Hi all,
Last week my wife started our Durango and it made a loud tapping sound.
I did a little research and found out it definitely is not the Hemi tick. although I do have that too, and never new what/why it started happening, now I know...i found a broken exhaust manifold bolt while dismantling the top of the motor.

I called a friend who knows a mechanic at a dodge dealership, his first words to my friend were broken manifold bolt. Nothing else, just broken manifold bolt...so I continued to research and saw a video of a dropped rocker arm(now I know that could not be it)
So I figured what could it hurt to look under the valve covers and see if I could see something obvious.

I am glad I did, not because I found the problem but because I found out that these engines are really well designed. Nothing like the older engines.

Anyway, after tearing into the top half of the motor, I have found nothing wrong. That does not mean one of the valve springs, or valves or something else is not messed up and I can't tell.

Can anyone give me some advice as to where to go from here? I already put everything back together temporarily because I was scared to forget where everything went and didn't want to leave it in pieces. Now that I have taken it apart once I think I could get back to where I was in 10 minutes.

I did notice water in the valleys under the intake manifold, which was very surprising to me, because it has not rained here in months and I have not washed it. There is an obvious water leak coming from above the engine between the windshield and the hood. The 3 cylinder back has corrosion and rusty bolts under the manifold on the drivers side.

Sorry for the jumping around...it's an ADHD thing.
Thanks in advance...

 

I had the same problem with mine, but only at speeds over 25 mph. The rubber gasket on the windshield had come loose and was tapping the glass. Dealer wanted $60 for the gasket, but I just pulled it out. No more tapping. This was after I had replaced one broken exhaust bolt.