3S-GTE USDM Turbo Engine Need some help with a ticking noise

MR210 · 10-31-2009, 06:11 PM

I started my car yesterday after it had been sitting for 2 days and it had developed a loud ticking noise from the engine. It sounded like valves sticking so i went ahead and changed the oil (always had mobil1). This time it got mobil 1 80% and lucas 20%. The ticking was much much quieter after the change but it is still there.

I dont know too much about the internals on this engine (2nd gen).

I pulled 3 new CEL codes after the oil change did nothing:
21 - Dx Indicator (no clue about this one)
24 - Inhalation Temp Indicator (again not sure... possible sensor?)
31 - Inhalation pipe pressure meter

This car also has no o2 sensor hooked up and has a vacuum leak at the valve cover. I have a o2 sensor from innovate, but im not sure how to hook it up to the harness.

The car will get a new valve cover and gasket on tuesday and I wanted to see if any of the many people on this site with more knowledge than myself had any information that could help me out before then.

I appreciate any help!

mr2magic · 10-31-2009, 06:29 PM

Cracked or leaking manifold!

MR210 · 11-01-2009, 09:51 AM

So, cracked or leaking intake manifold? And why does it tick like a sticking valve?

This stuff is all new to me, thanks for that though, gonna go see what i can find.

mr2magic · 11-01-2009, 02:57 PM

Not Intake!! - Exhaust.

MR210 · 11-10-2009, 08:02 PM

I was working on changing some gaskets today along with my cracked valve cover when i noticed there is oil tracking from my turbo through to my intake. Would this have anything to do with the cracked valve cover or is there a turbo seal I should be replacing?

MR2BOY23 · 11-10-2009, 10:34 PM

This is interesting my car has all these symptoms, Ticking noise from the engine some oil around the valve cover possible exhaust leak hmm

jeffbeezy73 · 11-10-2009, 10:49 PM

Yep...sounds like the same thing to me. I took off the exhaust manifold and found that 3 of the bottom studs were stripped out! And by the black marks on the gasket ( tracks leading out the sides) there was def a leak. After retapping and hela coil it stopped. Put back on and it was fine. The looser it is the louder the tick will be.

c1jensen · 11-10-2009, 11:05 PM

Mine has the same ticking noise...the reason it's getting an Ebay header put on this weekend! That ticking drives me NUTS!

mr2magic · 11-11-2009, 04:55 AM

Ebay header!??? I would advise against this! But if you do decide to go this route make an expansion cut in the middle of the flange so it can expand without warping!

c1jensen · 11-11-2009, 09:04 AM

Well by eBay header, I just mean I bought one of the ones that MANY people have bought and had good luck with. I don't expect it last forever, but if it gets me to a point where I can afford some name brand headers, I'm happy!

mr2magic · 11-11-2009, 10:03 AM

Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising, merely pointing out that the stock mani is good for almost all power goals

Nevertheless: if you buy an Ebay header do yourself a favour and cut the flange.

MR210 · 11-11-2009, 01:43 PM

Is there a seal that would be typically responsible for oil coming out of the turbo, through the intercooler piping and into the intake? Or would that be because of the enormous vacuum leak caused by the small crack in the valve cover?

Is there a need to drop the engine or lower it at all to get to all of the exhaust manifold?

MR210 · 11-13-2009, 02:00 PM

Ok, so everyone i talked to including the people that MADE the turbo told me my turbo was fine. Apparently that ticking noise WAS my turbo and it decided to blow up last night...

Bak@EMSPowered · 11-13-2009, 03:50 PM

Let me know if you're up for a new turbo kit. We can set you up with something that will actually last this time and perform great as well.

