just disappear?

    I'll be taking the valve cover off, probably next weekend, if it's a lifter/spring (something I can access without going further in the motor) I might install it myself. I really don't want to throw the timing off by having to uninstall/install parts, then have to reset the timing and the whole shebang. If it's something major the truck will just sit.
     
  9. Sammy11

    Sammy11 Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,677
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2008
    Location:
    Belgium
    what are "long" periods ?
    1 week , 1 month , 3 months...???:dontknow:
     
  10. ZCx

    ZCx Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    9,803
    Likes Received:
    19
    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2007
    Location:
    Big D
    how long did she sit before this????

    sounds like a lifter.

    if she drove fine, no miss or roughness, i would let her sit as long if not longer & try her again.

    the recent oil change is what is pointin to a lifter bleed down
     
  11. Srt10ram

    Srt10ram Full Access Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
    Actually not too long, I drove it to work last week for 2 days, which is the only 2 times I've driven it since the 1st week of December. It sat for about 5 days until yesterday. Like I said I started it up moved it ~20ft, it sat for 6 hrs. Started it up again and the noise was there...

    IF I can't see anything with the cover off, then I'll just drive it as little as possible. I'm not mechanically inclined enough to take out the lifters and push-rods and then reset the timing... I always planned on getting a 710 cam, with lifters, springs, and rods; and having it installed. So whenever I do that I'll find out what's really wrong.

    If anybody has a how-to, diagram, or instructions on removing/assembly of the valve-train please post it. Removing the VC should be a 30min. job. However, digging into the valve train I don't know about that.
     
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2013
  12. VENOMOUS1 RACING

    VENOMOUS1 RACING Has Left the Room - Banned from VTCOA!

    Messages:
    12,751
    Likes Received:
    2
    Joined:
    May 15, 2009
    Location:
    Wacko Waco,TX
    Start with removing that cover and doing a visual and feel all rockers. Look at bottom of cover and see if contact was made. You can remove rockers and check pushrods. No timing involved with that or lifter removal. A broken spring doesn't always make noise. ;)
     
  13. runningonvenom

    runningonvenom Full Access Member

    Messages:
    1,000
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2011
    Location:
    Everett wa
    Thats a good question what is a long periods
     
  14. Psycho Mythic

    Psycho Mythic Full Access Member

    Messages:
    3,268
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2009
    Location:
    Tifton, Georgia
  15. Srt10ram

    Srt10ram Full Access Member

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2008
  16. hawk02

    hawk02 Full Access Member

    Messages:
    3,112
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2012
    Mine is in storage and I go once a week to start it and let it get to operating temp, 10-15min, will this cause a problem by not actually driving it, I'm not taking it out in the snow and salt? Anything better I can do?? thanks
     
  17. SANCHOBA

    SANCHOBA TEXAS A&M DAD Supporting Member

    Messages:
    3,821
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    INGLESIDE,TX.
    i have left mine(in the garage) for a month at a time(without starting it) on a regular basis for years with no problem
     
  18. NSDQ

    NSDQ Full Access Member

    Messages:
    1,842
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Location:
    Clarksville, TN
    It seems to me like we all have totally different trucks. What I mean is some guys leave their trucks in storage and no problems, others hardly drive their trucks and yet have problems, some guys boost on stock internals and make pass after pass at the track no issues, some guys boost and blow the engine a week later. Hell I have 122k miles on original engine and transmission and havne't really had any issues. Each truck just seems to have its own personality.