just got a new to me 97 dakota slr and it seems to have a mechanical tick.when it starts , all quiet as it warms up a ticking starts up.cant tell if its timing chain,water pump or intake (plenum?).dont know which is more common on 3.9.any ideas or checks to verify which area is the culprit
thanks in advance.......

 

het pritch i have a 97 3.9sport. almost from day one it ticked. the dealer said it was cheap gas. fast forward 75,000 miles. due to a well known oil changing establishment, my engine was fried. had it rebuilt. within 1000 miles the tick came back. after many calls to dealers, garages, other 3.9s and online. they all tick. something with the lifters.

 

Yep my 3.9 ticks also you arent alone lol

 

get used to itt, my v6 ticks.. from what i understand its either comming from the valve train or the timing chain... either wayi called up a dealer about it and they said its fine, its just how these v6 magnums pur... with a hick up.. haha, mine has almost 57000 miles on it, was ticking the day i got it, nothing to worry about

 

Yeah, mine too. I've got 105,000 on mine and its done it as long as I can remember. Never had any problems w/ it so no need for concern. I do want to change to roller rockers and hope that will quit then.

 

my bro's 3.9 always ticked when it was first started. and my 5.2 does it also. but thats basically a 3.9 with 2 more cylanders. so its just got to be these engines. my brother suggested replacing the lifters with ones that oil better. or put some stp oil stabilizer in it. that stuff seems to help cause it keeps the oil up inside parts as it sits overnight

 

my 3.9 ticks too. well thats cause my sister was driving it for a week with the oil light on[:@] but now she has 175,000kms on her. she gets the used synthetic oil out of my 99 and it never misses a beat. I think my timing chain is starting to go though. but thats an easy fix.