I have a whooping 12 miles on the new gears, so still have a way to go before they are broken in. I have yet to try them out on the highway. Well, that's the gear update. Now that I have at least talked about a Ram in this thread, I can go to something a little off Ram topic if you all don't mind.

I have a clicking noise on this new little car ('95 Suzuki Swift) I bought. It's very odd, and just wanted to see if you guys have any ideas because I know there are some smart mechanics on here. The car has a 1.3L 4 cyl. I beleive it is a SOHC. When I start the car after it has been sitting over night, it will click, coming from under the valve cover area, but could be below that too (the engine is so small it's hard to tell for sure). It would go away after a couple of minutes if I let the car continue to run. This made me first think it was an oiling issue. I figured once the oil got warm, it started flowing better and oiled whatever it was that was clicking. I tried a lower viscocity oil to help with oil flow at startup, but nothing changed. Here's the weird part. If I start the car cold and hear it clicking, I can immediatly shut it off, having only let it run for 2 to 3 seconds is all. Then, I can start it immediatly back up, and there is no clicking noise at all. The car idles like a dream, and doesn't smoke at all. What could make a clicking noise when you first start it, but then go away if you just shut it off and start it back up again??

Thanks for any advice you guys might have.

 

definately sounds like oiling system to me. How many miles does it have. You may try putting some lucas oil stabilizer in it. What I'm thinking is happening is the oil is running down the motor too quickly and the valvetrain is not getting proper oil pressure at startup. Maybe the oil pump needs replaced.

Also how much oil pressure does it have at startup

 

I've seen similar problem caused by the oil filter. The anti drain back valve in the filter doesn't seal internally. Common problem with the Orange Fram filters.

 

FRAM SUCKS!!!!!!! When I was in high school, we took a grinder and cut up a bunch of types of oil filters, and let me say one thing, AMSOIL and WIX and the only thing I will buy

 

I'm running a AC Delco filter on it, but it would be easy to put on a different one to see if it changes.

You still think it's an oiling issue even though I can start it cold for just 2-3 seconds, and hear the noise, and then restart it and it's gone? I can't imagine much oiling is happening in that 2-3 seconds that it would go away the next time I turn the key.

There is no oil pressure gauge, but I will see what I can find out and check on the oil pump.

 

what i would do is either put some lucas oil stabilizer or i would rig up an oil pressure gauge, not nesecarily in the cab, you could just buy a cheap one at the auto parts store and put it where the sender for the light is, my bet at start up, you only have 5psi or so of oil pressure, and then once you rev it up, its going to 20-30psi

 

How loud is the ticking? I would guess sticky lifter, or ignition noise from a bad boot or arcing wire.

 

Sounds like a sticky lifter....try some engine oil flush, the GM stuff is apparently pretty good. The pour in, run for a few minutes, and drain. Sometimes helps lifters.

 

put some MMO in the go-cart and report back...

 

i thought about a lifter as well guys, but I don't think that car has lifters, I think its overhead cam. (I could be wrong though)