When I drive my car (99Z28) at slower speeds or if I'm just idling I can hear a ticking sound coming from the drivers side of the engine. The tick increases when you accelerate, but it cannot be heard under heavy acceleration. Ive heard that piston slap goes away after the car is warm. Is this true in all cases? The car continues to tick after it is warm. Could I have any exhaust leak? Or could it be a bent rod. (I hope not). Or is the tick just normal and the sound is amplified because I have longtubes?

Thanks to anyone with any input!

 

sounds like an exhust leak, my GRand prix does that now, been like that ever since I put in a new cat, I need to redue the gaskets for it one of these days.

when did it start for you?

 

Last summer the ticking started. But this year after getting the car out of storage it is much louder! Maybe my header bolts are loose?

 

What kind of time are we talking in between the ticks? You sure it's not just the valve train ticking away? My ticks like a made dog if you go and look under the hood, but I cant hear it anywhere else. I'm positive it's just the valves and it normal. How loud is your ticking?

 

I can hear it ticking when Im in the drivers seat with the hood closed. Its pretty loud.

 

Ok well the ticking is your A.I.R. pump intake on the drivers side header. Basically the A.I.R. pump is recieving more air because of the headers so it makes a ticking noise. Theres a better explanation but I cant remember it. I have the same problem with my 98 Z after I got my long tubes. You need to get a restricter plate on the A.I.R. intake. You can make one they show you how on www.projecttransam.com, or you can buy one from www.paceperformance.com The Pace Parts one is better cause it comes with gaskets for $19.00.

 

Thanks everyone. Maddboost I'm gonna have to take your advice. Thanks again.

 

With headers mine ticks a lot. Thing runs strong, so I just turn up the radio, or get on it. The true duals drown out everything.

 

As soon as I read your symptoms, the first thing I did was check your sig to see if you had headers.


That's your best starting point.

 

I would definitly check to make sure that all your header bolts are tight first. If you check it now you can possibly tighten them up before it blows a hole in the gasket. Otherwise it is a bigger pain in the *** to have to pull all the bolts and change the gasket.

My money is on the bolts being loose.