[C-Class]

Has anyone ever experienced this issue? At idle, I can hear a faint but distinct "clicking" sound coming from the passenger side of the engine. With the hood closed, I hear the noise coming from the pasenger-side front wheelwell. I hear this noise while the car is not moving. The frequency of the clicking increases with RPM. I do not hear this noise under acceleration (probably because it is so faint).

If anyone else has experienced this, have you addressed the issue with your dealer and, if so, what did they say?

 

[faster]

C-Class,

Sounds like a age-old lifter sticking. An oil change may help free it up. If you don't have more than 2-3K on it, take it to the dealer and get them to diagnose it. I have 1200mi on my C and never have heard that clicking.

 

[C-Class]

C-Class,

Sounds like a age-old lifter sticking. An oil change may help free it up. If you don't have more than 2-3K on it, take it to the dealer and get them to diagnose it. I have 1200mi on my C and never have heard that clicking.

I've been noticing the sound since my 2nd or 3rd oil change. I asked the dealer about it and they said they "couldn't hear it".

 

[C-Man]

Theres talk of this over at lxforums.com. Several over there have reported the same thing.

 

[vvv90]

It's the injectors.

It's normal.

 

[C-Class]

It's the injectors.

It's normal.

Thanks all...I read on the LX forum mention of using Mobil 1 to make the clicking go away too.

 

[vvv90]

Thanks all...I read on the LX forum mention of using Mobil 1 to make the clicking go away too.

No amount of oil is going to do anything about injector noise.

As far as the theory being the lifters? Considering they're rollerized, ramped cam profile I'll bet and hydraulic. I dought it's the valve train.

But let me ask you a qustion.

Is the ticking so faint that you actually need to be really close to the engine? and if so, is it a rapid ticking? It's not:

tick......tick......tick......tick......

But more.

tictictictictictictictictictic

But faint and pretty much goes away when accelerator is pressed (due to engine noise)

I still think it's just the normal operation of the solenoids in the injectors.

 

[C-Class]

Is the ticking so faint that you actually need to be really close to the engine? and if so, is it a rapid ticking?

Its more of a tick......tick......tick......tick......sound.

 

[vvv90]

Its more of a tick......tick......tick......tick......sound.

hmmm....

Try the oil....Like, right away.

Post the results.

 

[C-Class]

hmmm....

Try the oil....Like, right away.

Post the results.

I'll try to post a recording of the sound later this evening.

Since the issue has been going on for awhile, I don't know if an immediate change to synthetic oil is warranted. I only mentioned that I might try that solution with the assumption that the sound is "normal", not a problem. If your "right away" comment is meant to suggest that Mobil 1 may somehow limit the extent of some damage that has already been caused, then I would rather address that as a service issue with Chrysler.

I was hoping to find out if others are experiencing the issue too since my first pass at the dealer just got me blank stares and no resolution. When I (eventually) do switch to synthetic, it won't be to minimize an existing problem, it will be to prevent future ones.

 

[vvv90]

Yes definietely tell your dealer, but I thought you said you did and they did nothing about it?

 

[C-Class]

Yes definietely tell your dealer, but I thought you said you did and they did nothing about it?

I did, but before I do again I'd like to determine if this is normal or not. If others are experiencing the same thing, then I'd be more inclined to believe its normal.

 

[LeHEMI]

Same here... I've heard that noise from time to time for about a year now... Chrysler have been doing all my scheduled oil change every 2.5k mile.

Why a brand new engine lifters will make noises just because of oil brand or quality... It's behond me... and i use the recommended oil for the car !!!

Maybe chrysler engineers didn't spend much time refining that engine unlike MB.

 

[II kings 9:20]

Why can't the dealer ever hear anything? Put this on the list of reasons to use synthetic oil, hmmm. I think it's the valvetrain as well, let the dealer have another whack at it.

 

[Jamesw]

Find a new dealer, or when you go back to the same one take a hearing aid in with you. Maybe even a stethascope(SP?), for some reason dealers can never hear or feel anything.

 

[StarJack]

Mine did this once. I keep it in a garage which is the only reason I heard it, since it was a faint ticking. I thought of the valve train too and was concerned. I haven't noticed it again, but I've only put 1100 miles on the car. Let us know if an oil change helps!

 

[gbracer]

I also think it is the fuel injectors. Try driving the car near a wall with windows down, press the throttle and you will notice the sound will intensify. It almost sound like an exhaust leak. It sure as hell does not affect the performance of the car. There should be a way to quiet down the injectors. Dealer says its normal, all the cars do it.

 

[HEMI~C~]

I too have the tick from time to time and have been debating on going to the dealer for diagnosis. But to be honest I am paranoid about having some one rip into my engine until I can confirm what needs to be done.

It is distinctly different than the injectors which has a less metallic sound and a faster rythm. Mine started after the first few thousand miles and sounds similar to a stuck lifter on the passenger side but hard to tell. I have been running 5W20 fully synthetic since new. The sound comes and goes and is not consistent enough to be piston slap. I noticed it happens more often when it is cold than when it is fully warm. Often times if you rev the engine up a couple times it will go away, only to return later. Very odd, but interesting to hear many have ran into the same issue.

Chris
Waldorf MD

 

[john300k]

I believe what your hearing is not valve train or fuel injector noise, but an emission valve. You can really notice it at a drive up window or wall with the window down. I have the same sound in my Dodge 1500 van. It sounds like a tapping noise but it is not really a metallic sound. I heard this sound for years and one day while was working on it I reach down and put my hand on this valve and this was the culprit. It is a one way or a reed type valve. The van and my 300C both have roller lifters and if they were bad you would know it...it would sound like the hammers from hell!!!

 

[arnoldw]

I believe what your hearing is not valve train or fuel injector noise, but an emission valve. You can really notice it at a drive up window or wall with the window down. I have the same sound in my Dodge 1500 van. It sounds like a tapping noise but it is not really a metallic sound. I heard this sound for years and one day while was working on it I reach down and put my hand on this valve and this was the culprit. It is a one way or a reed type valve. The van and my 300C both have roller lifters and if they were bad you would know it...it would sound like the hammers from hell!!!

Had the same thing on a '93 Concorde....could have sworn it was a rocker arm, but it was some kind of emission valve near the passenger side valve cover. It was a few years ago but I think it only did it when idling in park. If I gave it some gas it went away.