new guy with questions

[bigfatsnook]

Hey everybody! I just got a 96 XLT AWD V8 and love it! I've got a few questions so please bear with me. I have done some searches but to no avail. The car has a loud tick that occurs only after startup until the car is warm. You can't hear it at idle, only when accelerating. Wife says it sounds like a go-cart. My question is could this be an exhaust manifold issue? All the threads here talk about lifters, tensioners, oil additives, etc... The only reason I am saying this is that my old 95' Pathfinder made the exact same noise and Nissan issued a TSB regarding the manifold studs. Unfortunately with the Nissan it happened twice both covered under warranty.
I've got some suspension related questions too but I'll post them over there.
Let me know what you guys think. By the way, this is a great site----may need to set up a support group for the wives.

 

[jsdean]

unless it's REALLY loud, it's pretty normal. Check the oil level and make sure it's the correct weight when you change it. The key here is to get louder exhaust to cover up the ticking

 

[mikeresin]

hmmm you cant hear it at all when it is idleing? if you can hear it it might be the belt. does it go away at high speeds?

 

[bigfatsnook]

noise

I don't think its a belt. It does not go away at high speed until the motor is warm. The noise is kind of a tick, tick, tick. Almost sounds like a diesel. You notice it primarily when accelerating.

 

[mikeresin]

hmmmm.....
if its not a belt....
and goes away when engine warms up.....
*thinks*
not the water pump.......
*thinks what else makes ticking sound.....*
lifters? no then it wouldnt go away...
where does it sound like the noise is comeing from?

 

[bigfatsnook]

Tough to say really. My wife won't let me sit on the fender while she accelerates, seriously it sounds like its coming out of the drivers side. Like I said before my Pathfinder did the exact same thing and it was diagnosed by the dealer as a exhaust manifold/stud issue. My local mechanic had it showing up on his diagnostic has a fuel related issue but the nissan guys said it was the computer running the motor rich to compensate for a little less back pressure. You would think that a manifold leak would sound like, I dunno an exhaust leak not a tick. I just went out to listen to it again at idle, it is faint but it sounds low on the engine drivers side.
Thanks for the help.

 

[mikeresin]

ive never had a car that had a manifold leak but i would assume there would be a great deal of power loos if the manifold was leaking.

 

[mikeresin]

wait... exhuast or intake manifold?

 

[Robert]

I have heard of the exhaust manifold cracking on the V8 Explorers. That would cause a ticking sound until the metal warmed up enough to expand and close the gap.