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In the engine bay of your car, you might hear a loud ticking noise. This sound is often attributed to an issue with the timing belt. The tensioner pulley or belt may be broken and in need of replacement. If this is the case, it’s important to replace both components for optimum performance and safety. The 5.3 Ticking Noise The most common source of this audible symptom is due to one thing: a worn-out timing chain (or gear). Most cars use either metal chains or plastic gears that typically last anywhere from 100,00 – 150,00 miles before they must be replaced if not already done so at some point during routine maintenance visits. You can tell when the timing chain has begun its deterioration because there will usually be increased amounts of engine noise, and the motor may suffer from a noticeable decrease in power. In addition to timing chains that are worn-out or damaged, there can be other causes for this type of ticking sound like: Faulty camshafts/tappets – excessive wear on valve stem seals, valves not seating properly Noise coming from exhaust system due to leakage near cylinder head or manifold. Valvetrain noise including leaking rocker arm cover gaskets and bolts (suitable for either metal chain or plastic gear). These are all rare sources of the tick but should be considered nonetheless if you have no luck diagnosing what is causing your engine’s problem based off these more common troubleshooting methods. The most important thing to do is to always listen for the ticking noise when your car is in motion and then pull over immediately if you hear it. The best course of action after this point will largely depend on whether there are other symptoms present. If the engine is running fine but you’re still hearing that tick, it’s likely just a loose timing chain tensioner causing noise and nothing more to worry about. The best course of action after this point will largely depend on whether there are other symptoms present. If the engine is running fine but you’re still hearing that tick, it’s likely just a loose timing chain tensioner causing noise and nothing more to worry about. If your car has also developed an increase in oil consumption (more than one quart per thousand miles) or if when looking at the dipstick under the hood, your oil level appears low even though the vehicle has not been driven for extended periods of time then chances are high that these
