My 98 Dodge Dakota makes a ticking sound on moderate to heavy acceleration. What would be causing this?

Question

I just purchased this truck, and I suspect there is a sticky intake valve, but I changed the oil, and ran a tank of gas with fuel-injector cleaner through the system with no noticable effect. It is much louder when the engine is cold, but becomes almost unnoticable after the engine warms up, unless accelerating very hard.

I just purchased this truck, and I suspect there is a sticky intake valve, but I changed the oil, and ran a tank of gas with fuel-injector cleaner through the system with no noticable effect. It is much louder when the engine is cold, but becomes almost unnoticable after the engine warms up, unless accelerating very hard. I am sure it is not pinging, and the noise is very regular with a frequency proportional to the engine speed.

Answer 1

If your sure its not pinging. Than it sounds like a valve train problem. I'm guessing this is a V6 or V8. There is no valve adjustment on this engine. Use a vacuum Gage to check your reading. If u have a weak or broken spring or sticking valve. Your Gage will oscillate unevenly. if its relatively smooth around 18 psi. It all good. Next perform an oil psi test. Make sure its with in specs. Isolate noise by removing spark plug wires one at a time. Remove corresponding valve cover. Look for worn or broken rocker arms Remove 4 bolts holding rocker Assembly. Check individual push rods for same. At this point if no failures found. U either have a weak or sticking lifter or a bad cam. By the way the reason the noise starts to go away is in part due to metal expanding and oil pumping up lifters that may have bleed down.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

A stuck intake valve would cause backfire through intake system so rule that out. If it was pinging the knock sensor should pick it up but you say it gets almost unnoticeable after warm up so it may be pre ignition and the computer will adjust the timing to stop it. It may not be bad enough to set a trouble code. I would try a higher octane gas and see if it stops.

Answer 3

in the journey that your truck has CV joints, that's what's making the noise, have them replaced. i'm uncertain in the journey that your truck has radius hands (i'm a Ford guy and Fords do) yet that's maximum possibly your perpetrator. you are able to seem to work out in the journey that your truck has those. it truly is going to likely be a bar on the two side that is going from around the a-hands in the direction of the lower back of the truck and mount to the physique, usually acceptable under or close to the motive force and passenger side floor board. those save the front wheels from shifting forward and backward. There are bushings on the bar the place it attaches to the physique, and if those bushings go out, you will hear clicking noises while turning and hitting bumps. those are perplexing to alter as you pick a heavy accountability effect wrench to get the nuts off, and could realign the wheels afterwards. i might recommend going to a brake or suspension save and having them seem at it.

Answer 4

Sounds like a valve lifter not adjusted right. Too much clearance. Take and have the lifters adjusted. Or if you can and know how to do it adjust them yourself. But get a manual of the clearances first. Get them too loosed they knock clicking sound too tight and you burn a valve.

Answer 5

CV joints in the front axels are worn out. Go back and punch the guy who sold it to you. or just an exhaust manifold leak

Answer 6

I say it's because it's a dodge. LOL However my husband who is an assiasnt manger at an atuo repair shop. He says it's the lifter.

Answer 7

Try a higher octane gas.

Answer 8

theres a plastic explosive under your seat and i have the cell phone to call it Biatch

Answer 9

You ran over a Palestinian suicide bomber, and he got stuck underneath your truck.

Answer 10

u could be low on oil