# Noise from under the hood **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 12, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901 "2022-12-12T16:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![keyser318\_183318](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@keyser318\_183318](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keyser318_183318)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/1 "2022-12-12T16:26:50Z")
I have a 2014 Tradesman Van that seems to be running fine but is making a strange noise. I am hoping someone can help me identify it. I have a recording of the noise if there is a way to post it. It is an intermittent tapping/clicking noise ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/2 "2022-12-12T16:37:16Z")
Just describe the noise and where it is coming from. Recordings often don’t help because they have no direction to them. Also post MUCH more information about the van. I don’t car what color it is but mileage, engine type and size and similar as well as WHEN the noise occurs and does it change with engine rpm. ---
**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:** [December 12, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/3 "2022-12-12T16:43:51Z")
Click on this icon above your post. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/5/f/5fb253f449177a4d9a443e16d09e1bf5c9eb62c7.png) And you can up-load a file. Tester ---
**Author:** ![keyser318\_183318](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@keyser318\_183318](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keyser318_183318)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/4 "2022-12-12T16:43:56Z")
Yes sorry. 3.6L V6 in the dodge Ram Tradesman van. About 130K miles. I think it is coming from the front and I would describe it as an intermittent tapping. But it is distinct. Changing the RPMs did not seem to change the noise. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/5 "2022-12-12T16:53:00Z")
Does it happen all the time? Only while driving? When sitting still with the engine on? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/6 "2022-12-12T20:15:18Z")
If it’s under the hood you might identify where it’s coming from (front/back, left/right). ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/7 "2022-12-12T20:24:47Z")
I can think of one possibility not related to RPM, the AC. Does it still make noises if AC and Defrost is turned off? Another possibility could be a cooling fan if electrically driven. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2022, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/8 "2022-12-12T21:14:25Z")
Hard to say, could be caused by anything that’s moving in engine compartment. OP, you might try using a length of old garden hose as a stethoscope to narrow down where the noise is coming from. The only time I’ve had a noise like that on my own older Ford truck was a water pump on the fritz. Make sure engine oil is in good condition and at the proper mark on the dipstick of course. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/9 "2022-12-13T01:25:57Z")
These motors are known to frequently have problems with the rocker arms. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/10 "2022-12-13T02:03:52Z")
My old olds developed a pretty loud clacking sound. Finally I pulled the valve cover off and three rockers were pretty well worn or/and their keepers. I think I paid less than $30 for the parts and was done by ten o’clock. ---
**Author:** ![keyser318\_183318](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@keyser318\_183318](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keyser318_183318)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/11 "2022-12-13T13:21:55Z")
Is this noise inconsistent. Meaning a noticeable break in between noises? I wish I could post I realized I could post the video with noise to YouTube. [December 13, 2022 - YouTube](https://youtu.be/nITHkru6Obs) You can hear it right away ---
**Author:** ![keyser318\_183318](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@keyser318\_183318](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keyser318_183318)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/12 "2022-12-14T13:33:37Z")
Does that noise sound familiar to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/13 "2022-12-14T14:47:00Z")
No, but given it’s random occurrence I’d say it is more likely something loose that an internal engine problem. The regular ticking you hear is the valves tapping. You might want to have them adjusted while the mechanic looks for something loose. ---
**Author:** ![keyser318\_183318](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@keyser318\_183318](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keyser318_183318)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/14 "2022-12-14T15:03:21Z")
Thank you. One of the guys I work with thinks it is a timing chain. But that doesn’t make sense to me. Hoping someone recognizes it. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/15 "2022-12-14T15:14:08Z")
> [@keyser318\_183318](#): > > Thank you. One of the guys I work with thinks it is a timing chain Is he an actual mechanic ? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/noise-from-under-the-hood/187901/16 "2022-12-14T17:24:06Z")
Sounds like a noisy belt tensioner. The ticking sound is from the fuel injectors, this is normal.