i broke a maifold bold on my 97 dakota (plowing) and hit never ticketd unless i was realy on the gas, had my plow on, or was pulling something..

 

Check the studs on the manifold at the y-pipe collector....mine rotted off last year and had to replaced them

 

if it sounds like it's under you, check exhaust. I'd think it would be constant though.....

 

you would think it would be constant.. but in my truck it realy wasnt.. it always liked to tick when i had a date in the other seat..

 

I drove around last night and did more testing. Bad news is that the clicking occurs EVERY time I stomp on the gas - whenever i hit 3,000 rpms the clicking happens...it does sound like it is underneath me, so you guys could be right about the gasket. I'll check the 'the studs on the manifold at the y-pipe collector' as suggested. Thanks guys for all this feedback, I really appreciate it.

-jeff

 

Def sounds more like an exhaust leak, which is why it gets worse under loads. Check the manifold and check all the way back, I'm betting its an exhaust issue.

 

well I just went under and at the Y-connector was a loose u-bracket (see attached image). I don't see where it was supposed to be hooked up to. I pulled it off, went for a quick drive, stomped on the gas and the clicking is gone!

It's so rusted it looks like it came off the Titanic lol. So what should I do now? Anything?

-jeff

 

Just make sure the y-pipe and catalytic converter pipe has a u-bolt.......might have been replaced and the old one mistakenly was left hanging.......

 

Is everything still tight underneath there, as far as the exhaust goes?

 

Using my 'Haynes Repair Manual', I followed the steps to inspect the exhaust system. It seems pretty tight (rusty, but tight). However I don't see a u-bolt for the y-connector or catalytic converter (and the manual does not show one either). The manual does show u-bolts by the pipe/muffler connection, which I have. Is there supposed to be u-bolts around the y-pipe/catalytic converter??? (if yes, I don't see where it bolts to at all)

-jeff