308 QV engine clicking noise

This is often the snapping of an accessory belt that needs attention. Get all of them replaced and properlyy tensioned when you do the timing belt.

 

Agreed - it's almost certainly an aged, hardened accessory belt that is stiff and doesn't sit down into the pulley groove immediately on each revolution, until a bit of heat is generated. The next stage is that it slips, and melts almost instantly into a blob (and you lose the water pump drive, worst case, or alternator or AC drive), or breaks, with similar consequences.

 

Usually the AC belt.

 

Sadly, that is probably the best move. Very frustrating to have an awesome new car and not be able to drive it. I was super nervous driving my '85 QV until I did the timing belt and such because I knew it had been sitting for a number of years!

 

You should be ok with a bit of belt clicking that goes away after a brief warmup. There is a plastic spine inside the rather thin belts, and that is what looses some pliability with age. I have had belts about 3 years old start to click a bit on start up and when I tensioned the AC belt I recall the clicking stopped. So it is a combination of age and tension that causes the clicking.

The Gordon C "slips and melts" comment in this thread seems extreme, but that may well be a lived experience with old belts. Never had a belt break so can't speak to the likelihood.

I personally wouldn't worry about it for the short term and low rpm use, but we all have different risk tolerences for this type of thing.

 

AC belt for sure, since I got rid of that POS york, and installed a Sanden, no more clicking / ticking noise.

Thank you,

 

spray with some belt dressing - and the noise should immediately go away. I agree its not critical but make sure you change them at the next belt service. if you live where its just starting to get cold, that usually causes the clicking noise....

 

You can just spray with water to test. That way no guck gets slung everywhere.