Well i came home today and pulled into the driveway next to the garage. Echoing off the Garage was a ticking, tick, tick, tick, tick and so fourth. I thought strange! I never noticed this before... Well it sounded to me like a rocker out of adjustment so i popped the hood and nothing, the noise could barley be heard. So i bent over and man it is pronunced under the truck. tick, tick, tick. i got underneath and as far as i can tell ther is nothing loose. so i took the TC inspection cover off and looked in there. I rotated the engine and checked the tightness on the TC bolts and they were all tight. Is this a noise thats common and i have never noticed or is it something to look into. The tranny has about 9500 miles left on the warranty so if it is a prob i guess no biggie except i am to leave for Texas From Florida on Thursday, what a bummer! Any ideas???


Wayne

 

My guess, either an exhaust pin hole or a cracked flex plate, if the later, upgrade to a newer style flexplate, I believe 94+

 

just looked ofer the records, the flexplate was replaced in march when the tranny was done....

wayne

 

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed? If it has been a while, it's probably overdue. If I let mine go too long, the mechanical lift pump will tick a little, most noticable at idle.

Ed

 

Our 98' Dodge Cummins ticks at idle under the truck.

 

The early style flexplates, even when new, are barely up to the beating a Cummins can dish up. My '87 Ramcharger broke a new replacement flexplate with a tired old 250k 360! The 94-up is a lot tougher and it is pretty common for first genners with the auto trans to upgrade. Unfortunately, it's hard to determine if the plate is cracked without removing it

 

Well upon further investigation i come up with nothing so far. I dont think it is a cracked flexplate as it was just replaced but i am going to pull the tranny anyway. I hope its not it, i have to leave for TX in 2 days and no one in town has it, the flexplate that is. Also i can brake torque it holding the brake in drive and fueling it or in reverse and fueling it and nothing, the noise doesnt change if anything, in gear it is a tad bit quieter. I listened to the lift pump as some have suggested and it sounds like any other mechanical non piston type pump i have heard. One thing i noticed is there looks as if there is something between the flexplate and the engine adapter next to the crank flange. i will have to get a long feeler guage out and slip it in ther as theres not much room and see if it is something loose. also how could i tell if it already has a second gen flexplate installed?

wayne

 

well i took the old "Garden hose stheiscope" and the sound immenates from where the crank and the flexplate join as far as i can tell. so either its busted or the idiots who installed it didnt torque it down properly and some of the bolts loosened up....


wayne

 

ouch! hope you find the source. I know how those noises give you a queasy feeling until you fix it or know that it isn't anything to worry about. Good luck!