Damn engine knock (with sound clip)

[nwjetboat]

My injector was replaced Monday. They would not give it to me, core is required back to mopar. The sound is back to normal. The metalic hammer sound is gone, and the truck seems a bit more responsive off idle.

I did read on the invoice that the tech had discussed this with STAR tech. Mechanics notes on the invoice also say, "Replaced injector, road test, noise is gone. "

 

[DBurkhard]

I got my #2 injector replaced yesterday. Picked it up last night and it sounds like it used to. Not only is the knocking gone, but the excessive detonation type knocking it used to make during initial acceleration is gone now too.



I have uploaded a new sound file. The first few seconds are idling in Park. You can hear the engine load up as it is shifted into drive. The muffled clunking noises just prior to shifting into Drive are me banging the recorder against the side of the truck as I was shifting.



http://mysite.verizon.net/res1h7d2/



Dan

 

[rbattelle]

Wow! I am genuinely impressed at the change! Sounds like a whole new engine. Very glad to hear you've got her all quieted down.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Did anyone experiance a differance in the exhaust note ? Mine has the knock with an extra helping of detonation sound ! The exaust loping is more noticible when standind about 10 paces off the back of the truck. Sounds like a gasser with a race cam. My usual dealer service department say's "It is normal". I think they have just become un-usual !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RKerner]

the "before" sound bite

Sound bite of my engine at idle, first inside the left fenderwell, then under the hood above the front of the engine. Clankety clank

If I can ever get the technician to call me back and let me know how long to drop the truck off to get it fixed, then I'll bring it back.

 

[rbattelle]

BTW, at my last fuel stop (Monday evening) there was a 2500 Cummins at one of the pumps idling. Sounded very very similar to Burkhard's truck prior to the injector changeout.

 

[txhawg]

I got my #2 injector replaced yesterday. Picked it up last night and it sounds like it used to. Not only is the knocking gone, but the excessive detonation type knocking it used to make during initial acceleration is gone now too.



I have uploaded a new sound file. The first few seconds are idling in Park. You can hear the engine load up as it is shifted into drive. The muffled clunking noises just prior to shifting into Drive are me banging the recorder against the side of the truck as I was shifting.



http://mysite.verizon.net/res1h7d2/



Dan

Yo Dan,



Thanks for the info, sounds like I should make a trip to the dealer! Have you noticed any change in MPG's since the swap out?

 

[04 Diesel Power]

Injectors are good

Got my truck back from dealer today, he said injectors are good. Dealer said this is normal. They did some type of pressure test on each injector, and they all came out good. I have 17,000 miles on her now. Dealer said the moter is breaking in now, that is why truck is louder. I guess Ill just enjoy my truck.

 

[Bailman]

are the injectors covered under the 100000 mile warranty from Cummins?

 

[oneminddoc]

Damn if it don't sound like a diesel to me.

 

[RedDieselDawg]

Wow, thanks, I feel a lot better now. I listened several times and could not hear a definative knock, or unusual clatter. Not to flame anyone, but before anyone posts on rocker clatter, valve noise or a knock they should state, "This is my first diesel", if it is. I have heard a knock on a diesel, it sounded like a KNOCK. Valves are tough to detect clatter or have been for me on Cummins or even worse Cat. Suffice to say these never sound anything remotely like a gas rig. Just a few thoughts, IMHO.

 

[DBurkhard]

Wow, thanks, I feel a lot better now. I listened several times and could not hear a definative knock, or unusual clatter. Not to flame anyone, but before anyone posts on rocker clatter, valve noise or a knock they should state, "This is my first diesel", if it is. I have heard a knock on a diesel, it sounded like a KNOCK. Valves are tough to detect clatter or have been for me on Cummins or even worse Cat. Suffice to say these never sound anything remotely like a gas rig. Just a few thoughts, IMHO.

Well, this is my first diesel, and I ended up getting a #2 injector replaced because of the knocking. I live in Long Beach and probably hear hundreds of loaded semi's coming Long Beach harbor every day. Even at idle, my truck with the injector knock sounded louder than any semi's on the road. It doesn't take long to hear the difference between normal diesel noise and an abnormal knocking noise. I don't think Dodge would be replacing all of these injectors for the fun of it if there was nothing wrong.



