My poor old truck is making some pitiful noises....

[Wwalden]

Hey folks... My '90 D250 is starting to show its age. It has 190,000 miles, runs well, and I just put a $1000 front end rebuild in it and 4 new tires, but I just started developing some other problems.



For a while now, the engine will make an erratic "ticking" noise. I believe this may be a sign my injector pump is getting ready to go out on me? I think I may have read this in the past. While the engine is idling, it will do it most all of the time now. It used to be only now and then. The noise is kind of like tapping a nickel on top of a can... very erratic, yet consistent.



The noise that is really bothering me is coming from the rear. It started last weekend after I towed my friends boat out to a river and back, about a 70 mile trip. Everything went fine, but when I got back after unloading the trailer on the way home this noise started up. It would only do it from 25 mph + but now it does it at all speeds. It sounds like it varies with speed, but its not very pronounced... you can't hear it 'winding down' with your MPH it just sort of 'stops. ' It almost sounds like a balloon squeaking air out of the neck at low speeds before it stops around 5 mph. At higher speeds its a higher pitched howl. I fear the worse. I drove 700 miles on Sunday, the day after the fishing trip, up to Philly and back with no problems. Only noticed the noise for a little while on the way up there, it didn't do it the whole time. Either i can't hear it on the interstate, or its not making the noise. I probably just can't hear it. The differential fluid was changed, with proper additive, about 5000 miles ago.



Thanks for your time. .



Wes

 

[dsldoug]

Wes

sounds like it might be time to pull the cover on the diff and look for the pinon teeth if it sounds like it is coming from the rear if they get hung up they could coust you a housing



but then again it could be brakes, hope for the best

 

[paccool]

How is the valve lash? A loose settig can cause the ticking your talking about. Can you tell if the tapping is coming from the top end or around the pump?



I think Doug is right about pulling the diff. cover. I suspect it may be a bearing based on the noise you are describing.

 

[rwinslow]

My $. 02 worth on both problems:



Check your breather tube and vent on your rear differential. Mine plugged at about the same mileage. Apparently, the differential would slightly pressurize with the vent tube plugged and the rear end would make a slightly different noise. The degree of pressurization would vary with the outside temperature, road conditions, etc. I installed a new vent tube, cleaned out the differential and haven't had any problems for 80,000 miles.



The tapping noise from the engine could be as previously suggested. It could also be due to a number of other casues: Change in oil formulation by the oil manufacturer, a different oil filter than what is normally used, idler pulley needing replacement, fan clutch bearing going out, water pump bearing, etc. A couple of other thoughts - are you still using the original injectors? I had a similar tapping type noise that disappeared after I put new injectors in the engine.



Have you seen any changes in fuel economy, oil pressure, oil consumption?

 

[Wwalden]

one solved

Thanks for the replies.



Tonight after work I lifted the rear and put it in gear and found the noise is coming from the driveshaft center bearing, which I had replaced 'under warranty' by a shop who damaged it the year before. I guess I'll be paying them a visit again.



I had thought the ticking noise might be the overflow valve gone bad, or perhaps a sign of the lift pump itself failing. The engine does have its original injectors. Everything is original. I've only added an aftermarket air filter. I've noticed the power has gone down a bit in the last six months, gradually maybe, and I'm getting more smoke at part throttle/low boost. Depends on the air I guess. I know new injectors would be a good upgrade. I really need to take the truck to a diesel shop, have the lift pump rebuilt and retimed, and have everything inspected by a cummins tech.



The noise isn't coming from any of the bearings or pulleys, or from the injector pump area. It sounds like it is coming from the passenger side, near the center, towards the back. It's hard to pinpoint. Like I said, its very erratic. tap tap tap... ... tap tap... . tap... . tap tap... ... . tap tap tap... ... .



Perhaps I should start with the injectors.



Wes

 

[Case500D]

Valve Adjustment

Wes,



I am glad to hear you are getting things straightened out on your truck. With the milage you have, I would spent the $34 and get a set of valve cover gaskets and try adjusting your valves to get rid of the ticking noise. It only takes one rocker arm to drive you nuts. I did my valves and gained a pound of boost and a mgp in fuel milage. It is much chepaer than injectors and if you get new injectors the valves have to be set right for the engine to perform properly. Good luck.



Jeremy