Noticed a slight ticking - could it be cam phasors?

[ponys197]

I noticed a slight ticking from the motor the other day. The car has 89K on it. Basic maint has been done on schedule.

I have seen where the cam phasors can cause this. Would it be prudent to just go ahead and replace them?

What is the best way to diagnose it potentially?

 

[Fyrestang]

Nooooooooooo. You'd just be wasting for your money. Ticking is common with these noisy motors

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[05gtowner]

Could be the VCT solenoids. Depending on what year the car is there has been several revisions on them.

 

[nbk13nw]

Followers could.be causing some noise as well. I have had a tick that comes and goes since 2006 on my 05. VCTS replaced and that certainly helped. But since I am hitting over 178k miles.now I plan on replacing the chain, guides and followers soon.

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[Sky Render]

Does the tick sound like it's coming from the top or the bottom of the motor?

 

[ponys197]

Sounds like from the top of the motor. Thinking like the VCT area

 

[Wild White Pony]

Phasers/VCT is more of a clacking sound, Lash adjuster/Cam followers tick.

It's easy to pull the valve cover and check both sides of your cylinder heads for wear on the Cam/followers/lash adjuster and take a quick look at the phaser checking the spring section is still aligned with the guide pins.

 

[BruceH]

FWIW the injectors make quite a racket too. By any chance did you just do a mod of some sort? I always hear more things after doing something. I think the noises were always there but I notice them more when paying attention because of something new.

IMO the best way to diagnose something going bad with the phasers is to datalog cam position and compare it with commanded retard.

You could pull the vct solenoids and clean/inspect the screens. Like mentioned above they have been known to clog up and cause issues.

 

[ponys197]

Okay. I will log it and see what it shows. I am not above pulling them and cleaning / replacing just for general maint.

The only mod I have done is put in an Axle Exchange 1 piece driveshaft so I don't think that is it.