Funny noise

[bowhunter]

Brand new member, thanks to Ken @ TDR. I need some help finding a noise.

I have a 97 and have a (tick, tick) exhaust noise at idle with warm and cold engine. I have had 3 dodges diesels (92,93,94) and have never heard this before. My fiend, who's the Dodge Dealer diesel mechanic says that nearly all 97's he has been around have made this noise. The dealer calls this noise the pressurized fuel pulsating throught the fuel lines. ( sounds like they really don't know or care) My truck has nearly 120,000 miles and has done this for me since 69,000 miles. The truck runs great, actually better that my friends 99 & 01 dodges. Airbox is tight and sealed with a K&N that I added, and all turbo hoses are tight. I've also had it on the rack and have not found any exhaust leaks.

Any ideas, its starting to bug me.

Thanks

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97 2500 Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2" Daystar Coil Spacers, 315/75/16 AT BFG'S, K&N, stock, oh yeah--no silencer ring

 

[illflem]

My '95 made the tick,tick after the tailpipe was hit in a parking lot. The whole exhaust system was pushed over and the muffler was just touching the frame making the noise. Pulled the whole thing back into place with a come-along attached to my forklift,tick was gone. Hope your problem is as simple,also make sure you don't have a package in the back from Lincoln,Montana. TK

 

[Timinator]

I know it's on the other side of the engine, but could it be the lift pump ticking?

 

[bowhunter]

I wish it was that simple, but the dealer put a new tailpipe on when I bought it. they left the stock muffler on. This weekend I'll check for that package... maybe its under my seat?
Anyway, I'm gutting the CAT this weekend and putting on a flowmaster. New exhaust all the way to the turbo the following weekend. (probably stick with the standard diameter, unless the 4" is on sale) Do you see any benefits from using 4"? I'm putting a #10 TST plate in at the end of March, which will probably make me put a clutch in around the end of April.

Thanks for you help



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97 2500 Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2" Daystar Coil Spacers, 315/75/16 AT BFG'S, K&N, stock, oh yeah--no silencer ring

K. Kinion

 

[1tuffram]

I think I know what ticking noise you are talking about, sounds kind of like an exhaust leak. My '95 has a ticking sound and I seem to notice it more when listening in the area between the rear of the cab and the bed. I have wondered if it is exhaust noise resulting from the cat (or maybe it's an engine related noise which is amplified after "bouncing" around inside the cat). Can't hear it in the engine compartment (could be getting drown out by all other engine noises). Muffler has been removed so it can't be that. Have been wanting to remove cat to see if "ticking" disappears or decreases in sound.

Any of you guys with straight piped exhaust systems have any comments or thoughts?


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'95 2500 SLT 5 speed 4x4

 

[bowhunter]

Thanks--I'll check the lift pump. Whatever it is, its been doing it for 51,000 miles.

Would that make the truck sluggish?

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97 2500 Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2" Daystar Coil Spacers, 315/75/16 AT BFG'S, K&N, stock, oh yeah--no silencer ring

K. Kinion

 

[bowhunter]

1 tuff ram,

Thats exactly what it sounds like. I've learned from all previous posts that may CAT is probably clogged, since its 120,000 miles old. I'll deal with that with a pry-bar and hammer this weekend.

Thanks

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97 2500 Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2" Daystar Coil Spacers, 315/75/16 AT BFG'S, K&N, stock, oh yeah--no silencer ring

K. Kinion

 

[bowhunter]

Maybe so, I haven't worried about it after my diesel mechanic friend told this. He said run it!, so I have! What do you think of the #10 plate with the stock turbo housing?

I rarely pull anything anymore, I only haul fourwheelers and coolers, and sometimes deer...

The fact that I pull next to nothing might keep my EGT's down, provided I keep my foot out of it once in a while.


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97 2500 Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2" Daystar Coil Spacers, 315/75/16 AT BFG'S, K&N, stock, oh yeah--no silencer ring

K. Kinion

 

[1tuffram]

I wonder if the dealer is not correct about the noise being related to the fuel system. Could it be noise from either the injection pump, fuel line pulsation, or injectors (which for some strange reason) is best heard in the exhaust system as this ticking sound, and maybe the cat helps amplify or isolate??? Or maybe it has nothing to do with the cat and is just coinsidental it is heard around this area in the exhaust system. Maybe the cat just happens to be far away form all the other engine noise that this ticking sound is detectable and removing the cat will have no effect.

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'95 2500 SLT 5 speed 4x4

 

[Steve M]

Mine has done that since day one. It has 73,000 miles on it. My '95 also made the noise. I bought a mechanic's stethoscope and traced the noise to the fuel line out of the top of the tank. Must be pulses from the lift pump. A free flowing exhaust will help mask these annoying noises. I'm still toying with the idea of the ME pipe.

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98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

 

[TXDSLSHOP]

I have the same noise in my 98 12 valve with straight exhaust. Myself and an experienced cummins mech. traced it to the lift pump. He said run it, that it was insignificant! Something about the outlet valve on the lift pump making that noise, he related it to simply a check valve rattling.

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1998 12 valve slightly modified 2500 4x4 quad cab. Large diameter straight exhaust, wife got mad and took the cat! Conexed grant XL with little ol' 200 Palomar, Wilson 5000 mounted high (and permanent!)