VIDEO: Clicking noise PLEASE HELP!!!!

shawn474 · Jul 29, 2011

Here is the clicking noise coming from either the front suspension or engine bay of my 2005 Nissan Titan. Took it to the dealer to diagnose; they said they couldn't reproduce it. I find it hard to believe. Please listen to it and let me know what your thoughts are. Seems to be only while I am under load and only under about 35 or so miles per hour (at least that's when it becomes inaudible to me due to the exhaust). My initial thoughts are maybe engine knock (lifters?????), cracked exhaust manifold or wheel bearings.

PLEASE HELP!!!! Thanks in advance.

I don't know how to embed the video but above is the link.

Steelyeyedone · Jul 29, 2011

Take it to another dealership. The one you're going to is obviously incompetent. As for the noise, no idea man, but it sure doesn't sound good.

VQP0WER · Jul 29, 2011

Is it your radiator fan hittin something?

shawn474 · Jul 29, 2011

I will check; could be anything. I am willing to try anything.

jessestylex · Jul 29, 2011

doesnt sound good, why dont you drive it for them?

shawn474 · Jul 29, 2011

I asked the tech to come for a ride. They had a bay full of cars to get to; told me to come back and make an appointment.

nyc2005armada · Jul 29, 2011

I have the same sound coming from my front end as well, I am starting to lead towards the brakes or possibly the wheel bearings.

shawn474 · Jul 29, 2011

I just got the brakes replaced 3 months ago. The sound just started like 3 weeks ago so I don't think its related. I couldn't find anything to point to the radiator fan. I am thinking wheel bearings as well. I might try a bottle of the Lucas Upper Cylinder lubricant and Injector cleaner just to see if that helps at all.

titanridinghigh · Jul 29, 2011

I've experienced this once. It was about 2 years ago and I had just pulled off into the victorville desert after climbing the Cajon pass grade on the I15. I heard it as I exited the freeway and drove with it for a mother mile or so. I stopped and took a look under the truck but came up with nothing.. I then took it off road for about 10 miles to the camping spot... Got there, everything was still in one piece. The next morning I took it back out and the noise was gone.

So maybe hit a couple trails and see what happens after lol

shawn474 · Jul 29, 2011

; if the noise keeps happening I may just drive it off a cliff with me in it!!!! It is seriously driving me nuts. I can hear it over my exhaust and radio at lower speeds.

JB · Jul 29, 2011

Sounds just like a train. hope you get that fixed soon.

jessestylex · Jul 30, 2011

who put your new brakes on?

shawn474 · Jul 30, 2011

A local shop with a mechanic i have been using for years; knows what he is doing. I called him and he said i could bring it in to look at but he doubted that the sound was related. Might take it to him just to be sure

tcoche · Jul 30, 2011

So what exactly is going on in the video?? I watched it on my iPhone. I noticed you said goin 35mph and under load. So are you driving? Is the truck in a garage? If you are driving are you goin straight down the road, no swerving? Making any turns? Stuff like that. Thanks!

Also, how many miles are on the truck?

shawn474 · Jul 30, 2011

I am driving the truck. Yes in a garage. Happens during turning and going straight. 65k miles

scottsbro23 · Jul 30, 2011

4x4 or 4x2?? Don't laugh at this suggestion...it's happened before.. Check your drive shaft..make sure someone didn't play a joke and put a zip tie on it.

bca345 · Jul 30, 2011

I noticed that the sound was speed related not rpm related. So I dont think its and internal engine issue, but I could be wrong. I think its something simple but I would not drive anywhere but to the shop to get fixed.

David_Severson · Jul 30, 2011

Could be your timing belt tensioner..I had the same type of noise awhile ago, it made a noise similar to what you've shown in the video.

tcoche · Jul 30, 2011

After listening to the video a couple times. It sounds almost like a water pump goin bad. It sounds very similar to my jeep grand cherokee when I had that truck and my water pump went. It did that knocking/ticking like that cuz the impellar was knocking on the inside of the engine there. I let it go for awhile and then it got worse. The water pump was about to fall off it got so bad! Lol! Just a suggestion.

