Valve Tap-like Noise coming from Engine

Spilchy · 04-27-04, 03:41

Well I had a dead battery today

After I jumped it I heard a tapping-like noise or click coming from the center of the engine underneath the valve covers.

I have heard it before, but with the hood up it was pronounced. In fact, my neighbor looked at me funny and asked if it was a diesel

Mind you, the engine was ice cold, and it quieted down just a little away when warmed up. But when you reved to 1500 rpm's the click would speed up to.

The car is a 2001 VW Jetta VR6 running high test gas and has the oil changed every 3 months at the dealer.

What could be the cause or does VW just have this sound to it?

Thanks!

BradE · 04-27-04, 04:02

Are you running heavier oil than spec? Sometimes running a thicker oil will cause a slight valve tap until it warms up. Since the battery died it's possible power was lost to the PCM and the PCM is relearning all the proper values for your engine to run at it's optimal level. It takes a few drive cycles for this to occur. Drive it as normal the next few days and see if it gets better.

Monk_04SER · 04-27-04, 04:13

I know newer nissans have a loud fuel injector tick. if you have never heard it before i would definitly get it checked out. could have fried something

hopefully nothing big has happened, that is a nice car.

~Monk

Spilchy · 04-27-04, 04:54

Update boys and girls

After I jumped it, I let it run for 1 hour. It hadn't been started in 4 days.

I wrote about the tick within the first 15 minutes I heard it.

Went outside.....ALL GONE

Thanks for the help though!

Phew, dodged a bullet. Thought I had a little gremlin in there.

Funny thing is, i was wiping it down with a second coat of Crystal Mist and it had a dead battery the whole time!

Bill D · 04-27-04, 05:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Spilchy
It hadn't been started in 4 days.

The battery was totally dead after not being run for only 4 days? Wow

Accumulator · 04-28-04, 08:25

Spilchy- Yeah, as eShine said, it was probably just a bled-down lifter. Some VWs and Audis bleed down sorta quick, but they pump back up with no harm done. Some of the older 5-cylinder ones could bleed down in a few *hours* if you parked them on the right incline.

But as Bill D said, you might want to look into why the battery died after only four days...