Engine Noise and Power Loss

chadrueckert · 04-14-2008, 09:39 AM

I have an 89 GT with just over 100,000 miles on it. Over the last few thousand miles there is a ticking sound that has gotten gradually louder. The tick happens as the rpm's increase and its frequency increases with the RPM's. I've also noticed that as the tick has gotten louder the engine has lost noticeable power. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Thanks in advance!

chadrueckert · 04-14-2008, 11:26 AM

I'd like to add, that the noise doesn't occur if the car is in neutral and I rev the engine. It sounds fine when I do this. The sound only occurs when I am in gear and accelerating. By the way the car is a T5. I hope this helps.

Dark_5.0 · 04-15-2008, 10:44 AM

I was thinking a stuck lifter but your second post is throwing me off.

With a stuck lifter you would lose power but it would tick all the time.

chadrueckert · 04-15-2008, 11:13 AM

Thanks for the reply. I thought it was something with the engine at first, but now I'm not so sure. If I leave the car in neutral and rev the engine all the way up to 5,000 rpms it sounds fine. The ticking sound only happens when the car is in gear and accelerating. Is there anything with the transmission that could be causing this?

Coupe50h · 04-22-2008, 09:10 AM

my dieing t-5 made a clicking noise, but i could hear it was the t-5, not the motor, can you distinguish that? or if it is a topend tick?
Check your rockers.

Coupe50h · 04-22-2008, 09:11 AM

so only under load? has to be an exhaust leak then.

Dark_5.0 · 04-22-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coupe50h

so only under load? has to be an exhaust leak then.

Or detonation!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is your initial timing set at?

chadrueckert · 04-22-2008, 01:25 PM

Thanks for your replies. I will check on the timing. I know it hasn't been adjusted since I've owned the car (5 years).

Regarding the Exhaust Leak, I wanted to be clear on what under load meant(accelerating, or revving?) The engine doesn't make the noise when revving only when accelerating. The noise is something I've been noticing for a year or two and it has gradually gotten worse, and now it seems to be affecting performance.

Is there an easy way to check for leaks?

Once again thanks for all the help!

Coupe50h · 04-29-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadrueckert

Thanks for your replies. I will check on the timing. I know it hasn't been adjusted since I've owned the car (5 years).

Regarding the Exhaust Leak, I wanted to be clear on what under load meant(accelerating, or revving?) The engine doesn't make the noise when revving only when accelerating. The noise is something I've been noticing for a year or two and it has gradually gotten worse, and now it seems to be affecting performance.

Is there an easy way to check for leaks?

Once again thanks for all the help!

pull your e-brake, put it in 1st gear and put a load on it, see if you can stay stationary, have someone stand off to the side with the hood open, listen for the exhaust tick, just be careful, we all know the e-brake wont hold a stang to well.
If it is losing alot of power, then it does sound like detonation, good luck

04-14-2008, 09:39 AM	#1
chadrueckert Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Engine Noise and Power Loss I have an 89 GT with just over 100,000 miles on it. Over the last few thousand miles there is a ticking sound that has gotten gradually louder. The tick happens as the rpm's increase and its frequency increases with the RPM's. I've also noticed that as the tick has gotten louder the engine has lost noticeable power. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Thanks in advance!

04-14-2008, 11:26 AM	#2
chadrueckert Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss I'd like to add, that the noise doesn't occur if the car is in neutral and I rev the engine. It sounds fine when I do this. The sound only occurs when I am in gear and accelerating. By the way the car is a T5. I hope this helps.

04-15-2008, 10:44 AM	#3
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss I was thinking a stuck lifter but your second post is throwing me off. With a stuck lifter you would lose power but it would tick all the time. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

04-15-2008, 11:13 AM	#4
chadrueckert Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss Thanks for the reply. I thought it was something with the engine at first, but now I'm not so sure. If I leave the car in neutral and rev the engine all the way up to 5,000 rpms it sounds fine. The ticking sound only happens when the car is in gear and accelerating. Is there anything with the transmission that could be causing this?

04-22-2008, 09:10 AM	#5
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss my dieing t-5 made a clicking noise, but i could hear it was the t-5, not the motor, can you distinguish that? or if it is a topend tick? Check your rockers. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

04-22-2008, 09:11 AM	#6
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss so only under load? has to be an exhaust leak then. __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

04-22-2008, 01:25 PM	#8
chadrueckert Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 8	Re: Engine Noise and Power Loss Thanks for your replies. I will check on the timing. I know it hasn't been adjusted since I've owned the car (5 years). Regarding the Exhaust Leak, I wanted to be clear on what under load meant(accelerating, or revving?) The engine doesn't make the noise when revving only when accelerating. The noise is something I've been noticing for a year or two and it has gradually gotten worse, and now it seems to be affecting performance. Is there an easy way to check for leaks? Once again thanks for all the help!

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