When you hear any unusual noises coming from your car, you can’t ignore it. Instead, you need to act fast to sort the issue as quickly as possible.
If you hear a ticking noise in your car while you’re driving, there are a few reasons why it might be happening. So, to help you know what issues to look out for, our experts are here to explain where a ticking noise can be coming from and how to stop it, so you can drive safely.
Whatever brand of motor vehicle you own, we sell an extensive collection of car parts, helping you fix ticking noises, and any other issues, in no time.
Why Your Car is Making a Ticking Noise
1. Low engine oil pressure
Your engine oil is essential for keeping the mechanical components of your car running smoothly. Making sure oil levels stay at the right amount avoids any unnecessary friction or issues.
So if the oil pressure or the oil levels look low when you check them, this can be one of the reasons why you’re hearing a ticking noise in your car. Topping up your engine oil should stop the ticking noise, but if the ticking noise continues and your oil pressure still looks low, it could be down to an oil leak, or even a faulty oil pump.
If you do discover either of these issues, you need to get them fixed as soon as possible by a professional mechanic. Otherwise, they can cause irreversible damage to your car’s engine.
2. A worn timing belt
In our essential car maintenance checklist, we talk about the importance of keeping your car’s timing belts in good condition. Timing belts connect your crankshaft and camshaft together, and as they’re made from rubber, they can become very worn down over time.
The way to check if your timing belt is causing the ticking noise is to see if there’s any cracks or shredding in it. If the timing belt does look damaged, you need to get it replaced as soon as possible by a professional mechanic.
3. Worn down lifters
Lifters are the part of your car engine which control the opening and closing of the engine valves. But much like timing belts, lifters can succumb to wear and tear, as well as accumulate dirt in pushrod-style car engines, causing your vehicle to make a ticking noise.
If you do find that your lifters are worn, topping up or changing your oil levels should help. Otherwise, you’ll need to go to the garage and get the lifter replaced.
4. Misaligned spark plugs
Spark plugs that have moved, or become misaligned, can cause a ticking noise to come from your car. What the misalignment does is cause the exhaust gases to bypass, which means enter your car’s engine, resulting in a ticking noise.
Spark plugs can also give off a ticking noise when you’ve got a vehicle that has a very high-milage count. Usually, spark plugs need to be changed after every 100,000 miles, so if you’ve not replaced your spark plugs in a long time, this can be another reason for the ticking noise.
5. Worn-out drive pulleys
Drive pulleys help transfer energy around your car’s engine, and much like timing belts and spark plugs, over time they can become worn out. When this happens, you’ll hear a ticking noise as you’re accelerating.
Again, it’s advised to go to a mechanic or garage as soon as possible to have replacements fitted.
6. A damaged engine fan
Your engine fan may make a ticking noise if it’s damaged or has become loose. Sometimes, it can be that the nuts and bolts holding it in place need tightening to stop the ticking, but you may also find that the fan blades themselves are damaged. Installing a new fan should stop your car from making a ticking noise.
7. Rod knocking
A rod knock is arguably the most serious issue that needs resolving when you hear your car making a ticking noise. As we noted in our rundown of car engine parts, the connecting rod is what links your pistons to the crankshaft. This is done with bearings, which over time can experience damage and become worn down.
Once this happens, the connecting rod will come out of place and then move around, causing a ticking sound from your car’s engine; this will get quicker or slower depending on how fast you’re travelling.
It’s very hard to identify a rod knock yourself, so if you do think that your connecting rod has come out of place, you need to get your car checked straight away by a professional mechanic. If you don’t get it fixed soon enough, it can involve replacing the entire engine.
Other Reasons Your Car Makes a Ticking Noise
While a ticking noise coming from your car can be the sign of a fault, there’s several other reasons why you may hear a ticking noise, which aren’t immediate cause for concern:
- Cold starting engine – If you cold start your car, you may hear a ticking noise, but this should fade as your engine warms up
- The purge valve – this component releases stored gases, which are then burnt up in the engine’s intake system
- Fuel injectors – Your fuel injectors will omit a ticking noise when they’re opening and closing quickly while the car is idle. This is a sign they’re working correctly
If you do find that your car is making a ticking noise, there are plenty of ways you can solve the issue quickly. If you discover that your car has got a broken coil spring, you don’t need to worry either, as our expert guide goes through how to fix the problem.