Strange, Uneven Ticking Sound

[Mark Elvin]

The Bongo has started making an odd ticking noise.

It's going from under the car, it happens seamingly randomly. It happens for a few seconds then dissapears again.

Sometimes it's when cruising, sometimes under load, less often when decelerating.

It started after the car when lumpy at idle, sounded like it was running on two or three cylinders, that cleared after 30 seconds or so though and the car is otherwise behaving fine.

[Northern Bongolow]

this is sometimes heard when a filter is blocked or getting near to changing. ive also had this on poor quality fuel filters when the valve inside goes faulty.

maybe change the fuel /oil filter.

[Simon Jones]

Does the rate of ticking correspond with engine or road speed?

[Mark Elvin]

this is sometimes heard when a filter is blocked or getting near to changing. ive also had this on poor quality fuel filters when the valve inside goes faulty.

maybe change the fuel /oil filter.

That's quite possible as I'm on my second tank of 40% veg oil as it may be sludge from the fuel system.

[Mark Elvin]

Does the rate of ticking correspond with engine or road speed?

No, it appears to be unrelated

[Northern Bongolow]

we have 2 bongo.s and have had this in the past with cheap fuel filters. one has the occasional drink of veg the other has none, mahle fuel filters cured it.

[Mark Elvin]

Banjo filter cleaned, fuel filter replaced. No difference

I've isolated it to the left side of the engine, hoping it's not the turbo, but given that there's no loss of performance and that it's intermittent I'd think maybe not the turbo. But what else is there that side?

[Mark Elvin]

I should add that I've popped a finger down the turbo & given it a gentle spin, all smooth & free, no undue noises or roughness when spinning.

It's really puzzling, it drives 100% still, just sounds unpleasant.

[Mark Elvin]

Another piece of the puzzle for you. It appears to only make the noise when moving, it's a similar tick to when a CV joint goes, but we are 2wd

[Mark Elvin]

Carried out some more diagnosis......

I think it sounded like it was coming from the left of the car, but in reality probably wasn''t.

When the engine is idling there is not "ticking", it only occurs when moving, more often when there is load very occasionally on overrun & on cruise.

I've even tested it by holding on the handbrake & cycling through the auto box, no noise.

this leads me to think it MAY be one of the universal joints on the propshaft, anybody had one go?

[Simon Jones]

Warped brake disk, sticky caliper, something stuck in the tyre? Does the frequency of the noise coincide with rotational speed of the wheels? Have you tried jacking it up and giving the front wheels a spin and a wiggle to check for any looseness? Wheel nuts correct type for those new wheels and done up tight?

[Mark Elvin]

It's since done it a couple of times whilst stationary, here's the noise whilst driving & whilst stationary.

It's still intermittent however, sometimes it'll stop after a couple of "ticks" other times it'll carry on for 4-5secs.

[Simon Jones]

That is quite loud. As it happens while stationary, you can rule out anything drivetrain, suspension or brake related. It sounds a bit like a noisy tappet but it's not regular as you would expect. My advise would be to pop down to nearest Machine Mart and get yourself a stethoscope and use it to work your way around the engine from above and below to narrow it down to a particular area.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... tethoscope

Brilliant tool, but you scare yourself with the amount of rumbling, whiring and grinding you will hear.

[Mark Elvin]

That is quite loud. As it happens while stationary, you can rule out anything drivetrain, suspension or brake related. It sounds a bit like a noisy tappet but it's not regular as you would expect. My advise would be to pop down to nearest Machine Mart and get yourself a stethoscope and use it to work your way around the engine from above and below to narrow it down to a particular area.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... tethoscope

Brilliant tool, but you scare yourself with the amount of rumbling, whiring and grinding you will hear.

Actually ordered one last night!!!!

I'm not too worried about currently as it doesn't appear to be turbo related it drives the same as it has since I bought it. Would be nice to nail it down though, just for peace of mind.

Worst case scenario is it need an MOT after we are back from Tenerife in three weeks so I'll get ADS to look at it whilst being MOT'd.

[Northern Bongolow]

did you change the oil filter, it sounds like a filter to me.