Interesting 'Tick' Noise from engine

[BrianV]

While I was trying to adjust my MBC I noticed a tick noise coming from the engine. It would last about 20 seconds, then shut off for 10, and then start again.

After trying to listen to where it was I THINK I found it being the shiny thing in the attached picture.

Anyone else noticed this? It can only be heard with the hood open.

Only thing on my car is boost guage, MBC (at minimum setting), and the NGK's.

 

[shaolin]

I'm not quite sure WHICH shiny thing you're talking about exactly...can you circle it?? or draw an arrow?? Does your car do it with the engine running or off?

 

[BremertonMSP]

It's a solenoid of some type. Not sure what it's purpose is.

 

[BrianV]

It's that big glowing orange thing in the center of the shot.

It's brass color normally, but the sun's reflection and my crappy phone's camera made it look like that.

I never noticed it with the car off.

 

[Emode]

i have it too
whats funny is i noticed it at the same time as you-a little while after installing my mbc
it scared me at first, but then i checked griths car after he had just taken an autox run and the same noise was coming from his, except it seemed quieter

there have been a few discussions on this forum before about it, and ht egeneral consusus seems to be that its ok, but i havent heard a difinitive answer as to what it actually is

so yeah, thats where thats at

 

[turboge]

Its for idle control. It is a solenoid designed to bypass air under the throttle plate.

 

[Emode]

well alright then

 

[BrianV]

Cool, one less thing to worry about.

Thanks

 

[Aaron]

yeah that solenoid has something to do with the ticking it has been stated before mine does this too

 

[lamp3]

yah, mine ticks too. But mine sound like it's something on the front of the engine , maybe under the heat shield. Kinda scary...

 

[flat_black]

Yep! I get the same. Not quite as bad as a DSM's valves, though. Or a Ducatti. =)

 

[505zoom]

Yep! I get the same. Not quite as bad as a DSM's valves, though. Or a Ducatti. =)

Yeah same here. Nothing compared to my 92 DSM though, that thing ticked so freakin loud.

 

[BremertonMSP]

Hmm

I went out at lunch and took a look under the hood, and that is the Purge Control Solenoid. If you trace one of the vacuum lines, it goes over to the left to the purge tank on the passenger firewall. The other line from the tank goes to the gas tank. It's for emissions purposes, and keeps vapors from the gas tank escaping to the atmosphere. Also, if you get a check engine light after filling up with gas, check your gas cap. Ive heard you can get a light when you leave the cap off.

The Idle Air Controller is on the Throttle body itself. You can't see it in the picture Brian, because the strut tower brace is hiding it. There are two electrical plugs on the Throttle body. One is directly across from the throttle linkage, that should be the Throttle Position Sensor. The other is the IAC, just up and to the left of the TPS.

 

[lamp3]

Mine goes away after the car heats up and is driven....

 

[lamp3]

makes me wonder if its friggin piston slap or the impeler in the turbo is hitting the housing...?? Maybe it goes away after the turbo heats up and gives more tollerance?????? just guess's.

 

[BremertonMSP]

makes me wonder if its friggin piston slap or the impeler in the turbo is hitting the housing...?? Maybe it goes away after the turbo heats up and gives more tollerance?????? just guess's.

I doubt it's either of those two things. If I'm not mistaken, our pistons are hypereutetric (sp?) and they have pretty tight piston to wall clearance. And if the impeller was hitting the housing, I think the life of theturbo would be pretty short

 

[Prodigy926]

Brian V........... My car does the same thing and it is that shiny thing... It is a vacuum line pump i believe. I think this is normal.

 

[BremertonMSP]

Brian V........... My car does the same thing and it is that shiny thing... It is a vacuum line pump i believe. I think this is normal.

Doods! Purge Control Solenoid!! Read my earlier post! Also, there is a Vacuum diagram on the hood, follow the hoses!!

 

[Glowmunkey]

Seriously, piston slap and play in the turbo bearings usually sound MUCH louder than the ticking that the Protege's create... also bear in mind that Asian cars tend to have loud injectors.

 

[hi-perf]

well according to injen it is a purge control valve, meh same thing. anyone know how to fix it? or make it less audible?