Dan

 

[BMeier]

I have an 03' 305/555 and have the same ticking noise which turns into a knock when hot, sometimes. I've had it in several times, and I get the "sounds like a diesel to me crap also". They did put #6 injector in and it did not change anything. This engine ran smooth as can be up until about 17,000 miles and has done it up till now 30,000 miles. If anyone hears any fix to the issue let me know.

 

[nickleinonen]

have the dealer do a power balance test on the injectors [through the hand held scanner thing] and see which are out of spec. then do the injector cut-out test and see if the sound goes away when you cut-out the out of spec injector

 

[Mathew Clausen]

adding to the confusion

My '03 305/555 started knocking on a single cylinder this summer. Worse when hot, obviously not "diesel noise" since it was definately one cylinder. Easy to hear, just put a little load on at idle and it sounded like a rod knocking. I drove it this way until this fall because it never got worse and I didn't havee time to get to a dealer.



So - took it to the dealer and with the mechanic had them turn off each cylinder while we loaded the engine at idle by slipping the clutch to make the knock show up. Sure enough - turn off #6 and all is quiet. Its what I thought we would find from reading a bit on this site. Technically, STAR requires that an injector swap be performed to see if it really is the injector (swap with another cylinder to see if problem moves) before they will send a new one. Both the mechanic and I figured a new injector was needed, but out of curiosity decided to follow procedure and try swapping. Here is where I can't figure out. Swapped #6 with #3. NOISE IS GONE. Have another 2000 miles now and still smooth and quiet. What could have changed by just swapping the injectors? Is there maybe a seal issue, or something loose? Anyone else had this experience?



Mathew

 

[Jumbo Jet]

My knock disappeared after I pitched a fit and they actually took the test equipment and turned off one injector at a time. They replaced the #5 injector.



My first 'owned' diesel experience - 1958, then 1967, 1992, 1999, 2002, & 2004.



It don't matter how many hours of diesel music you have listened to, there's always another opinion.



Sounded like a hammer hitting metal.

 

[rbattelle]

Both the mechanic and I figured a new injector was needed, but out of curiosity decided to follow procedure and try swapping. Here is where I can't figure out. Swapped #6 with #3. NOISE IS GONE. Have another 2000 miles now and still smooth and quiet. What could have changed by just swapping the injectors? Is there maybe a seal issue, or something loose? Anyone else had this experience?



Mathew

That is the most interesting thing I've heard yet on this problem. Fascinating. What's going on here? All things considered, the simplest answer is usually correct. There's no question that some of these knocks are faulty injectors. What's really scary is the story of ceaman , for whom a faulty injector caused a melted piston. He says there was NO indication anything was wrong until the engine ate itself. No knock.



I had the knock (sounded like someone beating on the block with a claw hammer) quite severely for over 25k (intermittently... bad for 3 months, gone for 1 month, over and over), but it's been silent now for over 6k. Now Mathew reports swapping holes cured the knock. What's really going on here? I have no idea. Is it harmful? I have no idea. Why does it only seem to happen with a warm engine? Why is it most prevalent just off idle? What does STAR know that would make them require swapping holes prior to authorizing replacement? Has anyone with aftermarket injectors experienced any kind of knocking noises?



So many questions, so few answers. It might be a long time before any of them get answered.



-Ryan

 

[DieselTweaker]

Bailman, The Injectors should be covered under 100,000 mile's they are cummins parts.

 

[wolfman00hd]

It Started Today

Man I love this site. Found my answer with one search. Couldn't check in until now, my truck started banging this morning on the way home from the airport. 7900 miles on her, just at low rpm's after letting out the clutch. Disappears around 1200. Haven't heard that sound since I spun two bearings in my IROC 12 years ago. I have never towed anything w/this truck, have taken EXTRA care with it since I plan on keeping it forever and write a damn huge check to pay for it every month. :{ Only saving grace is that I have a great dealer that will be waiting to see me on monday morning with a loaner. Knock or not, still wouldn't drive anything else. Maybe it's an omen??? On my days off this coming week, was gonna install my guages, exhaust, and some other goodies. Maybe I'll wait till next week to take it in to the dealer



Would another week and 200 miles hurt?



Just had to vent. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

[nickleinonen]

mines got a light injector knock [i suspect #4] and you can hear it ticking, and it will knock if you are a little more agressive starting off in 2nd and lug it down low... it's been doing it for a few months now... and it will keep doing that until summer comes [or any other time i'll have spare time] around when i'll let the dealer look at it...