# Engine Slapping Noise

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** noises\
**Created:** [March 26, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337 "2009-03-26T16:24:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JWestern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@JWestern](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JWestern)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337/1 "2009-03-26T16:24:34Z")

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I have a 1995 Buick Century. When start the Buick there is a slapping noise (more like the sound of a broken electric atena noise going up and down)lasting for 5-15 seconds. It goes away never to be heard until I start the engine the next time. Any suggestion on what the noise is? Thank you.  
  
  
  
 Regards…Jeff

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337/2 "2009-03-26T16:31:14Z")

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If it’s a sharp click-click-click-clack type of noise it’s probably a bad hydraulic valve lifter that’s “bleeding down”. It takes a few seconds for oil pressure to pump it back up. Does this happen on EVERY start-up or just the first one in the morning?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337/3 "2009-03-26T16:38:18Z")

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Does the vehicle have ABS? If so, the noise could be from the ABS pump running it’s self diagnostics.

Tester

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**Author:** ![JWestern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/41988e/32.png) [@JWestern](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JWestern)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/engine-slapping-noise/28337/4 "2009-03-26T16:40:46Z")

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It happens after the can has sat for a while. But does not occur all of the time. It seems to be occuring more often recently. It is not a fast click…but more slow noise like the sound of an electric antena going down. More of a clunk – clunk – clunk.