My engine is startin to make a clickin noise while idling. it idles fine. just clicks. me and my buds think it is the timmin belt. but idk. its a 2000 with 69k miles. v6 5spd. its probably a generale vehicle problem, but i wanted to see if it was unique to the ram, or if anyone else has had the same and fixed it.

-thanks

 

Does it sound like the lifter ticking?

 

The timing chain usually doesn't go that quick. I had just replaced mine and worn to about 1.5 in of slop at 227K, it wasn't making any noise and, when it does make noise- it's a slapping noise coupled with a rattling sound. If it's a sharp clicking sound- it may be electrical. It could be arcing at the ignition wires and you would not really feel any difference in engine idle (sometimes). I went through that years back. Same thing- I thought it was just at idle. When I when driving, I couldn't really hear it. But, one day, I was driving next to a concrete divider on the freeway and I had the window down and I could hear it clearly. I was going slow due to traffic and I could hear this loud TICK sound every so often. I had no idea what it was and for months, it was driving me nuts until I found out what it was.

It turned out to be crossfire from some cheap Napa 7MM ignition wires and, on my truck (96 Ram 5.2), there was an issue with the wiring design at the cap and block that made it much worse. One of the workarounds was to do this funky rewire at both cap and block or, just use heavier 8.5MM ignition wires. I did the rewire route initially, but, I didn't like doing that and finally bought some MSDs.

Now, this it NOT to say that it's not your timing chain but, that's one thing that will cause a semi-loud tick sound. The other person mentioned lifter tick but, is it a constant tick or sporadic?

Here's a test: get an ear on a tube or hose of decent length and sit in the cab where it's quiet. Have an assistant move the tube around. Start at the timing cover first and listen for the tick. Move it to the ignition wires and near each plug and at the cap. Finally, move it to the valve covers. Note where the tick is coming from.

 

thats what i say ?

How's the oil level?

 

dont the injectors make a clicking noise?

 

injectors give off a nice rythmic tic tic tic tic..........
go get a mechanics stethoscope and start checking everything in the engine. you can get one at harbor freight for 3$

 

i know my truck will make a loud tick, if i drive a short distance (under a mile) and shut it off, and repeat a few times, once it warms up during a longer drive though, it will disappear, i can always hear the injectors making a quiet tick

 

maroon, you just reminded me of something. the manifolds/headers heating up and cooling off give off a loud clicking noise.

 

yea, my whole exhaust makes noise as it cools back down, i cant hear it heat up though, due to how loud it is lol

 

I've never heard the exhaust system ticking while heating up, but it will tick while cooling down. Mine use to make a horrible ticking while it was cooling when it was new. Now after a few years, it's just a mild ticking when cooling. Lifters will make a continuous ticking if they are out of adjustment. Timing belts generally don't go out at such low mileage.