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Hershey Squirts

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Hello so my 2011 ram has been making a ticking noise from what sounds to me like the passenger side of the engine bay originally though my ac bearing was failing but when I took off the belt the noise was still there on cold starts it’s almost unrecognizable but once the rpm’s drop to idle it’s louder and going down the road it’s unrecognizable I have no clue what it could be almost sounds like when you would stick a card in the spikes of a bike I fear it may be timing chain guide broke but I have no clue can anyone please help
 

MADDOG

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It could also be a worn belt tensioner.
 

RamDiver

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A mechanic's stethoscope may help isolate the noise especially if it's bearing related.

This $9 device could be invaluable for identifying irregular noises.



.
 

GeauxinUp

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It’s a 4.7 v8 with 150,000 miles
 

EdGs

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I would use the stethascope to try to pinpoint the noise.

If you took the belt off, and the noise is still there, that would narrow it down to something internal, aside from flex plate or maybe starter gear not disengaging fully.

Check all over with the stethascope.

I'm wondering if you've got a worn out/broken timing chain guide or tensioner (worn/broken guide way more common, IMO). I believe there is a guide and tensioner on each side,

A stethascope on the timing cover would bear that out.

Keep us posted.
 
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Hershey Squirts

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So I just bought a stethoscope and listened around and still have no clue lol I can hear like a metal on metal tinking noise at the front of the passenger side valve cover but I also hear it around the water pump as well if it was the guide wouldn’t there be some sort of other sign other then the ticking because the truck runs great and fuel mileage is good what stumps me is when I first start the truck it’s not there but once the truck drops too 500 rpm it’s loud as hell and doesn’t go away
 

EdGs

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You have to listen at various places for that same tapping you hear once it idles down.

You have a 4.7. It looks like this, basically.

This one is a 2002 JTEC engine, mid-2003 and later have an NGC engine. There is a different tone ring on the crank, and the windows on the cam sprocket are different.

20190414_181458 (1).jpeg
The passenger side chain guide is on the top side of the chain on the left in this photo, it's tensioner is under the left chain, just left of the idler sprocket in the center of the engine.

The driver side tenioner and guide are reversed, tensioner on top, guide on the bottom.

There is also a tensioner and guide for the crankshaft to idler chain located on either side of the chain, tensioner on left, guide on the right in this photo.
 
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EdGs

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Try to listen with the stethascope all over.

Several points on top of the valve covers. If a bad rocker, you should hear it best near the affected cylinder(s).

If it's chain rattle, you should hear it best near the base of the heads where they join to the block.

Crank to idler chain noise should be heard at the front above the harmonic balancer and below the water pump.

Be careful, probably not easy to get in there with a stethascope, don't chance it if you're not comfortable.
 

EdGs

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So I just bought a stethoscope and listened around and still have no clue lol I can hear like a metal on metal tinking noise at the front of the passenger side valve cover but I also hear it around the water pump as well if it was the guide wouldn’t there be some sort of other sign other then the ticking because the truck runs great and fuel mileage is good what stumps me is when I first start the truck it’s not there but once the truck drops too 500 rpm it’s loud as hell and doesn’t go away
The passenger side chain runs in those areas you describe, especially if you hear it more toward the front of the engine.
 
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Hershey Squirts

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So I just took off the valve cover on the passenger side and the guides still look good
 

dimulec

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To me it sounds like one injector is going bad. At least they are easier to test than to check the valves.
 

Dusty

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Heard this symptom a number off times. It's been a while, but high mileage 4.7s could need timing chain tensioners and/or timing chains.

Not easy to check with just a valve cover off, but the chains should be very tight with the engine off.

Best regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 150003 miles.
 

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