Recently my ss/sc started to have a ticking noise that sounds like its coming from the valve train. I don't know what it is. It only does it during start up when the engine sits on 1100 rpms for a minute when the engine is cold. Once the engine idles back down the ticking goes away. This is the only time it has this ticking sound, I can rev up to 1100 rpms after idle down and there is no noise. Does anyone have any ideas?

Mine's the 2.4, & I think it does the same...

my ss/sc just started doing this the other day. ive been trying to figure out what it is. do anyone know? i think i read on here somewhere that it might be the timing chain or something.

that statment seems like such a noob statement.

Exhaust leak. Probably a cracked manifold. Mine does the same thing and everyone that has heard it tells me the manifold is cracked.

Mine is doing the same thing. I think it has something to do with the lifters not being lubricated. After the car is on for a few minutes and the oil runs its course it goes away. I noticed that it usually goes away when the engine temp hits 105.

If the timing chain was broke it wouldn't even start/run. My car runs fine its just that ticking noises scare me and I hate not know whats wrong with my car.

Exhaust leak. Probably a cracked manifold. Mine does the same thing and everyone that has heard it tells me the manifold is cracked.

I don't think this is the manifold. I've heard a manifold leak before and this doesn't sound like it.

There isn't any physical damage. It's just that the engine needs a few minutes to lubricate itself. Which is why it goes away.

that is true, if the timing chain was broke it wouldnt start, i know that. if your refering to me saying that. i dont think its an exhaust leak either because those you can hear whenever the car is cold or hot, normally.

^^^^Well if the engine takes "a few minutes to lubricate" then there will be physical damage eventually wouldn't there.

Mine did the same thing, it is a crack in your header gasket! Somebody told me thats what the noise was so I took it in and he was right, they replaced it all under warranty and I havent had a problem w/ it since. The reason the noise goes away is b/c after the engine heats up the gasket expands closing the gap/crack :)

That sucks because I just put my new header on 3 months ago with a new gasket.

There is a TSB for it. Check out the search button. Search for Secret TSB

That sucks because I just put my new header on 3 months ago with a new gasket.

Not saying it is the exact problem but it sounds like what was wrong w/ mine so just keep it on your mind as one of the potential problems!

^^Well if it fell under the TSB, with my mods do you think my warranty would be voided. Mods in sig.

^^Well if it fell under the TSB, with my mods do you think my warranty would be voided. Mods in sig.

That is hard to say my friend. Depends alot on what dealer you go to and how critical they are about your mods. Good luck though.

Exhaust leaks near the engine do sound like valve train noise. I had a leak at my header to downpipe connection that sounded valve train-ish.

Is it a ticking noise, or a knocking noise? If it sounds like what rod knock or lifter tick sounds like, more than likely it is the timing chain tensioner.

It has to do with the building of oil pressure, as stated above. It is a common problem for DOHC cars, since it has to build oil pressure from the oil pan to the top of the motor (where the cam and lifters are located), instead of where the cam sits in a pushrod motor (middle to bottom of the motor). There is a TSB for it, GM will replace it once (at the owner's discretion), the problem will come back, and you will be told that it is normal. At least, that was what happened to me over a year ago. It will not happen if the car has been warmed up, and this noise will go away as soon as the car has run for about 5 seconds. My car has been doing it all it's life and seems to have no ill effects. Good luck with the fix.

i would say it sounds like lifters but could be lots of things but yea if it goes away after a bit then sounds like lifters 3.1's are bad for that

Just an F.Y.I.
They sale a lifter lubricant at some auto shops that makes the noise go away. I've tried it on my wifes old ragady Jeep when it started to do that noise and it worked just fine. I don't know what effects it would have on the LSJ.

mine has a ticking sound, very lightly, but consistant, i think its normal, done it since day one, sorta like you can hear the valve train a lil bit. warm or cold it does it, not loud, but if the engine was running and you were under the hood, you can tell.

Try not to freak out people. The Ecotec is known for being a very noisy engine due to the two separate chains running inside the engine. Most of you are probably hearing normal sounds.

Try not to freak out people. The Ecotec is known for being a very noisy engine due to the two separate chains running inside the engine. Most of you are probably hearing normal sounds.

thats why i never thought nothing about it.

i used to have an LD9 (the old 2.4) and it had the exact same if not extremely close noise and that motor ran strong.

Thanks for all the opinions. I'm just not going to worry about it, I just wanted to make sure nothing was screwed up in my valvetrain.

yea i have the same problem and my car has 500 miles on it lol! its been pissing me off every day because its a brand new car and its eather knocking or a tick but it only does it when its warming up just like you guys.

thoses ecotec engine all does the the same thing, my ss/sc do the same thing, my gf have a 2004 sunfire with a 2.2 ecotec engine and it does the same thing, getting the ticking sound on startup and when the engine warm up, its "normal" for most of ours cars to do that/

I have the opposite, doesnt tick on start up...then starts when warm...stealership thinks either lifter or something in the vvt....