So I sometimes get a clicking noise from the front of my engine... It's a loud click, and seems to happen more when the engine is about 1/2 warmed up... It only happens sometimes, but if it happens at idle, it's a single click every 3-5 seconds; or it will click pretty badly in 1st and 2nd, when I'm WOT (manual trans) towing a car trailer... If it is happening, it will only happen in 1st and 2nd, and will be 2-3 times/second... I can do just about anything to 3rd and it won't happen, and I can get on the "throttle" slower in 1st and 2nd, and it won't happen, or won't be as bad...

It's been doing this for some time, and I was in there shortly after I got the thing, doing the KDP fix, and everything looked fine... I also LOCTITEd all the other bolts in the cover, and torqued them to spec...

Seems odd that it happens while sitting in neutral, but also happens more at WOT 1st and 2nd...

Is this a common thing, or something I need to look into?

Thanks,
Mike
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Maybe something on the belt that is causing it? I know when my belt tensioner went it made all sorts of noise.

 

More metallic than that, and much less consistent...

Mike

 

To rule things out I would take the belt off and just start it. Don't leave it running because that belt runs your water pump and you don't want to burn up the head. Just start and and listen for the metallic noise. An A/c unit can make that noise if the clutch is burned out on it. If it is still happening with the belt off I would say you have a bigger issue. Could be something in the timing gears.. maybe a broken tooth on the VE pump or powersteering pump. Hard to really say without taking the front timing cover off and inspecting all the gears. If it was indeed happening in there you would see damage or some sign of the culprit.

Also while the belt is off spin the water pump by hand.. it could be something to do with that as well.

 

Please fill out your signature so we know what year, and options your truck has...this will help us to try and figure out what's going on.

I too had a weird clicking noise form my motor..89 cummins...after much diagnosing and headaches I finally determined that it was my vacuum pump set-up (Non-IC style) that was making all the noise. Converted over to an IC style set-up and noise has not been heard since. But yes definetly run it with no belt, that will help determine if it's a simple from accesory, or a major internal problem.

 

Filled out...

'90 W-250 CTD, Reg Cab, Getrag, 4.10, 113k miles, stock turbo, Non-I/C, 265/75-16 Destination M/T on Second Gen chrome steel wheels. 1 turn added to full power screw, 3/4 turn on smoke screw, stock pin turned to deeper side, and 3/4 turn on star wheel.

Definitely not an A/C compressor... Same type of sound, but louder...

The thing is, though, that it's not anywhere near consistent enough to just take the belt off and see if it does it or not... If nobody else's does it, I may just end up taking the front cover off and making sure there isn't a gear missing a tooth or something...

Mike

 

Actually, it's coming from the back of the engine... Wonder if it's something in/around the clutch?

Mike

 

Could have a bad finger on the pressure plate or maybe a spring on the clutch gave out. How many miles on this clutch system do you know? I've seen worse, seens a stick between the spline and throw out bearing haha.

 

It's got around 120k on it, and I'm sure the clutch is original... Until around 100k, it was a farm truck, though, and I'm sure it had the clutch working a lot, pulling 30k of grain wagons, and whatever those ammonia tanks weigh, around the fields and stuff... The clutch doesn't slip, but that doesn't mean anything...

Mike