2001 Saturn SL1 clicking noise

Tiny
SATURNDRIVER99
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 SATURN SL1
  • 130,000 MILES
This is a new one on me, There is a click noise coming from the engine area. Does no increase with speed or decrease, keeps a steady pace, about every 3 secs. I do need to change the s belt, but there is no wobble around the belt area. Im not sure it the tensioner is going bad, or mabye the water pump is going. Not lifter or rod. This is a new sound that I never heard before. I hate to buy all the items if not needed. Thanks
Friday, July 26th, 2013 AT 12:53 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,093 POSTS
Did you mean to say the clicking doesn't change when you increase engine speed? If so, you are likely hearing the purge valve or some other emissions valve cycling on and off. On some cars there is a rubber cover over them to reduce the noise and that cover may have fallen off or been removed. Some valves are mounted on rubber that can deteriorate, then the valve contacts the metal bracket and transmits noise that you can hear.
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Friday, July 26th, 2013 AT 9:43 PM
Tiny
SATURNDRIVER99
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  • 4 POSTS
Where may I find this, in what area. It sure sounds like it is coming from inside the valve cover. I will be looking into this today. Thanks. I have a Chilton manuel but they never really get into that much.
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Saturday, July 27th, 2013 AT 9:43 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,093 POSTS
Most commonly you'll find these valves on the passenger side of the engine compartment but they could be anywhere, typically near the charcoal canister. If the noise is coming from inside the valve cover, I can't think of anything in there that wouldn't be affected by engine speed. You'd have to listen with a stethoscope to verify that's where it's coming from.
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Saturday, July 27th, 2013 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
SATURNDRIVER99
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
After checking this with a long screwdriver too my ear, I can hear this more when I put this on the valve cover and the ubit right behind the valve cover, (air intake system). Could it be an injecter? When I increase the throttle it does speed up a hair, not much. The sound is like if a pully was bad, checked the belt which needs to be replaced but all runs true. I can hear the rods and lifters with using the screwdriver and all sounds to be good. If you took the end of the screwdriver(plastic handle) and tapped it on the valve cover this would be the closest sound I can say. You can hear this every second. With driver window down and hood closed you can hear this noise while driving. Enough to bother me. Rev the engine and this will increase a bit. Im so stumped on this one. Im a shade tree man, but back in the late 60s and 70s.
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Saturday, July 27th, 2013 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,093 POSTS
To be three seconds apart we know it can't be an injector or valve train problem. Those things are moving much faster than that. Have you considered a timing chain slapping on the cover?
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Saturday, July 27th, 2013 AT 6:20 PM
Tiny
SATURNDRIVER99
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
After spending some time with this, I removed the valve cover and did not see any problems. Did not find the purge valve which you mentiond. I removed some of the electrical connections one at a time to see if its would stop. All I got was the service engine soon light on. I timed the noise and its 1 second increase a hair with speed. Not internal, don't belive its the belt or pullies. Maybe the purge valve. Don't have a lot of $$ to spend. That's why im trying to pin point this. The service light I will need to use a scanner to clear this.I did take a video of this and post on FB, but get a lot of different answers. Going to get someone else to hear this.
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Sunday, July 28th, 2013 AT 9:31 AM

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