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Reply With QuoteIt should not. Spark plugs dont hold a charge. Niether does the engine. Do you have a bad wire that is arching to a ground point. Maybe a small burn spot from being to close to the header ?
Help ticking, could it be sparkplug wires?
So about a month ago I ran some seafoam. The next day I changed the oil and noticed it had a ticking sound. It's coming from the passenger side and it is constant. At first I figured it was a crack in the manifold. So I picked up some mac shorties and new gaskets and threw them on. It was still ticking. So I then thought it might be lifter tick, I put in some marvel mystery oil and nothing. I changed my plugs and wires about 6 months ago and someone told me that a bad wire can cause a ticking sound. Is this true? What should my next course of action be? I'm lost.
Edit: Mod this may be an electric question just remembered something.
***The other day I tried to tighten all the header bolts just to make sure that wasn't the issue. The car was off and I had the boot cover removed from the second plug to give me more room. When I was tightning the bolt I think my wrench hit the spark plug sticking out and it sparked and made me drop the wrench. If the engine wasn't on and the sparkplug wasn't getting fire then why would it spark when grounded???
Thanks
Last edited by McNasty; 04-23-2007 at 10:11 AM.
It should not. Spark plugs dont hold a charge. Niether does the engine. Do you have a bad wire that is arching to a ground point. Maybe a small burn spot from being to close to the header ?
See that's what i don't get, there is no reason for it to spark unless the engine was holding a charge and I grounded it out. I haven't noticed any arching. I'm gonna wait until tonight and see if I can see any sparking in the dark. I'm pretty clueless as to why or what is ticking.Originally Posted by 2KSTANGFIRE
A good tick is usually one of two things. An electrical arch (like from plug wire) or and exhaust leak. The exhaust leak will sometimes change tone or go away after the car warms up. A valve tick can be heard from under the valve cover. Put a long screw driver handle to your ear, and the other end touching the valve cover. Workes like an amplifier. Be sure you dont have a spark plug wire arching first, it can make the screwdriver test..........interesting.
Since I put on new headers I've ruled out exhaust leak...already rechecked all the bolts 3 times +.
It is a pretty loud distinctive tick, not like usual exhaust fluttering sounds.
What is the best way to trace down possible arching? The night time trick or is there something else?
There is another way.... but it hurts.
I would just put on some gloves and follow your wires. If there is an arch, when you pull the wire far enough away from metal it will quit.
If the wires are fairly new, you should be able to see a burnt spot from where it was rubbing on a header. If thats what your problem is.
Last edited by 2KSTANGFIRE; 04-23-2007 at 12:46 PM.
Wait until dark and run the engine with the hood up. You'll see the arch.
1993 5.0L LX Mustang
Current mods: GT-40P's, GT-40 Intake, CAI, Elect. Fan, 3-Row Radiator, 180stat, FRPP Coil, FRPP 9mm Wires, Tri-Ax Shifter, 5-lug swap, PBR Brakes, Rear Disc Brakes, 3.73's, UCA/LCA's, Aluminum Driveshaft, FRPP B-Springs, FRPP Shortie Headers, Catted X-Pipe, Magnaflow Cat-back, 17" Bullitt wheels, Bullitt shocks/struts, SCT Pro-Racer.
Previous Stangs: 1997 Supercharged 4.2L, 2001 4.6L GT
This maybe obvious, but are you sure you aren't hearing your injectors?
I receintly had a spark plug boot slip off. It made a very loud ticking sound and I could see a huge arc coming from the end of the boot. The car ran like crap too.
Try putting your old stock wires back on, (if you still have them) just to see if you have a bad wire.
Steven @ VAP Auto - Intake Spacers, Windstar Intake Kit! My Car Page
Ok I checked last night and didn't see any arching at all. I looked over the wires and they all seem to be fine.
I also put a screwdrive to the valve cover and everything sounded fine.
However when I put the screwdriver to the upper intake and listened I could definitley hear a distinctive tick. So would this be one of the injectors?
The injectors will tick. Its common. You probably don't have a problem.
The car is running fine, is just more annoying than anything. I have already run seafoam and marvel mystery oil and it's still there. I wish there was an easy solution, but I'm not all too worried about it I guess. Would running 93 for awhile possibley make it quieter?
which part of the engine did you put the seafoam through? oil, fuel, or vacuum line?
1993 Stealth TT, 3.0L V6
305 awhp
325 awtq
Best ET: 13.02@104.67
Best Trap: 13.09@105.08
(on stock turbos, fuel system, full weight)
beyond stock turbos/fuel:
Best ET: 12.38@113.00 (1.800 60')
Best Trap: 12.41@115.10 (1.969 60')
all sorts of problems, knock, pulled timing, etc.
all back together with some extras, waiting on dyno
Running 93 won't make them any quieter.
I put most of it through the vacuum line, and about 1/4 in the oil about a day before the last oil change.
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