I have a 2003 Trailblazer and I hear a ticking

sound coming from the engine and it is coming from the passengers side of the engine. The year is 2003, LS model, and fourwheel drive. Well, I took it in yesterday and the mechanic said it was the "Camshaft" and this was a normal sound. Not to mention I have had this vehicle in for 6 other problems: 3 times for the fourwheel drive light malfuntioning, 2 times for the service engine light coming on and then they had to replace a seal on the left front deferntial because it was leaking oil. To say the least this vehicle has been nothing but a pain in the butt. Anyway, if any one here has had this particular problem with the ticking of the engine let me know what response you have got from the dealership. :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin :disappoin

thanks

Well that`s the wierdest thing... i got a car and it was a TrailBlazer and i got it too pull my boat, and mines a TrailBlazer 2003 LTZ model, you should have gottin the LTZ much nicer than the LS

Well that`s the wierdest thing... i got a car and it was a TrailBlazer and i got it too pull my boat, and mines a TrailBlazer 2003 LTZ model, you should have gottin the LTZ much nicer than the LSok well that didnt help the man out much, the camshaft making a clicking usually isnt bad unless its REALLY loud or making grinding sounds but if it sounds severe get a second opinion

FX why are you even posting in this thread?? Obviously, I know that your model is nicer, but that is not the ISSUE here. Maybe, you either need to ready slower or realize what you are writing.

it might not be your cam, and it might be your engine not burning all of the gas, try better gas, and see if it still happens, if it is not, many people say "their vavles are tapping" because their not getting oil.

Well, Victim thanks. Any bit of information helps.....

if its a ticking type noise in the front cover area then possible that the key is worn on the lower crankshaft gear causing the timing chain to make noise, the key is not serviceable and the crankshaft would have to be replaced,

I think everyone is over thinking this issue a little to much. It's probably something as simple as a exhaust leak at the most. The exhaust manifold is on the pass. side, while the engine is running lift the hood and listen around the exhuast ports, then check the seal where the manifold and the pre-cat/exhaust pipe conect. It could also be just normal cam to lifter noise that you just started to notice. If it was an issue with "valve tapping" then the engine would have blown with in minutes of you hearing that sound. I've been building and racing cars for the last 15 years, it's sounds like an exhaust leak to me. Is a loud ticking or just enough to notice? Also does the speed of the click change with engine speed? Good luck and don't give up on it, they're nice trucks and I love mine.

Hey, thanks for your information Fast!!!
The ticking is not very loud, it is not heard when the engine is cold and it is only heard after the engine has warmed up really good like 10 to 15 minutes of driving. I am almost postive that the sound does not change with the engine speed. Furthermore, I am going to try a better fuel than 87 Octane to see if that helps.

I have also seen some of the fan clutches cause a ticking noise, the clutch is controlled by a pulse width modulated solenoid and the clicking comes from the solenoid, you can disconnect this to see if the noise goes away, the connector is mounted on the drivers side of the fan shroud close to the battery, (this will cause the service engine soon lamp to come on when disconnected)

I am new to this forum. I was looking for info on the same issue, (tapping) from the passenger side of the engine. It too sounds more Exhaust related. I don't think it is a concern as much as it is annoying. So, besides turning up the radio...please let me know what has developed with your inquiries.

i just got my trailblazer an 02, 29k miles, it also has the ticking, mine does get faster with increased throttle, but when the engine warms up it goes away, or i don't notice it anymore. the dealership said this was due to carbon buildup on the top of the pistons, and cleaning the spark plugs
would help to burn off the carbon and eventually the ticking would go away.

I got almost the same problem on my 2003 trailblazer. I got a weird ticking noise coming from the fan location. I brought it in to the dealer and they replace the clutch for the fan and said "they don't know what the ploblem is" and that GM said to replace the clutch and if it still make that noise they don't know what to do. And it is making that noise again :-( ...It's realy weird it makes that ticking noise when idleling.

Has anyone tried to disconnect that solenoid. The solenoid that actually controls the fan rotation. You guys know that the fan isn't controlled thermally anymore. It's controlled by a solenoid that allows coolant pressure into the clutch.

In my humble opinion we are all reading to deep into this "Ticking" when cold matter.

Take Care

FX why are you even posting in this thread?? Obviously, I know that your model is nicer, but that is not the ISSUE here. Maybe, you either need to ready slower or realize what you are writing.

well duh! Everyone knows the engines they put in the LTZ are better than the ones they put in the LSs :lol2:

99ssconv you were correct about the ticking. Is there anyway to fix it myself since the dealers didnt know what it was.

Does your Trailblazer have the 5.3 V8 or the 4.2 inline 6? With the 6, there's been issues with the sleeves pulling out of the cylinders. With the V8, a cold start tick noise is normal.

I just purchased a 2002 trailblazer with 22,000k, I'm glad i purchased a platinum5yr/75kwarranty. i had it two days and noticed in the morning a rattling type noise on cold start up , which I Know to some degree is normal, but it does more distinctly when I press the accelerator slightly. The dealer came and picked up the truck from my wifes work today and we'll know something tomorrow.

