ticking noise..

[ocn]

My red top sr20 has a ticking sound. I used a stethoscope and the sound seems to be louder near the back of the valve cover and further away if I listen near the block .When driving under load. I don't hear anything in the case of giving it gas and increasing rpms .. If I drive in 1st to 3-4k rpms and slightly hold it there I hear the ticking. If I shift gears it goes away until I find that sweet spot again.. It doesn't get louder at all no matter what I do. If I race thru the gears hard like I'm drag racing or getting on the freeway you can't hear the ticking. Its only when I float the throttle in a specific rpm in any geat .Any ideas?

[angel mkiv]

Yes bleed the hydraulic lifters.super common issues with sr20's

[ocn]

Cool, I was thinking lifter or a new chain tensioner.

[Kingtal0n]

short list here of a few commons

rod knock
lifters (unlikely if the noise suddenly appears)
forged pistons / slap(chatter during neutral revs, goes away under load)
flywheel cracked / bolts failure
broken valvespring / sticking valve
one of your shims fell off

I am leaning towards rod knock (if the noise suddenly appeared recently) since you probably have not recently had the engine rebuilt (or I would say piston slap)

Confirm by unplugging the coilpacks one at a time and the noise will disappear when you unplug the cylinder with the bad bearing.

[ocn]

Its been there ever since I replaced my valve guide seals.. So 2months I'd say nothing has changed isn't worse.. I should of just bought a new tensioner like the FSM says to replace. Thats why I haven't really been to worried about it.. Its just now its annoying hearing it.

[Kingtal0n]

to do valve seals you play with springs.

Spring that fracture or seat incorrectly is on my list

[ocn]

The sound is louder in the valve cover then the block via stehoscope

[ocn]

I'll unplug the coil packs and test for the sound.

[ocn]

Unplugged the coils 1 at a time you can still hear the sound no change. Guess I'll pull the cover and change the tensioner next and have a look at the rockers

[ocn]

Also you can't hear the ticking at all at idle or driving until a certain rpm if inhold my foot there if I give it a little bit more gas goes away let off into the at sweet spot it comes back. But normal driving you can't hear it either till unless I get the rpms to this piticular range of rpms any higher or lower you won't hear the ticking.

[Kingtal0n]

what you are describing sounds exactly like piston slap.

When the engine is "neutral with just a slight amount of load to maintain RPM, or just slightly less than just enough load to maintain RPM" the engine will make a noise like shaking nails in a tin can. You hear that sort of noise when forgies slap around in these motors, at that exact same instant.

Ill describe it again for you.
If I rev the engine up, 1000 1200 1500 etc.. and then let off say around 2200rpm,
just as I let off, I hear a slight rattling from the engine, as the rpm falls slightly also. if you step down just a hair the noise goes away as the engine slightly accelerates again, noise will come back when you let off again slightly around that specific RPM.

I am not suggesting you have forged pistons, but the noise you are describing is related to the piston slapping around in the bore usually. I am also not saying that is your issue either; but I do not feel at this point that changing the tensioner is going to help. Although if you have spares I do not see the problem trying anyways.

Another thought comes to mind, perhaps you mixed up the shims (under the rocker arms) when you did the spring work? NOT that it would cause this noise either... but did you pay attention to them?

Honestly it may be one of those things that you just live with unless it becomes louder. perhaps it is a wristpin issue, although i have never heard of that happening in any sr20, its still an idea.
If it stays the same tone/frequency for the life of the engine then great! It doesnt get worse, or cause any trouble...