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Clicking Noise

Axle Bearing Hub

Checking Clutch Noise - When your car is stopped or coming to a stop the engine needs to be disconnected from the transmission or the engine will stall. With automatic transmission vehicles a torque converter is used to separate the two units, but with manual transmission vehicles a clutch assembly is used to do the job. This clutch kit or unit is composed of a clutch disc, pressure plate, throw out and pilot bearings. (Some front wheel drive vehicles do not use a pilot bearing). Both types of vehicles use a flywheel but are designed a little differently. An automatic transmission has a lighter weight unit that the torque converter bolts directly to and is sometimes referred to as a flex plate. A manual transmission flywheel assembly is made heavier to help engine inertia and to make shifting smoother. The clutch pressure place bolts to the flywheel trapping the clutch disc in-between. The throw out bearing presses against the pressure plate to engage and release the disc. The pilot bearing is mounted in the flywheel and holds the input shaft for the transmission steady. When a throw out, pilot, or input shaft bearing starts to fail it can make a clicking noise that is audible when the clutch pedal is pressed or released. If the clicking noise stops or starts suspect these bearings.

Clutch and Flywheel Assembly (Cut Away)

Check Exhaust System for Leaks - The exhaust system in your car is designed to move exhaust gases the engine creates to the rear of the car. If this system has small leaks it can cause to clicking noise, especially if the leaks are near the front of the engine at the exhaust manifold. Inspect the exhaust system for leak be looking for any flat black soot, this is a sign the system is leaking. Repair as needed to recheck system.

Exhaust Manifold

Rapid Ticking Noise When Engine is Cranked Over - A common problem with a car battery is low voltage. As a battery ages it loses the ability to store electricity resulting in an insufficient flow of electrical energy to the starter. The starter is designed to operate on a high amperage 12 volt system. When a starter is subjected to low voltage or amperage (flow) it will cause the starter to engage and disengage rapidly producing the machine gun like sound. To fix this problem a battery inspection or replacement is needed. There are two reasons that a battery will not perform as it should, either the alternator has failed allowing the battery's state of charge to become weak or the battery has failed and replacement is required. More: Rapid ticking noise when engine is cranked over

Checking Ignition System - The ignition system in your car ignites the fuel inside the engine's combustion chamber at the optimal time in the piston stroke to produce the most power while emitting the least amount of emissions as possible. There are many configurations of ignition systems but all operate on the same principle, create a low energy field and collapse it onto a high energy coil and that transfers the electrical energy into the secondary ignition system, i.e. coil wire, distributor cap and rotor (if equipped) plug wires and finally the spark plug. If the ignition system is failing it can cause an electrical charge to jump from the system to ground producing a clicking noise. Inspect system and repair as needed. Also a loose spark plug can cause a click noise while the engine is running. Locate the spark plug in question and tighten as needed.

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