Clicking/Chugging intermittently?

EL_OGAN

MEMBER
2001 DODGE DAKOTA
4.7L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
173,000 MILES

Good evening, and to start I appreciate your help in this matter. So, this is going to be a lengthy and most likely confusing explanation of what's going on, but I will more than happily clarify any confusion if you ask, I have the vehicle listed above that I recently just did a full tune up on as well as the thermostat and the radiator on. The problem started right after doing the thermostat in the radiator which led me to do the tune-up thinking maybe it was just a bad spark plug or coil pack. Neither of those turned out to be the case. So, the noise happened after doing the radiator and the thermostat but before doing the tune-up just to be clear. So, I have a chug that occurs and climbs to a ticking or clicking as I accelerate keeping up with the rate of acceleration at idle it's more of a consistent low chug that grows worse when I turn on the A/C. The problem was not there before I did the radiator, but man is driving me nuts now. I guess to not essentially what I'm asking is if I did something wrong and installing that thermostat could it possibly be making a clicking noise under acceleration.

10 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,405 POSTS

It sounds like it could be the radiator cooling fan barely touching the fan shroud. Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so I can hear the noise? That way I can tell for sure what's going on. You can upload it here with your response. Please make sure nothing is hitting the cooling fan. The thermostat itself can make noise unless it is installed backwards, then the engine will pop and tick due to excessive heat. Here is a guide to show you the direction the thermostat should be installed:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.

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Tuesday, July 11th, 2023 AT 11:32 AM

EL_OGAN

MEMBER
14 POSTS

Hey Ken, thanks for your response to my question. Today I was driving the truck home because I had to drive it out of necessity and noticed that it was overheating so I stopped by a friend's house and asked him to rev up the engine while I was taking a look at it which was the first time I could accomplish this because I live by myself. I noticed that the radiator fan did not speed up when he stepped on the accelerator at all and it seemed to be running at a snail's pace, not nearly as quick as you would expect even at idle. I also noticed that I could spin it freely even with the vehicle shut off. If I'm not mistaken with the serpentine belt on that fan should not move at all is that correct? My guess is with the fan was not operating properly and that was the reason I got overheating today on the highway. Could this also directly coincide with what you just suggested might be the problem causing the ticking? Seeing as it was 10:30 at night when I got home, I wasn't able to film a video for you, but I will do that tomorrow morning if you require. Again, I sincerely thank you Ken for your help. I do not know what I would do without this website saying as I am far too poor to take it to a mechanic. 2carpros. Com is literally a lifesaver.

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Tuesday, July 11th, 2023 AT 9:38 PM

EL_OGAN

MEMBER
14 POSTS

As a secondary note since the ticking started I hadn't had the car on the highway at all and had only taken it on short in town trips which is why I'm guessing I did not see the overheating become a problem until today the engine was also extremely hot like to the touch because of that lack of air movement the fan should have been providing.

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Tuesday, July 11th, 2023 AT 9:41 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
43,405 POSTS

This truck has an electric cooling fan, correct? I have seen them make a clicking noise when they go bad, and this can make the engine overheat. Here is how to change it out in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.

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