Knocking/ticking sound from engine compartment

Tiny
SANDRA SUMMERS MIDDLETON
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 MAZDA CX-9
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Whenever I accelerate, I hear a ticking/knocking sound from the engine compartment. This sound just appeared recently. I just had all spark plugs and three ignition coils replaced.
Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 6:33 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

Check the oil level to be sure the level is correct.

Can you upload a video of the sound so I can hear what you hear?

Roy
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 6:42 AM
Tiny
SANDRA SUMMERS MIDDLETON
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I'll have to upload a video of the sound later. I did check the oil, it's low, so that may be my problem. It's an old car with close to 200,000 miles on it but I am not ready to give up on it just yet. Should I use the high mileage motor oil?
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 7:28 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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No, just use the same oil you have been using.

Upload it when you can.

Roy
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 8:04 AM
Tiny
SANDRA SUMMERS MIDDLETON
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My last oil change I switched to synthetic.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 8:06 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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That is okay, as well.

Roy
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 8:16 AM
Tiny
SANDRA SUMMERS MIDDLETON
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Only makes this sound when pushing on gas and louder at lower speeds.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 2:03 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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That's an engine noise. You need to take it somewhere and have them listen to it and try to pinpoint the issue.

It sounds like you will need engine work.

Roy
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
SANDRA SUMMERS MIDDLETON
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And just received a diagnostic code from my car on my cell phone of P0012.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 2:31 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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This is a code for timing components which makes sense. The noise could also be coming from there as well.

Get this checked at a shop. If it is, it will be expensive to repair. There is a lot of labor involved in this repair.

Roy
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 3:12 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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P0012 - That would be a camshaft actuator code stating the cam is over retarded. This can be caused by low oil/wrong oil. For oil I use whatever the vehicle calls for, especially on vehicles with ant type of variable valve timing.
I will say it is possible that if the engine oil has been conventional oil for a long time and you just switched to synthetic it could be a chunk of crud broke free and it caused the cam phaser to stick.
As Roy says, the best thing is to have someone listen to it while they are next to it. A rattle like you have could be camshaft related or it could be deeper in the engine. Very hard to say with a recording. However if it is that loud inside the car It's not something to ignore.
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Wednesday, January 16th, 2019 AT 3:48 PM

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