Loud knock/ticking noise on startup

[DrWebster]

Hey everyone,

Had something a little scary happen this morning when I went to go to work. Started the car up and immediately heard a loud knocking/ticking noise coming from under the hood. Knowing that this is usually a Bad Thing, I killed the engine after about 5 seconds. Let the car sit for about a minute, then restarted it. The noise was still there, but the CEL didn't come on and the rest of the engine sounded normal (and was idling like usual -- RPMs slowly dropped from 1500 down to about 750 as it warmed up). I got out and popped the hood to try to locate the noise, and I could only guess that it was coming from the pulley side of the engine before the noise slowly went away. After that, the car ran like nothing happened and I apprehensively drove the 30 miles to work without incident.

It's been about 2,000 miles since my last oil change, and the oil level looks unchanged. Today's Monday, and on Saturday I got gas (at my usual station) and drove about 20 miles after that running errands. On Sunday the car was only backed out of the garage so I could wash it, then put back in the garage. Car sounded completely normal until this morning. It was about 60 degrees in the garage this morning so it's not like the car got super cold.

Any thoughts? I plan to start the car during my lunch break to see if the noise comes back (and if it does, the car will be going straight to the dealer).

 

[joshb003]

How loud do you mean for loud?? I got a ticking noise when the engine is cool. After the engine warms up, it goes away. I was worried about it initially, but the dealer and people on this forum both told me it's normal for the 2.

BUT if it's really loud then I'd be worried. Mine isn't loud at all per say... I can hear it while sitting in the car, and it appears to fluctuate with RPMS as well, but it's just a ticking noise, not that loud.

 

[DrWebster]

This isn't the typical fuel injector ticking...it was loud enough that I could hear it over the stereo.

 

[Wall Of Death]

This isn't the typical fuel injector ticking...it was loud enough that I could hear it over the stereo.

My car does the same thing every time on a cold start when I turn out of my driveway or a parking spot. Its been doing it since it was new with 12 miles. I am guessing it is a large relay, probably for the electric power steering because if I drive straight for the first 25 feet or so, no click.... Again dont quote me one this, just an assumption.

 

[DrWebster]

I'm familiar with the power steering relay that clicks only once when you get moving. The sound I'm hearing is right at startup, even before I put the car in gear.

I went out and started it again just a couple minutes ago; it's 45 degrees outside and it's been sitting for about 3 hours. The noise I'm hearing is about half as loud as it was this morning. It fades away after 30 seconds. Here's the video:

[video]http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/?action=view&current=EA713FA7-0E8F-4CF0-BD75-C1846DD8E48B-5335-0000137FAFDE1EBF.mp4[/video]

My oil level is halfway between MAX and MIN. I'm tempted to run to the auto parts store during lunch and top it off. (Being halfway has never been an issue for me in the past.)

 

[SubCompactor]

please let us know what the remedy ended up being! Thanks!

 

[joshb003]

I ended up having a pretty loud knock/tick the other morning after the car was sitting for 2 days. It was a lil louder than I'm used to (sometimes no noise, sometimes quiet etc it varies).

Dealer has told me it's normal (have never been able to reproduce, because car is warm when it gets to dealer). And when it happens, I just let the car sit for a little bit, and then drive slow until it goes away (usually happens fast).

Any update on what you figured out?

 

[colonelangus]

no noises or issues with our 2 this thread is the first ive heard of any engine noises ..time to keep the stereo off while starting and warming up the car see if i hear anything out of the norm..
if the car had high miles id suggest sticky lifter or collapsed lifter {broken internal spring}and it takes a second to pump up..just my .02

 

[DrWebster]

Strangely enough, I haven't gotten the car to do it again. It starts, drives and overall behaves like it always has. I'll send in a sample to Blackstone at my next oil change to see if they notice anything, but it really seems like it's just a fluke.

 

[mndsm]

Strangely enough, I haven't gotten the car to do it again. It starts, drives and overall behaves like it always has. I'll send in a sample to Blackstone at my next oil change to see if they notice anything, but it really seems like it's just a fluke.

Timing chain tensioner? Mazda has a habit of making those bad, causing the noise you mention. Happens to my ms3, there's a TSB for it.