I don't think ANYONE has this problem BUT ME!!

[ESPER]

hello! after driving my 95 s14 (86k miles), i notice the engine starts to sound like pop rocks, rice krispies and keeps ticking, upon further inspection, i found out that the ticking sound is coming from UNDERNEATH BOTH the driver's AND passenger's side!?!

is this where pinging occurs??( i always use 91 octane here the bay area cali)well i am going to check my timing this weekend!(In case thats the problem)i just line up the last mark with the timing pin right??

any suggestions??

thanks!!

[MikeS14240sx]

Are you talking about when the engine is running or after you turn it off. If you are talking about after you turn the engine off then the heat shields on the exhaust system are loose. If not check out the faq on 240sx.org for checking and changing timing.

[ESPER]

well its kinda both, but i notice if A LOT more after the engine is off!! thanks for the info!! where exactly are the heatshields so i can go tighten them up!!

[DAEDALUS]

Not necessarily loose...they're probably just fine. The pinging is from the stresses increasing and decreasing as the material grows and shrinks from the changing temps. Actually, the shields would ping less or not at all if they're loose, since the shields could move around, but then you would have a problem with them rattling. The heat shields are thin plates of shaped metal affixed between the exhaust system and the rest of the car.

[ESPER]

so it has to be the timing correct??

[DAEDALUS]

I don't think it's related to the timing at all. Any bottomside pinging (especially if the car isn't running) is most likely the heatshields.

[ESPER]

so what do i do to remedy the heat sheilds daedalus??

[ESPER]

do they need to be replaced??

[f8sjester]

from what i understand of what daedalus is talking about. . . it sounds like just the pinging of really hot metal as it cools down and contracts. . . it's a normal thing and not really anything you can do about it. . . just Physics in action

but if it's THAT annoying (and you can confirm it's the heatshields), just remove them . . . that might be rough cuz i think they're welded onto the stock exhaust pipes. . .

good luck

[ESPER]

well if u are correct f8sjester, then i guess its nothing to worry about, thanks guys!!

(but i will do my best confirm it IS the heatsheilds, i guess just by listening to make sure it is under the car right?)

thanks again guys!!