c200 occasional ticking from engine

[117]

hey guys, basically when i have my windows down, i sometimes notice a quiet ticking noise from the engine bay, is this a common problem?, i recently had the car looked at by a merc specialist and he spotted no major problems apart from the possibility that my water pump was on its last legs, could this be the source of the noise or should i be worried? cheers.

 

[mark.t]

are you moving or stationary

 

[117]

happens in both instances mate

 

[Simon]

How many miles on the clock?

 

[mobeyone]

me thinks tappets... same problem as me!

 

[Robbo]

Mobeyone,

I spoke to my main dealer today about lifter noise and he says it is not uncommon for them to need replacing. He told me they did the lifters on an AMG V8 engine yesterday and the car had done only 20K miles.

He said that unless the car is making a lot of noise then just forget about it as they may last another 50K miles before they need doing. I asked how much it would be to replace a set of lifters. He said that the lifters themselves are not that expensive only about £200-300 for a set. Labour to replace a set would be 3-4 hours. Actually I was surprised how low the labour was. So at a main dealer, you are looking at about £700-800 all in. Obviously much less at an indy.

 

[117]

cars done 200k

 

[mobeyone]

Mobeyone,

I spoke to my main dealer today about lifter noise and he says it is not uncommon for them to need replacing. He told me they did the lifters on an AMG V8 engine yesterday and the car had done only 20K miles.

He said that unless the car is making a lot of noise then just forget about it as they may last another 50K miles before they need doing. I asked how much it would be to replace a set of lifters. He said that the lifters themselves are not that expensive only about £200-300 for a set. Labour to replace a set would be 3-4 hours. Actually I was surprised how low the labour was. So at a main dealer, you are looking at about £700-800 all in. Obviously much less at an indy.

Sounds like it Robbo - thanks for this and I will wait.

Mine is very intermittant - sometimes its there, sometimes its not and only happened after i picked my car up from having the springs fitted.... am i being too suspicious? the car needs a really good warm up, something which mine does not get at the moment due to short trips to and from work and shopping locally..

But i do not like the idea of paying the best part of a grand for this job so will leave well alone for the time being and try a thicker oil next time as advised buy a few now.

Did he say if this would cause and detrimental damage to the engine over time? if nothing was done? i am going to change my oil every 5000 miles now. I have read a few other forums and there are a number of common failures with the modern mb... springs, tappets, electrics, bodywork througout the range.

If i was the owner of the amg.. i would be pissed and sell it.

sorry for hijacking your thread by the way.

mobe

 

[Robbo]

The dealer also said to try a different grade of oil as that may help. He didnt seem to think that any damage could be done by leaving it.

He also suggested that I leave the car with them overnight and and he would listen to it from a cold start so that he could determine how serious the problem is. This would be FOC. From my desription of the noise he didnt think I should worry at the moment.

TBH, I may just trade it in for another car. My 13 year old cavalier is still going strong after all these years and so Shock, horror, I may just go for a Vectra 150ps diesel as I have seen them s/h for about 11-12K which is just over what I can get for the C320 at trade in. I am sure it will be a more hassle free experience than owning a merc. Ultimlately I have been very disappointed with the brand.

 

[mobeyone]

Why are you and me in the same boat!

I too am thinking about trading in but i dont want to let go despite the problems and ££ spent to date. My last Mb cost me practically nothing in over three years ownership then this has in much less time.

I will try a thicker oil next time but if anything else goes.. my patientce is being tested.

 

[fnkhan68]

my mates 2001 c320 had the same problem of occassional ticking noise from the 1 or 2 tappets, he switched to magnetec oil and the noise is no more.

 

[hocky]

Have a 1997 C180 auto and it is quiet when in neutral and stopped. However, if it is stopped in gear like at the traffic lights, there is a slight tapping noise from the front and a slight vibration. This is not evident in my other C180, a 1994 older model. Why I don't know. Has this got to do with the new electronic gearbox or is it the worn out hydraulic damper for the drivebelt? Or is it the engine mounts?

 

[Dieselman]

For ticking tappets it is worth running some flushing oil through the engine or even stripping the tappets and flushing out with parafin or diesel.

The ticking is caused by the tappets not allowing oil into them so not extending adequately. The most common reason for this is that the sliding surfaces are gummed up.

Thicker oil could well exasserbate the problem as it won't flow into the tappet as readily.

The ticking shouldn't be left too long as it is a sign that the tappets aren't running against the quieting ramps of the cams so the valve seats and cam will wear more.

A quick check of the tappets is to run the engine at tickover and place some oil additive, such as STP or Wynnes, onto the cam lobe. If the noise stops then you've found the noisy tappet.

 

[AMGBoy]

the cam advance unit sometimes makes a sight nosie