This is Twin1,I've received the answer from the dealer about the ticking grinding type noise , it was the RPM guage. Go figure , but it's fixed. As you would touch the accelerator and the RPM guage moved so did the noise.It's gone now.

I had a ticking noise in my engine on the front passenger side. They tried to say it was normal engine noise and then tried to say it was injector noise. After MUCH argument, they agreed to look further after we pulled up several other trailblazer and listened to them. And guess what they found??? When they opened the engine up they found metal shavings in the engine, probably from the cnc fabrication, they never got it cleaned out good. So GM replaced the engine. Dont believe them when they say normal engine noise. BE PERSISTANT!!!! I will let you all know how it goes with the new engine.. Hopefully I will become a satisfied customer but it is WAY TO EARLY TO SAY at this point.

Erol

Yeah, man I really don't know what to think!! I will tell you that the ticking stopped and now it has started again! I swear the fuckin vehicle has been nothing but a pain in the FUCKIN ASS!! Yes, the dealer said the sound IS NORMAL!! hahahahaah!! Anyway, I switched from 87 to 89 in fuel and maybe that was what led to the problem being resolved. I really have no idea! Since gas has gone up in price I have switched back N fourth between 87 and 89 so maybe this is causing the problem to come back!!! Who really knows??? I do know for sure though, that buying a 30,000 vehicle and having had all the problems that I have had, leads me to believe, that I have no trust in American vehicles anymore! I truely am ashamed to say that vehicles built overseas seem to be more reliable and durable!!

BTF WHAT KIND OF A ENGINEER OR MANUFACTURER WOULD BUILD A VEHICLE THAT HAS A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE GAS CAP IS NOT ON ALL THE WAY?????? If the gas cap is lose, then have a lose gas cap light come on not a "check engine light". Or better yet have nothing come on!! To me it just another FLAW in the American vehicle that sometimes requires people to go to the dealership and sit there for two hours and possibly get charged for TIME from the mechanic, only to find out that nothing was wrong or for them to lie to you!!!!!!!! It truely is pathetic in my opinion!!!!

I just bought a 2002 TB with 40K mi and I noticed mine had a slight "ticking". So I increased my octane from 87 to 91 and and then followed up with 89 and it has gone away after a few tanks. Studies show that actual octane at the pump cheats you from a couple of points, so when I read the manual to recommend a min. 87, fuel was the first thing that came to mind. Of course this could lead back to the carbon thing. :biggrin:

I do not know if this will help,but I had the same type noise from my JeepGC. I turned out to be a solenoid that is part of the evaporation canister. It would come on when told to by the computer. Sounded like a bad lifter until someone on the GC forum told me where to look. Have not heard any such noise on my TB but will take a listen and look.

I'm guessing 5 weight oil, especially on the new vehicles and ones serviced by the dealer. Cheapest oil they can buy. Might try some 10w30, or just live with it. Dealers aren't fixing much these days seems like, if it runs into the shop, it will run out the other door ok.

People, there is no similarity between a valve ( or a lifter ) "ticking" noise, a camshaft ticking noise, and the noise that I believe everyone is hearing; the noise you are hearing is likely the solenoid for the fan clutch, or the clutch itself; Replace it.

A valve or camshaft ticking varies with engine speed - the solenoid ticking does not, and is intermittent.

If you indeed have a valve, lifter, or camshaft that is making any noise at all, you have a SERIOUS problem. There is nothing normal about any of them.

Yeah, man I really don't know what to think!! I will tell you that the ticking stopped and now it has started again! I swear the fuckin vehicle has been nothing but a pain in the FUCKIN ASS!! Yes, the dealer said the sound IS NORMAL!! hahahahaah!! Anyway, I switched from 87 to 89 in fuel and maybe that was what led to the problem being resolved. I really have no idea! Since gas has gone up in price I have switched back N fourth between 87 and 89 so maybe this is causing the problem to come back!!! Who really knows??? I do know for sure though, that buying a 30,000 vehicle and having had all the problems that I have had, leads me to believe, that I have no trust in American vehicles anymore! I truely am ashamed to say that vehicles built overseas seem to be more reliable and durable!!

BTF WHAT KIND OF A ENGINEER OR MANUFACTURER WOULD BUILD A VEHICLE THAT HAS A SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WHEN THE GAS CAP IS NOT ON ALL THE WAY?????? If the gas cap is lose, then have a lose gas cap light come on not a "check engine light". Or better yet have nothing come on!! To me it just another FLAW in the American vehicle that sometimes requires people to go to the dealership and sit there for two hours and possibly get charged for TIME from the mechanic, only to find out that nothing was wrong or for them to lie to you!!!!!!!! It truely is pathetic in my opinion!!!!
The reason is that a loose gas cap affects the vacuum of the engine. The check engine light comes on to alert you to this - true it is not specific, but the codes are. A quick scan of the codes, at any autoparts store, for free, will give you the specific code, which will tell you exactly what is wrong. FYI.

Guys this is a dead 9 year old thread!!