10-31-2009, 06:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
MR210 Cage Fighter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 100 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Need some help with a ticking noise I started my car yesterday after it had been sitting for 2 days and it had developed a loud ticking noise from the engine. It sounded like valves sticking so i went ahead and changed the oil (always had mobil1). This time it got mobil 1 80% and lucas 20%. The ticking was much much quieter after the change but it is still there. I dont know too much about the internals on this engine (2nd gen). I pulled 3 new CEL codes after the oil change did nothing: 21 - Dx Indicator (no clue about this one) 24 - Inhalation Temp Indicator (again not sure... possible sensor?) 31 - Inhalation pipe pressure meter This car also has no o2 sensor hooked up and has a vacuum leak at the valve cover. I have a o2 sensor from innovate, but im not sure how to hook it up to the harness. The car will get a new valve cover and gasket on tuesday and I wanted to see if any of the many people on this site with more knowledge than myself had any information that could help me out before then. I appreciate any help!

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10-31-2009, 06:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr2magic deutsch type skillz Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hannover, Germany Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 107 Thanked 53 Times in 49 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Cracked or leaking manifold!

11-01-2009, 09:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
MR210 Cage Fighter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 100 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	So, cracked or leaking intake manifold? And why does it tick like a sticking valve? This stuff is all new to me, thanks for that though, gonna go see what i can find.

11-01-2009, 02:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
mr2magic deutsch type skillz Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hannover, Germany Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 107 Thanked 53 Times in 49 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Not Intake!! - Exhaust.

11-10-2009, 08:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
MR210 Cage Fighter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 100 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I was working on changing some gaskets today along with my cracked valve cover when i noticed there is oil tracking from my turbo through to my intake. Would this have anything to do with the cracked valve cover or is there a turbo seal I should be replacing?

11-10-2009, 10:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
MR2BOY23 Some Skills Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 64 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	This is interesting my car has all these symptoms, Ticking noise from the engine some oil around the valve cover possible exhaust leak hmm

11-10-2009, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
jeffbeezy73 vroooom!!,,piish Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 250 Thanks: 16 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (21/96% )	Yep...sounds like the same thing to me. I took off the exhaust manifold and found that 3 of the bottom studs were stripped out! And by the black marks on the gasket ( tracks leading out the sides) there was def a leak. After retapping and hela coil it stopped. Put back on and it was fine. The looser it is the louder the tick will be.

11-10-2009, 11:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
c1jensen No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bloomington/Normal, IL Posts: 35 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Mine has the same ticking noise...the reason it's getting an Ebay header put on this weekend! That ticking drives me NUTS!

11-11-2009, 04:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
mr2magic deutsch type skillz Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hannover, Germany Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 107 Thanked 53 Times in 49 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Ebay header!??? I would advise against this! But if you do decide to go this route make an expansion cut in the middle of the flange so it can expand without warping!

11-11-2009, 09:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
c1jensen No Skills Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bloomington/Normal, IL Posts: 35 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well by eBay header, I just mean I bought one of the ones that MANY people have bought and had good luck with. I don't expect it last forever, but if it gets me to a point where I can afford some name brand headers, I'm happy!

11-11-2009, 10:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
mr2magic deutsch type skillz Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hannover, Germany Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 107 Thanked 53 Times in 49 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising, merely pointing out that the stock mani is good for almost all power goals Nevertheless: if you buy an Ebay header do yourself a favour and cut the flange.

11-11-2009, 01:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
MR210 Cage Fighter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 100 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Is there a seal that would be typically responsible for oil coming out of the turbo, through the intercooler piping and into the intake? Or would that be because of the enormous vacuum leak caused by the small crack in the valve cover? Is there a need to drop the engine or lower it at all to get to all of the exhaust manifold?

11-13-2009, 02:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
MR210 Cage Fighter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio Posts: 100 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Ok, so everyone i talked to including the people that MADE the turbo told me my turbo was fine. Apparently that ticking noise WAS my turbo and it decided to blow up last night...

11-13-2009, 03:50 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bak@EMSPowered Banned Seller Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5,925 Thanks: 30 Thanked 193 Times in 165 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (49/93% )	Let me know if you're up for a new turbo kit. We can set you up with something that will actually last this time and perform great as well.