Cayman R 'ticking' at idle/low revs

[Motorhead]

Most probably a "sticky" tappet Colin. This will give a loud tick as opposed to the light ticking from the DFI injectors. I'd give the car a good hard run and, if the problem persists, get your PC to have a look at it. Or maybe you can get a local garage to put the car up on a ramp while you have a listen. Remember that with the flat-6 configuration, noise radiating from the engine crankcase/cylinders/heads gets reflected from the ground and out the sides of the car, so it's much more noticeable than it is for an in-line engine where the engine bay and bonnet can be used to attenuate radiated sound from the engine. There have been a number of forum postings on the subject of replacement windscreens; try doing a search across all the forums. Jeff

 

[colski1961]

Help,

any advice on a Cayman R?

car has just been through the 114 point check and passed for another 2 year warranty - original warranty expires on the 29th Sept.
Car is 3 years old and only done 8000 miles.

This morning, taking for it's first MOT, got a stone chip and now have a 3" crack high up on the drivers side.....expect that to extend over the winter and will need a new screen (any recommendations?).

Sorry, I'm waffling, main issue was, after picking up from MOT (watched KwikFit do it) driving home there's now a ticking noise at low levs and in idle. Quite noticeable and don't think it was there before.....any thoughts what it might be? No sign of it at higher speeds or revs, I'm sure it wasn't there before but had also just filled up with Shell V Power (used since new) so not sure if there might be an issue with the fuel but doesn't sound like tappet type of noise and is a distinctive "tick"

Any thoughts? Perfer not to have to take back to OPC as it's a 6 hour round trip from here

Cheers, Colin

 

[colski1961]

thanks Jeff, I'll certainly give it a blast at the weekend and hopefully that'll cure it if not then it'll have to be a trip over to Aberdeen as not sure I trust of the local garages around here with my pride and joy I'll also do a search on windscreens as you suggest. Thanks, Colin

 

[kasspa]

Loose spark plugs have also been mentioned in the past!!

 

[Motorhead]

Good call Paul. A rare-ish occurrence and since the car has just had its 114-point check, you'd have to hope that the technician would have noticed a loose plug. But then, maybe not if it wasn't on the list..! Jeff

 

[colski1961]

nice idea but no, not loose plugs - think Jeff may have it with the sticky tappet - I'll update after my blast on Sunday, hopefully all sorted then.

 

[tscaptain]

How many ticks per second? Lots? With a 6 cylinder at 700 rpm there would 35 ticks per second if it was the injector noise. A sticky tappet would be half of that (I think!) My money would be on the injectors that you just hadn't noticed before. []

 

[colski1961]

at idle I say its not more than 5-10 per second, although I didn't count.

 

[tscaptain]

Not injectors then...[] Unless one is particularly noisy ....

 

[Motorhead]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain How many ticks per second? Lots? With a 6 cylinder at 700 rpm there would 35 ticks per second if it was the injector noise. A sticky tappet would be half of that (I think!) My money would be on the injectors that you just hadn't noticed before. []

Good luck trying to count 35 or even 17 ticks/sec without the use of a spectrum analyser Cap'n..! As I said originally, the DFI injectors make a relatively light continuous "ticking" sound whereas a rogue tappet will make (you've guessed it) a distinctive "tapping" sound. Colin's Cayman, like mine, is a lightly used car and I often find that one of my tappets is a bit noisy on start-up if I've not used the car for a week, but usually I find that everything has quietened down after a 30-mile blast to get the oil fully up to temperature. Motto: use the car more.! Jeff

 

[John H]

I've had my Cayman for nearly 8 years and over 62,000 miles now, and I still worry about ticking noises which seem to come and go. I have simply come to the conclusion that it is an inherently noisy engine at tickover

 

[Motorhead]

John, From my post above where I was referring in general to exterior noise: Remember that with the flat-6 configuration, noise radiating from the engine crankcase/cylinders/heads gets reflected from the ground and out the sides of the car, so it's much more noticeable than it is for an in-line engine where the engine bay and bonnet can be used to attenuate radiated sound from the engine. Jeff

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead Good luck trying to count 35 or even 17 ticks/sec without the use of a spectrum analyser Cap'n..!

I was only trying to differentiate between rapid ticking or one that you could count, Jeff, as the OP gave no indication of the frequency! One man's tick is another man's tap/clunk/bang/rattle etc etc[] Personally, I would bother asking on here but just take it in to my PC, especially as the OP has extended warranty, and let them listen.

 

[John H]

ORIGINAL: Motorhead John, From my post above where I was referring in general to exterior noise: Remember that with the flat-6 configuration, noise radiating from the engine crankcase/cylinders/heads gets reflected from the ground and out the sides of the car, so it's much more noticeable than it is for an in-line engine where the engine bay and bonnet can be used to attenuate radiated sound from the engine. Jeff

Yeah, I take that on board, but mine still makes random ticking noises one day but not the next, I guess it's just the nature of the engine/installation

 

[Chris_in_the_UK]

^^^ Likewise - the trouble is the internet has bred paranoia to the extreme!

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

A loose plug is much more common than you would think. However, it makes a 'chirping' sound, so it doesn't seem likely in this case.

 

[Boxstercol]

I have a very slight ticking on my 987 Boxster S, local OPC has told me not to worry as they all sound like that. Only noticeable on idle & still sounds the same after an oil change.

 

[colski1961]

Hi Guys, thanks for the comments, had a blast this morning and ticking still there afterwards, maybe it was always there but I didn't think so, anyway, no impact on drive or power so I'll assume normal unless it gets worse - don't fancy the 6 hour round trip to Aberdeen to check and it sounds (from other comments) as if it's normal. Windscreen being replaced on Wednesday by AutoWindscreens via Admiral Insurance. Cheers, Colin

 

[colski1961]

update, long drive and blast over the weekend. Ticking gone and engine purring again all good, must have been a sticky tappet

 

[Buddy]

Hi Colin, did Autowindscreens fit an original screen or a pattern? I just ask for reference since it is critical to warranty etc and I get asked where to get glass repairs.