‘13 Engine ticking

[txtahoe85]

2013 Tahoe Lt 5.3 with 155k. Just noticed a ticking/rattling from lower part of engine. I have a constant regular ticking(lifter-rocker-rod…?) you can hear in video, but the new sound is the irregular rattle (most audible at 22-26 sec mark). The rattle will increase with acceleration from a stop but becomes inaudible over 10ish mph- not saying it stops, just can’t hear it over the engine. I changed the upstream 02 sensors a week ago coincidentally. Looking for any advice.

 

[Geotrash]

2013 Tahoe Lt 5.3 with 155k. Just noticed a ticking/rattling from lower part of engine. I have a constant regular ticking(lifter-rocker-rod…?) you can hear in video, but the new sound is the irregular rattle (most audible at 22-26 sec mark). The rattle will increase with acceleration from a stop but becomes inaudible over 10ish mph- not saying it stops, just can’t hear it over the engine. I changed the upstream 02 sensors a week ago coincidentally. Looking for any advice.

Might need to upload the video to YouTube with public permissions and link it back here.

 

[txtahoe85]

Whoops‍

 

[txtahoe85]

Might need to upload the video to YouTube with public permissions and link it back here.

Should be viewable now

 

[Geotrash]

2013 Tahoe Lt 5.3 with 155k. Just noticed a ticking/rattling from lower part of engine. I have a constant regular ticking(lifter-rocker-rod…?) you can hear in video, but the new sound is the irregular rattle (most audible at 22-26 sec mark). The rattle will increase with acceleration from a stop but becomes inaudible over 10ish mph- not saying it stops, just can’t hear it over the engine. I changed the upstream 02 sensors a week ago coincidentally. Looking for any advice.

I hear two distinct problems in that video. 1/ A light lifter tap (regular rhythm at half crank rotation speed) and 2/ What sounds to me like either a bad flex plate or the starter tapping against the flex plate.

The first one I wouldn't worry about yet because it's not that bad and may fix itself. The second one I would get fixed ASAP. Gonna require pulling the transmission out if it is indeed the flex plate. BUT, another probable source of #2 is the starter. One of the failure modes of the starter on these is that the drive gear retract spring collar fails and lets it tap against the flywheel. I'll see if I can find some examples.

Here's an example of the starter noise to compare it with:

And here's an example of the flex plate noise.

To my ear, yours sounds more like the starter noise, so that's where I'd start because it's a relatively easy fix - just swap out the starter.

 

[txtahoe85]

I hear two distinct problems in that video. 1/ A light lifter tap (regular rhythm at half crank rotation speed) and 2/ What sounds to me like either a bad flex plate or the starter tapping against the flex plate.

The first one I wouldn't worry about yet because it's not that bad and may fix itself. The second one I would get fixed ASAP. Gonna require pulling the transmission out if it is indeed the flex plate. BUT, another probable source of #2 is the starter. One of the failure modes of the starter on these is that the drive gear retract spring collar fails and lets it tap against the flywheel. I'll see if I can find some examples.

Here's an example of the starter noise to compare it with:

And here's an example of the flex plate noise.

To my ear, yours sounds more like the starter noise, so that's where I'd start because it's a relatively easy fix - just swap out the starter.

Yeah mine sounds like the flex plate but much quieter than the truck in the video. Was hoping for something not requiring $1000 of labor.

 

[swathdiver]

Yeah mine sounds like the flex plate but much quieter than the truck in the video. Was hoping for something not requiring $1000 of labor.

Costs nothing but time to drop the starter and inspect it.

 

[txtahoe85]

 

[txtahoe85]

Costs nothing but time to drop the starter and inspect it.

True, I’m just being pessimistic. My luck tends to favor worst diagnosis possible.

 

[iamdub]

2013 Tahoe Lt 5.3 with 155k. Just noticed a ticking/rattling from lower part of engine. I have a constant regular ticking(lifter-rocker-rod…?) you can hear in video, but the new sound is the irregular rattle (most audible at 22-26 sec mark). The rattle will increase with acceleration from a stop but becomes inaudible over 10ish mph- not saying it stops, just can’t hear it over the engine. I changed the upstream 02 sensors a week ago coincidentally. Looking for any advice.

I would pop the inspection cover off the bellhousing and look in with a bright flashlight. Check for cracked flex plate and loose bolts.

 

[swathdiver]

True, I’m just being pessimistic. My luck tends to favor worst diagnosis possible.

Me too, I hear a click and think it's a main bearing!

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Can we get 1 more video of the motor revving without the vehicle moving?

I was starting to lean towards a lifter or something but sound that occurred while it was moving was interesting, I want to see if it will make the same sound while sitting because there might be more than 1 thing happening that could lead us into the weeds

 

[txtahoe85]

I would pop the inspection cover off the bellhousing and look in with a bright flashlight. Check for cracked flex plate and loose bolts.

 

[Doubeleive]

2013 Tahoe Lt 5.3 with 155k. Just noticed a ticking/rattling from lower part of engine. I have a constant regular ticking(lifter-rocker-rod…?) you can hear in video, but the new sound is the irregular rattle (most audible at 22-26 sec mark). The rattle will increase with acceleration from a stop but becomes inaudible over 10ish mph- not saying it stops, just can’t hear it over the engine. I changed the upstream 02 sensors a week ago coincidentally. Looking for any advice.

kind of lightly sounds like my cat recently did that broke apart inside, put a stethascope on it

 

[Doubeleive]

I was going to say, he could start his own band lol

 

[txtahoe85]

Can we get 1 more video of the motor revving without the vehicle moving?

I was starting to lean towards a lifter or something but sound that occurred while it was moving was interesting, I want to see if it will make the same sound while sitting because there might be more than 1 thing happening that could lead us into the weeds

I’ll take get one when I get home. The sound gets louder and faster when throttle increases IN GEAR. At idle it’s much less intense and if you throttle in park, it doesn’t increase its tempo or intensity like in drive or reverse.

 

[iamdub]

Them's the teef! How about the three bolts where the torque converter bolts to the flex plate? Gonna have to look way up in there towards the center to check for cracks. They usually crack around the six bolts that mount the flex plate to the crankshaft, often in a ring around the bolts.

 

[txtahoe85]

kind of lightly sounds like my cat recently did that broke apart inside, put a stethascope on it

My buddy suggested that, I just don’t understand why it gets louder and incrementally faster with throttle in gear, but in park it’s pretty moderate. I’ve got a trip to CO in a month and I don’t want to bring this damn engine bay band with me!

 

[txtahoe85]

Them's the teef! How about the three bolts where the torque converter bolts to the flex plate? Gonna have to look way up in there towards the center to check for cracks. They usually crack around the six bolts that mount the flex plate to the crankshaft, often in a ring around the bolts.

View attachment 399694

That’s after dropping the transmission though right? I don’t know if I want to wade off that deep without a lift. Monday I should have one.

 

[iamdub]

That’s after dropping the transmission though right? I don’t know if I want to wade off that deep without a lift. Monday I should have one.

You should be able to see up in there. You can see one of the three torque converter bolt bosses in your second pic. It's a somewhat thin gap to look through while trying to get your flashlight just right, but you can see the six bolts up around the center that bolt the plate to the crank. Should be plenty able to see cracks.