Help: Engine Ticking Noise, Fuel Injectors?

[redskync]

I just picked up my new Sky Redline (red) from the dealer this evening, and not 5 minutes down the road I heard this faint ticking sound that increased with revs. As I continued my 45 minute drive home, the noise grew louder.

After pulling in the garage, I opened the hood and the rapid ticking sound is coming from the top of the engine. It is a continuous sound that is much louder than the engine at idle. When I rev up, the speed of the ticking increases. I believe the noise is coming from the fuel injector system.

Also, after the car idles for about a minute, the ticking noise continues but there is a new noise that repeats every 5 seconds and makes more of a clunking noise, almost like the sound of a computer hard drive that is dead and just makes that 'thunk boing' noise.

Can anyone else hear this noise, or does my car have something wrong?

What are the chances my dealer can actually test this vehicle, as my understanding is this is a new fuel system for GM. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance!

[cerberus]

Welcome to the forum!!!! Yeah, lots of reports of injector noise here and at our related Solstice forum. I'll defer to the local Redline owners here, but sounds like you're discovering one of the normal traits of the car.

[mrcheese87]

mine makes the exact same noises and you actually used the same sound alike situation as i do..(hard drive clunking)...From what I have read on the forums, this is completely normal and just the fuel injector working. I have about 800 miles on my redline now...sounds the same as the day I picked it up with 8 miles on it and have had no issues...i'm no car mechanic, but I am a skyroadster.com pro

Stephen

[redskync]

To be clear, the noise is so loud that I hear it inside the car with the windows up and radio on at a moderate level. It is annoying to say the least. Can everyone else hear it inside the car as well?

[SKY Spy]

Remember that your RedLine's fuel system is a "direct injection" system and is set-up to work at pressures up to 1,600 psi and the mechanical fule pump and the high pressure fuel injectors do make that clicking sound. There is an actual bulletin from Saturn and GM that states this is 100% NORMAL and there is no need for concern!!!

Enjoy your RedLine... You WILL get used to the clicking noise and eventually FORGET it is even there...

Have Fun!!!

Regards,

BA...

[shadrach]

You've purchased a high-performance roadster with a little engine, light flywheel, and lots of other little 'neat' toys.

It will click, whirl, whistle, clunk, and shake. It's perfectly normal. Plus it's a GM product, so some noises might just be loose parts

[mrcheese87]

Yes, I can hear it inside the car...I think i forgot about it after the first, plus if i have the radio on...The only time i really pay attention to it is when i start it up and let it idle for a little bit

Stephen

[redskync]

Does the 'non' redline version have the same fuel system? If so, I know someone that I can compare noise levels with. Thanks so much for your help!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by redskync

Does the 'non' redline version have the same fuel system? If so, I know someone that I can compare noise levels with. Thanks so much for your help!

No the regular Sky is differant. DO NOT worry the noise is normal. If you want, research it by going into the archives, in search mode. Think now, 4 direct injectors putting gas into the compression chamber. It takes a whole lot of gas pressure to get it into the chamber. Plus it is running at 700 or 900 RPMs. Four solinoids kicking on and off at that speed will make some noise. You might wonder if it is not making that noise....As has been said the injectors run at high pressure to overcome the compession stage of the engine...Skip...

[vrod]

In the old days, I'd say it was a valve issue. However, with this new type of engine here, I have to listen to what others tell me. Fuel injectors sound feasible enough. Hey, its under warranty, so if it breaks, they should fix it.

I've had good experience with Chevrolet (GM), so I put trust with their products.

[CountryGirl]

When we test drove ours at the dealer, we had the sales rep take it back to the service department because of that noise. She came right back and said that he said it was the fuel injectors. Then I remembered the discussions on the forum - OH - that noise!

I consider a lot of this stuff like my Neptune washer. It makes a lot of strange noises I've never heard from a washing machine, but it's all perfectly normal for it. Come to think of it, that sounds a lot like my husband!

[cseadoo]

same noise from my R/L

[jason]

I noticed it also, but now I feel much better knowing it is normal. I thought it sounded like a mechanics lift going up....

[TulsaSky]

Yes you have a high performance car and it will make all kinds of noise, some on this forum even feel that the exhaust is not loud enough, really they change it out. In our corvette I thought the radio sounded awful until we got stuck in traffic and turned the car off and listen just to the radio. Its that big V-8 that rumbles under the hood that drowns out the radio, now I know why the Boise system is the upgrade, we bought ours for perfomance not comfort duh
With the Redline you will hear the motor and all the associated sounds and in mine the wind noise from the seal problem passenger side only when you reach 50+MPH. Start up my Impala and I have to listen for the motor, oops I have restarted the car and it was running, can't hear the motor just the difference of a well insulated 4-door family car and the Sky Redline as the hot fast convertible.

TulsaSky

[Rick Tinley Park]

Originally Posted by TulsaSky

Yes you have a high performance car and it will make all kinds of noise, some on this forum even feel that the exhaust is not loud enough, really they change it out. In our corvette I thought the radio sounded awful until we got stuck in traffic and turned the car off and listen just to the radio. Its that big V-8 that rumbles under the hood that drowns out the radio, now I know why the Boise system is the upgrade, we bought ours for perfomance not comfort duh
With the Redline you will hear the motor and all the associated sounds and in mine the wind noise from the seal problem passenger side only when you reach 50+MPH. Start up my Impala and I have to listen for the motor, oops I have restarted the car and it was running, can't hear the motor just the difference of a well insulated 4-door family car and the Sky Redline as the hot fast convertible.

TulsaSky

You know -- you are So Right
It is nice to hear a motor again, to hear it change pitch and make the mechanical sounds it really is supposed to make.

[glkeegan]

My ticking noise is so loud that I took it in to the dealer. Same answer, it is the fuel injectors. They gave me a copy of the service bulletin. So far I am very pleased with the Redline.

[mdsky]

that ticking sound is the clock counting down until you, along with the rest of us has a diff problem...just kidding....enjoy all is well...it is one great car.

[SKYGAZR]

FYI

[SkyTech]

The hard drive ticking nosie is the pressure control solenoid on the mechanical fuel pump and the regular ticking is of course the injectors putting out 2,176 psi at WOT

[deluke]

Originally Posted by cerberus

Welcome to the forum!!!! Yeah, lots of reports of injector noise here and at our related Solstice forum. I'll defer to the local Redline owners here, but sounds like you're discovering one of the normal traits of the car.

I know they say it's a normal thing for all turbos not just the Red Line and GXP.

[Gerry]

It's a normal thing for any car with electronic injection. Much louder on direct injection whether it has a turbo or not. You can hear the ticking on a non-turbo, non-direct injection car if you're outside the cabin. Yes, it's the price you pay for owning a sportscar. Lots of compromises.

[duck833]

Just get the magna-flow and the CAI and you will not be able to hear anything. The Magna-flow and the sucking sounds from the turbo will drown out anything else!