Thoughts on this ticking noise? Video link included

[Harry Paratestes]

2002 Dodge Ram 4.7 engine noise. What is it?

what do you think this noise is? runs great, has good power. no check engine light for codes

youtu.be

Heres a video of a 02 Ram I bought. has the 4.7 and auto transmission. it made this noise when I bought it. I bought it mostly for the body as its rust free from florida and where I am from ND/MN, theres salt on the roads and you know what that means. has 195,000 miles.

My plans are to swap beds with my other ram and sell this one but id like to know if you think its easily fixable? I took the valve covers off already as i thought it was a rocker that had fallen off but they were all in place. I started it and ran it for a minute with the valve covers off ( thats what the oil residue is in the video) and didnt see anything that i thought was wrong. Ive never had to work on a 4 stroke like this before so im new to it. 2 strokes are easy for me to repair though.

Thoughts are rod knock? Doesnt rod knock happen all the time though? In the video it doesn't seem to tick all the time.

Other thought is maybe a loose bolt on the flywheel? Hitting the bell housing or something else? I read about this happening before. Again im not sure if im using the right terminology here, im not an expert. It does have good power and no check engine light to read codes.

Thanks for viewing the thread and your opinion.

 

[jws123]

I have worked on tons of 4.7 engines Its time for new lifters and timing chains/guides its for sure one or both making that noise its top end Its not that hard of a job to do $300 in parts. I bet it spit a rocker arm off pull the valve covers take a look at chains/rockers.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Sounds valve train related, they had valve seat problems on the 4.7l get a mechanics stethoscope and see if you can locate noise W/ engine running, checking for rod knock disconnect spark plug wire one at a time see if noise changes, I see a miss when you accelerate the engine.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

I have worked on tons of 4.7 engines Its time for new lifters and timing chains/guides its for sure one or both making that noise its top end Its not that hard of a job to do $300 in parts. I bet it spit a rocker arm off pull the valve covers take a look at chains/rockers.

I pulled the covers. Was hoping to see a rocker arm off like ive read about. All were on. Could it still be lifters if the rocker arms are still on?

My intention is not to dump a bunch of money into the engine since ill be selling this truck after i swap the bed with my bed thats on my 2 door. Id love to keep it but i need the money right now and guys with cummins powered rams will buy it for the cab/front clip pretty fast since its rust free.

Do you think i could get away with a set of lifters? Ive watched videos on replacing them and it doesnt seem too hard. If i need to i can pull the covers again and get another video if you need to see something to verify that its the lifters or if you think i should do some sort of procedure to tell if its the lifters.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Sounds valve train related, they had valve seat problems on the 4.7l get a mechanics stethoscope and see if you can locate noise W/ engine running, checking for rod knock disconnect spark plug wire one at a time see if noise changes, I see a miss when you accelerate the engine.

What kind of noise difference should i look for when taking off plug wires when running? See if it makes a difference or if it makes no difference in sound i take it?

 

[jws123]

I pulled the covers. Was hoping to see a rocker arm off like ive read about. All were on. Could it still be lifters if the rocker arms are still on?

My intention is not to dump a bunch of money into the engine since ill be selling this truck after i swap the bed with my bed thats on my 2 door. Id love to keep it but i need the money right now and guys with cummins powered rams will buy it for the cab/front clip pretty fast since its rust free.

Do you think i could get away with a set of lifters? Ive watched videos on replacing them and it doesnt seem too hard. If i need to i can pull the covers again and get another video if you need to see something to verify that its the lifters or if you think i should do some sort of procedure to tell if its the lifters.

Yes the lifters can still be bad with the rockers still on they usually fail around 100k miles same for timing chains. With the covers off look down the front timing cover both sides see if the plastic guides are broken also spin the engine over see if the chain has alot of slack.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

What kind of noise difference should i look for when taking off plug wires when running? See if it makes a difference or if it makes no difference in sound i take it?

If you have a rod knock the noise on that cylinder should almost go away by removing the plug wire it takes the load off of that cylinder, remember this on a 4- stroke engine, Intake, compression, power or detonation, exhaust.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Yes the lifters can still be bad with the rockers still on they usually fail around 100k miles same for timing chains. With the covers off look down the front timing cover both sides see if the plastic guides are broken also spin the engine over see if the chain has alot of slack.

could i just take the fuse for the fuel pump out and turn it over? Im on my own working on this so im not sure how i can have it turn over while im under the hood too? Any ideas?

 

[jws123]

yes you can pull the fuse and turn it over. You can also turn it over by hand to see if the chain has alot of slack bolt is a 21-22m

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Turn the alternator bolt, correct? I tried to do that with plugs in and the belt slipped. I think i need to take plugs out

 

[jws123]

Turn the alternator bolt, correct? I tried to do that with plugs in and the belt slipped. I think i need to take plugs out

crank shaft/harmonic balancer bolt easier if you pull the fan shroud and fan you could also pull the plugs to make it easier to turn.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

I haven't had a chance to get back to where the truck is at. Its an hour away but I will keep this thread updated. I did get a chance to drive it again since my last update but didnt have time to work on it. When i drove it the more i listened, the more i had my doubts that it was a lifter tick as it was pretty loud. Im thinking it is probably likely a spun rod bearing but i will do the spark plug check while running next time im there

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Update
Im pretty sure its rod knock. I just dont have the time right now to fix it. I swapped the rust free box with my single cab last week and Im just going to sell the truck as is.
Since box was swapped, has minor rust over rear wheels but rest is rust free from florida if anyone in the midwest is interested in it. Open to offers.
Interior is nice except cracked up dash. comes with an oem nice skin I have for it. Will come with a matching set of wheels and tires. Not shown in pictures