Engine ticking during idle/not under load.

[Extremepeta]

Hey everyone,

Got a 2019 Ranger here. The engine started ticking the other day and sounds like the in the attached video. Does anyone know what it is? The only other related threads I found were the fan clutch but my ticking seems to be too fast to be that. It's closer to the RPM of the engine. EVAP purge valve maybe?

It seems to only happen while the engine is idling or not under load. In neutral I can rev the engine, hear the ticking increase in frequency and then it disappears pretty quickly. At a stop, it ticks but then goes away as soon as I pull away.

Any ideas what it might be?

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[Trustable]

I can hear a bit of the injectors too but it almost sounds like it’s rubbing on something? Maybe a belt hitting something?

 

[ctechbob]

I know phones tend to exaggerate sounds, but....that one doesn't sound good. Can you shoot another video with a small rev so we can hear it change/go away?

 

[Rrrr-Anger19]

what happens when under light throttle? Does it smooth out or get louder?

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Me, if my Ranger was making those sounds and I was going to open the hood to check things out…

I know there are a lot of comments about the “sewing machine“ sounds from the Ranger‘s 2.3L but that sounds much louder than anything I’ve heard coming from my truck.

There was another thread with a similar sounding noise captured on video.

Maybe a search might reveal that thread - maybe they found the issue.

 

[pickettf3nce]

From your video, it doesn't quite sound metallic, leading me to believe your engine internals are fine., but it does sound like you're down a cylinder with that rough idle. Have you scanned the ECU for any DTCs?

My guess is a clogged fuel injector or fouled out spark plug, but it wouldn't hurt to double-check your coil packs while you're at it.

 

[Extremepeta]

Got another video of the engine. So turns out the ticking doesn't go away as I thought with higher RPMs... at least not revving the engine while in neutral. Take it with a grain of salt, but it does sound like it goes away when I accelerate, but that's from the cabin. I tried recording in the cabin but the microphone doesn't really pick it up. It could be the higher frequency noise isn't making it into the cabin, or it could be drowned out by other noise.

I picked up a stethoscope today so when it stops raining I'll go out and see if I can pin point the source of the noise.

I haven't scanned the ECU for any codes as there's no check engine light on, but I can give it a scan tomorrow and let you guy know if I find anything.

Edit: I should have also noted that I did have to replace the DPFE sensor a couple months ago, and the AC stopped working about a year and a half ago after I replaced the front brakes. Not sure if it's related, but thought I would mention it.

 

[My12SecRanger]

I would remove the drive belt and see if the noise stops

 

[ctechbob]

To me it sounds like rod knock. If you take the belts off and it doesn't get quiet, there's not much else that will make a noise like that.

 

[Techcargt]

Another trick I used back in the day to help pin-point a noise was to use a 3/4 " heater hose , put one end next to your ear and move the other around till you hear it the loudest .

 

[airline tech]

Got another video of the engine. So turns out the ticking doesn't go away as I thought with higher RPMs... at least not revving the engine while in neutral. Take it with a grain of salt, but it does sound like it goes away when I accelerate, but that's from the cabin. I tried recording in the cabin but the microphone doesn't really pick it up. It could be the higher frequency noise isn't making it into the cabin, or it could be drowned out by other noise.

I picked up a stethoscope today so when it stops raining I'll go out and see if I can pin point the source of the noise.

I haven't scanned the ECU for any codes as there's no check engine light on, but I can give it a scan tomorrow and let you guy know if I find anything.

Edit: I should have also noted that I did have to replace the DPFE sensor a couple months ago, and the AC stopped working about a year and a half ago after I replaced the front brakes. Not sure if it's related, but thought I would mention it.

With the engine not rocking or missing a beat (at least from the video) and you stating the AC is not working and has not been working for a while.

I am going with its the AC Compressor

 

[Rrrr-Anger19]

due to the rhythmic sound from idling and changing pitch with acceleration. I would pull the plugs just to ensure each is good.

But this new information about the AC not working, it is in the region of the sound issue, passenger side front?

 

[Extremepeta]

Alright, so I'm like 90% sure it's the AC compressor. Using a stethoscope that ticking sound gets really frickin' loud in the stethoscope when I touch it off it. Hoping to remove the AC belt at some point to confirm 100%.

With that being said and my AC not working anyways, is there any problems if I keep driving it like this until I get it repaired? Just want to confirm that something crazy won't happen. For example, like the AC compressor pulley seizing and the belt snapping and then destroying a bunch of other stuff in the engine bay?

Currently as a thought experiment, what about just removing the AC belt all together? I'd have to keep an eye on the engine temps but winter is coming and day temps are currently around 45F degrees (7C) and dropping. I'd say about 95%+ of my driving can be done within 10 minutes of my house. The only other thing on the AC belt is the cooling fan, so I'd have to keep an eye on the engine temp, but would I be correct in saying that it would only be a problem when the engine is idling or there's slow airflow over the rad?

Edit: what do you guys use for holding the cooling fan pulley while you loosen the cooling fan shaft? Or is there a way to remove the AC belt without removing the cooling fan?

 

[airline tech]

Alright, so I'm like 90% sure it's the AC compressor. Using a stethoscope that ticking sound gets really frickin' loud in the stethoscope when I touch it off it. Hoping to remove the AC belt at some point to confirm 100%.

With that being said and my AC not working anyways, is there any problems if I keep driving it like this until I get it repaired? Just want to confirm that something crazy won't happen. For example, like the AC compressor pulley seizing and the belt snapping and then destroying a bunch of other stuff in the engine bay?

Currently as a thought experiment, what about just removing the AC belt all together? I'd have to keep an eye on the engine temps but winter is coming and day temps are currently around 45F degrees (7C) and dropping. I'd say about 95%+ of my driving can be done within 10 minutes of my house. The only other thing on the AC belt is the cooling fan, so I'd have to keep an eye on the engine temp, but would I be correct in saying that it would only be a problem when the engine is idling or there's slow airflow over the rad?

Edit: what do you guys use for holding the cooling fan pulley while you loosen the cooling fan shaft? Or is there a way to remove the AC belt without removing the cooling fan?

Running it as is: Yes, it can seize up and cause more damage.

Running it w/o belt - NO - It does not take long for the engine to build internal heat, plus in addition the PCM would not see cooling fan speed input and would not run correctly (it will go into Limp Mode)

The belt can be removed w/o pulling the fan, but auto parts stores have a (rental tool) fan clutch removal tool. (It holds the pulley in place for the hub nut removal / install.
Note: LH Threads

 

[Extremepeta]

Alright, so I think I have confirmed that it is the AC compressor/clutch.

This is the engine with the AC belt removed. There is still a rythmic ticking sound in there, but it's definitly not the same ticking/knocking that I was trying to diagnose. So if anyone knows what this ticking sound is, that'd be great. It sounds similar to the tick/tock sound of the fan clutch, but the AC belt is off here, so I don't think it's that.

And here it is again with the AC belt back on. The sound I was trying to diagnose it back and you can hear it pretty clearly when I look at it from the bottom.

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