San Jose Auto Repair

The ticking starts with the first engine start of the morning. It's sharp enough to hear beside the front wheel, speeds up as the engine revs, and fades before you've finished the first few miles. By the time someone opens the hood to listen, the engine sounds nearly normal. Bring up that timing when booking the appointment. A noise that disappears as the engine warms is difficult to identify after a drive across town. Leaving the vehicle overnight can be more useful than trying to describe the sound over a fully warmed engine. Exhaust Escaping Through a Small Gap Can Tick The exhaust manifold collects hot gases from the cylinders and directs them into the exhaust system. Those gases arrive in pulses. A small opening at a gasket, crack, or connection can release each pulse as a tick or puff instead of the deep rumble people associate with a damaged muffler. The sound follows engine speed because the exhaust pulses speed up with it. It can become more notice ... read more