What is the cause of a ticking noise from engine or gearbox

BRYMBOMAN

MEMBER
2001 FORD MONDEO
150,000 MILES

Ticking noise when moving, ONLY IN NEUTRAL or COASTING (in gear but no throttle). The noise inreases/decreases in rapidity in line with the speed of the car. Have switched off engine while moving and the noise remains. I have no idea about cars, I can only describe the ticking/clicking as like a pushbike in so much as you get a clicking when not pedaling, but don't hear anything when you do. I've had the car almost exactly 1 year and had a full service in Aug 10.
If I was a betting man I would say it was a gearbox problem. Luckily I'm not.
Thanks

Brymboman

5 Replies

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Possibly by running vehicle while on a hoist the noise could be found? Or using a suspension microphone gadget. Is it so loud it drowns out radio?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 3:04 PM

BRYMBOMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

No. It can be heard if you were listening for it, but if you weren't looking for it you probably wouldn't hear. It. Then again, that's all relative. Depends how high the radio normally is

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 3:10 PM

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

Sounds ignorable to me?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 3:36 PM

BRYMBOMAN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I may have played it down a bit. The noise is quite noticeable if there is no radio on. However it is not noticeable with the radio on.
The noise itself sounds like a stone in the tyre, and increases with speed, but it seems to come from under and slightly forward of the central part of the front seats. Once I accelerate it goes until I take my foot off the accelerator. It is also present in neutral, albeit ever so slightly quieter.
I have googled the problem and have seen 2 or 3 exact same descriptions, however, annoyingly, there are no replies. The noise only seems to be heard in the vehicle.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 AT 4:00 PM

FIXITMR

MECHANIC
9,990 POSTS

It may be time to part with car. If it's an automatic they are known to develop problems down the road around 15-175k miles. I had 1 go on me at 169k.