Ticking sound from engine compartment?

[szh]

Hi, all.

On Friday, I had my 1995 Q45 valve cover gaskets replaced and all drive belts replaced, and ever since then, I am getting a curious fast ticking, clicking sound from the engine compartment. It is not very loud, but definitely present when listening from outside the car.

I have not isolated it yet and am not sure if it is rpm related (can't press the accelerator from outside the car). I am wondering what is/could be the cause? Could the new belts be making the sound? Could the gaskets have been improperly installed and the valves are being affected in some way? Most everything seems normal, although the car and steering seems to be vibrating a teensy bit more than usual also - this may be my imagination ...

thoughts? I am about to drive back to the dealer, but I wanted to be armed with possibilities.

Z

[911/Q45]

You can rev the engine from under the hood by pulling the throttle cable on the driver's side of the plenum. Don't get too carried away, as you're pretty vulnerable to anything the fan might kick up. Probably a good idea to take it back to the dealer and query them.

[szh]

You can rev the engine from under the hood by pulling the throttle cable on the driver's side of the plenum. Don't get too carried away, as you're pretty vulnerable to anything the fan might kick up. Probably a good idea to take it back to the dealer and query them.

Uh ... I am an idiot :dunce ! I did not think about looking for the throttle cable inside the engine compartment - just blindly assumed that fuel-injected systems did not make this accessible.

I'll look into it a bit more before I take it in to the dealer - trip was delayed till tomorrow anyway.

BTW, my engine compartment is looking very nice and clean! The dealer did an excellent job of making everything look pristine! Good Stuff.

Z

[greg_atlanta]

The injectors make a slight ticking noise. Maybe you didn't notice before??

[szh]

The injectors make a slight ticking noise. Maybe you didn't notice before??

I thought about that (not that it was the injectors, but that I did not notice before) and discarded that idea. It is definitely different than before, so something has changed.

Of course, I am hoping that this ticking is not a sign of injectors going "bad". Right now, my car budget could not take another major hit! Plus, the engine seems to be running normally (with the exception of the vibration that I seem to be noticing - but that may be my imagination).

Z

[malage]

Check that your throttle cables are secured. I had a similar problem, sounded like tappetts -- they disconnected and were rattling around upon acceleration. The cables are located at the front of the firewall more towards the passenger side.

[maxnix]

Gee, Z, maybe they did a reallly good job and cleaned the inside of the valve covers of some gunk. Did you see them when they came off? Wouldn't take much to attenuate the sound you can hear more clearly now if they are undampened by goop on the inside.

Just some speculation on my part. It might not be broken.

[szh]

Gee, Z, maybe they did a reallly good job and cleaned the inside of the valve covers of some gunk. Did you see them when they came off? Wouldn't take much to attenuate the sound you can hear more clearly now if they are undampened by goop on the inside.

Just some speculation on my part. It might not be broken.

Entirely possible! At least, I certainly hope so!

I will stop by the dealer tomorrow morning and get their engine guy to take a look (or "hear").

Z

[longrunQ]

that happened to me after I replaced my valve cover gaskets. I took it back to the guy and he found nothing. I took it to another technician and I was told it was my lifers, but that something might have got stuck and it could dislogde with time and go back to normal.

anyhow, the car sounds fine now till I get to 3000 then the rattling starts. I will check the throttle cable as malage suggested.