Frank N · Jul 30, 2011

YOU HAVE A BASEBALL CARD HITTING YOUR SPOKES!

seriously if its speed and not rpm, you really need to see whats loose that is rattling around, ever hear a heat shield bust loose think simple

WoodCrestTitan · Jul 30, 2011

None of your wheel well liners are loose or anything are they? And it is speed related and not rpm related so hopefully it isnt something as serious as an engine issue. I would definitely check the driveshaft to see if anything is wrapped around it or if the u joint is coming loose or anything. Can you feel it clicking too? Or is it just a sound that happens with no vibrations? That could be a big pointer towards something like wheel bearings if you can feel it in the steering wheel or something. I had them go bad in my old car and it sounded similar to that and it only happened at certain speeds.

shawn474 · Jul 30, 2011

Thanks for all of suggestions. It absolutely seems speed related as there isn't a noise i can hear at idle. It is only when moving from 0-35mph or vice versa. I have checked the heat shields and drive shaft. I cant find anything. I retorqued my lug nuts. Visually inspected everything i could think of. It sounds like something simple; not internal to the engine, but i really dont want to take any chances. Back to the shop to diagnose i guess. Thanks very much everyone. You guys have been very helpful and i appreciate you taking the time to help me try to figure out whats going on.

jessestylex · Jul 30, 2011

let us know what you find out lol.

scottsbro23 · Jul 30, 2011

Check the thin shield that sits behind the brake rotors...it's easy to bend. It could be rubbing the rotor.

shawn474 · Jul 30, 2011

Alright, so here are my findings after further inspection. The heat shields behind each rotor are fine. I did find a bolt sitting on top of my skid bolt (that can't be good!!!). I also found two bolts missing; one from my off road skid plate and one from the heat shield/skid plate to the front differential. I went to the hardware store and replaced them. Took it for a ride and the clicking is still there. I bought the lucas upper cylinder lubricant and injector cleaner. I put it in this morning with a full tank of gas. I climbed back under the truck. The only things that I could find that were loose are the heat shield to the gas tank; sits perpendicular to the raod and is a thin piece of aluminum that has three plastic clips. That rattles but isnt the same sound. Also, the drive shaft (?) to the front differential has some up and down and side to side play where it connects to the transmission or transfer case (not sure what to call it). Is that normal?

Thanks again,
Shawn

bca345 · Jul 30, 2011

Were you in 4WD in the video? The front driveshaft should not be spinning if you are in 2WD.

Also, think about any changes you made to your truck prior to the sound.

jessestylex · Jul 30, 2011

sure your mechanic didnt put your brake pads on backwards?

i did that to my wifes escort years ago , never could figure out the clicking. sold the car later to my cousin and he found where i had put the pads on backwards on the drivers side. brakes still worked but had that sound at those speeds. just a idea. lol

shawn474 · Jul 30, 2011

Certainly worth a try; i an check later. Is there an easy way to check without taking the wheel and calipers off?

jessestylex · Jul 31, 2011

yeah just look through the wheel and make sure the concave of the pads are facing the inside of the rotors and not the outside.

they will fit on there backwards and can put the brake caliber in a weird bind.

shawn474 · Aug 4, 2011

UPDATE: Took it to my buddy at his shop (He is a fleet tech for our school vehicles and usually doesn't work on 4x4 trucks; usually the ford taurus's, box trucks, etc). He got it on the lift and we looked around the undercarriage. Nothing loose, nothing hitting the wheels or rotors. But we did notice when we spun the front wheels that the front differential drive shaft spun too. When it would spin, there was a popping and clicking noise that would occur where the driveshaft connected to the transfer case. It was noticably loose. Towards the front of the truck at the tires, the shaft was tight as could be; there was no play at all. He guesses that as the truck starts to slow down, that front drive shaft is buckling cause it to wiggle and make the noise as when we spun the wheels.

So it looks like the rear u joint of the front drive shaft is shot. I am going to try to replace it myself and see what happens. I am very confident after being under the truck that this is what has been happening. Does anyone recommend a certain brand of u-joint. I have read of many of these types of failures and the dealership charging crazy money for them. What are the best aftermarket ones and how hard are they to change?

Thanks again all.

Shawn

shawn474 · Aug 12, 2011

Its official; the problem was a u joint. $11 for the u joint from auto zone and $50 to my buddy at the shop at work and i rode home with no clicking or vibration. I officially like my truck again.

AllTerrainTitan · Aug 12, 2011

Awesome!! Glad to hear yall got it figured out and it was nothing serious or expensive... talk about relief lol.

VIDEO: Clicking noise PLEASE HELP!!!!

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