Hello all!


I've developed a subtle but audible 'tick' from the engine.


(100hp)


You can't really hear it at idle...but the more revs, the more you can hear it.
It's quiet that you can't hear it in the cabin, but can if you listen carefully out the window.


It 'ticks' in time with the revs and happens regardless of throttle on / off or whatever.


The engine seems to be fine...although the idle does seem a little lumpy. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm concentrating on it more now..the idle may not be more lumpy than it was before..i'm not sure.


But the 'tick' is definitely different to before.


I topped up the oil straight away, as I noticed was 'low' on the dipstick.


I did this first because...my last car, a Saab 9-5 Aero developed an almost identical tick..and sure enough, the oil was low...once topped up, the tick disappeared within minutes.


However, in this instance...the tick has not disappeared.


Ultimately I know i'll have to just get it checked out but I wanted to know first if anyone had any ideas / similarities.


As I say, engine goes as well as ever...doesn't seem to have changed in operation...just the tick does worry me a little....




EDIT@ Whilst I'm on...I've also noticed that both front brakes now sometimes squeak when driving. It was the nearside first..but now I think it's both. They stop squeaking when the brakes are applied...and it's not constant..just sometimes. Again I know i'll need it checked out...but does anyone else have this too?

It's not unusual to suffer a top end tick, particularly on cold start.
It's probably a bit of valve noise and if so it's nothing to worry about.

The hydraulic lifters need time for oil pressure to build to work effectively as oil drains away from them when left stood, hence the cold engine tick.

Clean oil often mutes it for a while and there are some additives that you add to the oil like Wynn's Hydraulic valve Lifter Treatment you can waste your money on, but if it is a bit of valve noise, it should get no worse unless the small oil ways in the lifters get blocked with gunky old oil, hence the reason for regular oil changes with the correct grade and spec of oil.

That happened on an old mk1 MX5 I had, made a right feckin din on cold start, 16 valves hammered away until the oil warmed up, then it ran perfect.
Did this for 90,000 miles!

Thanks Goudrons.


In respect of your comments, I should add that the tick is the same when the engine is cold, or warm/hot.


I understand what you mean however.


My Saab did go though oil between services so I was quite used to checking the oil, etc but I must admit this is the first time I checked the oil level in the Panda since I bought it in January.


EDIT...again!


I should also add that it is a single tick on each revolution...not a group of 'tick tick ticks' happening together, if you see what I mean. I was going to say it's 'not a tappety noise' but I'm not sure if that's the right context.

Could be a bearing on generator, waterpump etc.
Generally easy to feel when the belt is off.

gr J

If it's rhythmic, but at a different rate than the engine revolutions, it is possibly an accessory making the ticking - even a belt.
Very hard to pinpoint sometimes.
Unfortunately, time will reveal all, but a keen ear should give you plenty of notice.

Thanks all


It is in time with the revs...so at idle its slow...and changes in line with the revs.


Whatever it is...it's in time with the engine. To me, It sounds like the engine itself.


It happens with the a/c on or off, for example.


I think...looking at it...I've unknowingly let the engine run quite low on oil..heard the noise...and this has done what Goudrons has said...and despite me fully topping up..it has either not cleared yet, or will now not clear.


I will keep listening out.


P.S. Car has good FSH (thanks again, Dan) with regular correct servicing and parts, all documented. Next service due in 3k miles but I may do sooner if it will alleviate my worries...or something.

Self tapping screws.

It's getting a bit more noticeable now.


*sigh* I'm gonna have to get it checked out.


At idle...you cant hear it at all...in fact...it idles rather sweetly.....however...there is a ..'sound' which is like...I don't know..some kind of plastic slow scrunchy sound...but very subdued...that's the best way I can describe it.


As the revs increase, I think it is this sound which then gets more 'taut' and develops into a 'tick'. As it is entirely relational to the engine speed...I think it could be a tensioner or something on a belt...


Bah...best get it checked out.


My mpg is also down a little...

Mine ticks when starting up from cold for the first few minutes, you have to open the door or window to hear it clearly though, it sounds like a sewing machine.

I am not sure whether it is the injectors or tapets, my dad's 4x4 makes the same noise, I told Neil at NSB and he said not to worry.

I don't think it was down to the oil now, but topping it up cant have done any harm. Service due soon. Will monitor noise..but it seems to be getting louder now...




