Tick/rattle returns

[FLfinfan]

Had some exhaust work done a few weeks ago that fixed a tick/rattle. Now it is steadily coming back a little at a time. Maybe it loosened up? Also noticed when I lifted the hood the other day that it seemed dusty or sooty even, all around the engine compartment. Could that be an exhaust manifold leak or do our trucks just get dirty under the hood easy. My Frontiers never did this, but they were garaged, if that matters. I really think its exhaust related and not the ground wire fix.

[mick3643]

yea they all get dirty under the hood. mine needs a wash bad!!!!

[Squid]

yea they all get dirty under the hood

Sooty?not mine.
Did you smell it to see if it is exhaust?

[FLfinfan]

Tried to look/smell. Can't tell if it's soot or dust/dirt. Will be taking it in the day after thanksgiving to check if I can get an appt. Also maybe the guys at the central florida meet will be able to help with this.

[Wolfhound]

I have to clean mine every couple of weeks. It seems to just suck the dust in.

You say you don't think it is the ground issue, but if you haven't tried it, you should. I suspect that the manifold work you had done may have temporarily improved whatever grounding problem there is with the engine since they have to remove some much to get to the manifold. I think most people's ticking that has been fixed with the ground wire did not tick from new, but began after 500 to 1000 miles.

[Squid]

I live on a dirt road and my engine compartment looks the same as my frontier( not bad)I've got 10,400 on my Titan.
You live in florida so how much dirt can you be getting in to?
In the late 80's early 90's I lived in Destin.Between Ft.walton and Panama City.
Man I loved that Place.

[Steamguy]

Originally Posted by FLfinfan

Had some exhaust work done a few weeks ago that fixed a tick/rattle. Now it is steadily coming back a little at a time. Maybe it loosened up? Also noticed when I lifted the hood the other day that it seemed dusty or sooty even, all around the engine compartment. Could that be an exhaust manifold leak or do our trucks just get dirty under the hood easy. My Frontiers never did this, but they were garaged, if that matters. I really think its exhaust related and not the ground wire fix.

FLfinfan,
If it was a manifold, you would hear a very sharp sound that would be audible only with a cold engine; our shop used to call it a 'cackling' sound. Some people call it a 'chattering' kind of sound. That's the noise of exhaust escaping where it shouldn't. A loose hanger will have a 'ringing' kind of sound.

The only way you would have soot in the engine compartment is if you had a diesel and ran it with no exhaust pipe. No disrespect, a busted manifold will kick out stuff that looks almost like rust - from the oxidizing cast iron manifold. The heat of the combustion literally eats it when it has a hole in it or if the exhaust gasket is blown. This is why if you hear a busted manifold that (aside from the exhaust gas getting into the passenger compartment) that you should get it fixed right away.

Your dirt/dust is coming from elsewhere. I live a mile up a dirt road, drive by farms on the way to work, and under the hood of my truck it already looks like she's got fifty grand on her. This is likely just an airflow-related thing. I think that Nissan wanted to make sure there was a lot of air moving under that hood, and with the air... comes dust.

[Squid]

I live a mile up a dirt road, drive by farms on the way to work

Man you must be flying down those roads reproducing those Titan commercials, AYE?

[FLfinfan]

Thanks guys, always good to get info and advice here. The exhaust work I had done at the dealer was a replacement of the rear passenger cat and the pipe leading to the front passenger cat. I am not getting the ticking/rattling all the time. But I can find it sometimes if I work the peddle just right. I will hunt for the ground wire post and see what I can do.