Came up nicely after a good wash...wheels need some more time and effort spent on them though.

Punto MC said:

I've just been out for a blat! When i say blat, i mean a spirited punt in the Panda.​

The sun is out...roads are pretty dry...so i did it...and did it hard.​

I'm working the Panda out a bit more now:​

It needs to be driven hard to start to make proper, real sense. It's as if it's been engineered to only work properly when it is 'caned'. Clever for bits of metal and rubber...but somehow magic...​

It must be so bored with 90% of the driving i do (i.e the commute, where i can't really go for it.)​

However, i did just now.​

This is a car that does NOT bristle with feedback through the steering and chassis...however...it's just so game! It pulls very well above 4.5k revs...and you really can 'wang' it round the corners with these tyres on. It stays flat...and is actually quite planted on the smoother sections of road. You just have to avoid any kind of major bump or pothole as the whole car either launches or falls into it with a CRASH..depending on the size! ​

However...it's great fun. I've found some great roads near work. There's a particular section where you can really tear round the lovely long sweeping bends, left and right, really testing the grip....then...after the last one, it gently dips, then rises again into the next one., pushing you down into the road for the right hander. Absolutely wonderful. Shame it's over in minutes.​

I did have a 'heart in mouth' moment. On the way back, doing the reverse route....i arrived at a bend a little too fast.. just about on the limit...no worries..the car will grip, i'll need to adjust the line out a little and just hold on and swin*audi A4 appears in middle of road* FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.​

That was a trifle closer than i would have liked...but no casualties, apart from maybe my pants!​

Only on the long straights does the Panda feel out of it's depth. On bends...i've never driven faster!​

Click to expand...

On my private test track today I've felt similarly, on smooth asphalt you can just cane it to your heart's wish, it grips so well and even lifts the inside rear wheel when braking mid bend or zig-zagging, great feeling.

It may not be the fastest car out there picking up speed but it will reach 120 on derestricted autobahns.

I think my engine has just been run in and I think it feels faster than when I got it

It's come up well after the bath, too.

fpan said:

On my private test track today I've felt similarly, on smooth asphalt you can just cane it to your heart's wish, it grips so well and even lifts the inside rear wheel when braking mid bend or zig-zagging, great feeling.

It may not be the fastest car out there picking up speed but it will reach 120 on derestricted autobahns.

I think my engine has just been run in and I think it feels faster than when I got it

It's come up well after the bath, too.

Click to expand...

I've managed 110 on an autobahn, and it felt surprisingly stable but I wouldn't want to do it for long purely for noise. It certainly is a car more at home in a corner than on a straight or a motorway - saying that, it really is great fun and I've enjoyed every minute of owning mine!

Its not the quietest engine and most that I've heard sound a bit tappety.

Leeski said:

I've managed 110 on an autobahn, and it felt surprisingly stable but I wouldn't want to do it for long purely for noise. It certainly is a car more at home in a corner than on a straight or a motorway - saying that, it really is great fun and I've enjoyed every minute of owning mine!

Click to expand...

I think the Panda is quieter than my previous Forester STi, but that had a Prodrive downpipe with sports cat, aftermarket (silenced) centre section and due to the GrpN top mounts and Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres I had a lot of road noise.

The Panda isn't bad at all. I've been thinking of fitting a Magnetti Marelli backbox when mine rusts but I wouldn't want to compromise its ability to cover miles on the motorway relatively quiet as it is.

I am pleased to announce my a/c is still working after the regas a while back.

However...its not as cold as the system in the 64 plate Citroen relay LWB van I've been driving at work today.....the van also had plentyo grunt.

However....back in the Panda, the insta-throttle was very nice....and the ability to corner without slowing down was noted.....

The tick has been sorted


It was a badly perished auxiliary belt. I've seen the belt and it was in a very poor state. Doesn't look like an original either so I think it'd had one before. 103k miles though....so might be normal...


Had annoying squealing brakes (when not braking)...found a shim was missing. New one put in and has improved matters although not eradicated.


Knocking from front suspension over bumps......seems to sound worse than it is. (hardly audible in the car but quite noticeable outside. Nothing could really be found...apart from some very very slight movement of one of the springs, a strut top mount may be required for that.

Mine started ticking/tapping yesterday upon start up, scared the absolute crap out of me. Went away after 5 minutes of use though