Ticking sound from engine bay - help my paranoia!

Exhaust leaks is definitely a possibility. Also verify that all of your spark plugs are tight and that one hasn't backed out.

 

have you checked your spark plug wires? you may have some arching going on... turn off the lights in your garage and see you can see any blue arcs? it maybe the spark plug extenders .... did you notice any power loss or studder at low rpm?

if its not spark plug / wires - then exhaust leak is most likely what i hear.

 

For me it ended up being a bolt on the the co2 test port, basically an exhaust leak on the header. It was nerve wracking until it was diagnosed so I feel your pain. One thing I learned you can't let these cars make you too paranoid otherwise you will never enjoy it. I had mine out today after four months (broken leg), and after a half hour I really put her through her paces. Grinning from ear to ear. Hope it is minor and you are back on the road soon.

 

In addition to the previous advice....you are correct the AC belt is one the two belts you are seeing on the passenger side. Did you try spraying some belt dressing on the AC belt to see if the problem stopped? It would be the first thing I would try as it is quick and easy to verify if that belt is the culprit and in need of an adjustment or replacement. These belts have the tendency to have the snapping sound when the temps drop.

What is your oil level?

It may very well be an exhaust leak but I would check the AC belt, even though you say it doesn't appear to be coming from that area, then PROPERLY check your oil level first before moving on to find a possible exhaust leak.

When was the car last serviced and what was performed?

 

Do this first. Then check the drive belts.

Lots of good advice so far.

 

Chris, I quickly checked the threads you have started and found you have had multiple issues with this car thus far. Have you been able to sort out the weak start/clicking relay issue, the leaking brake fluid, the rattling dash etc..?

If you want I will be home all day tomorrow and would be willing to take a call to try and help you through this or other issues. If you want some verbal assistance send me PM and I will give you my number. I know member JonesDDS lives in SB. You may also want to reach out to him to see if he is willing to provide some hands on advice.

 

PM sent, happy to help as I'm local.

 

Chris,
Remember I have a lift if it helps you diagnose/fix this
Mike

 

Thanks Jeff and Chris. Jeff, I was hoping I wasn't overstepping my bounds by throwing your name in the mix.

 

Oh, didn't see that when I posted, no problems at all. Don't really know any fellow 3x8 owners in town so it would be nice to know some other owner here. Chris,feel free to contact me, I'd have a little time tommorow then not for awhile as I'm traveling.

Jeff

 

with the car warm at idle and making the noise, cycle the a/c on and off with the lid open and see if the sound changes pitch with the a/c clutch engaging / disengaging. This can also be done with the headlights to put a load on the alternator to see if the load affects weird Ferrari noises.


Otherwise it is most likely an exhaust leak at the flange gasket or the header / manifold. if you have California emissions crap, then it could be the check valves for the air pumps
( if applicable) or the test ports at the headers .

 

I had a similar problem, I found a fwd air injection tube broken
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If the find ends up being you need to change the exhaust gasket(s) it appears from the parts cross reference page that the part number is FEL PRO 8194. These are available and cheap:

http://www.rockauto.com/dbphp/x,catalog,6,partnum,8194,d,fel-pro_8194.html

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=FEL%20PRO%208194&dds=1

Another gasket found to work perfectly for the QV (found in another thread) are:

http://www.carpartsdiscount.com/auto/parts/96/bmw/850ci/gaskets_seals/exhaust_seal_ring.html?3593=68600

 

I have a very similar sound at cold running also as loud as in the above sound clip. It seems too loud for the A/C belt. Does anybody know what the cause was at chrisbinsb car was??

thanks a lot in advance

 

I copied the sound clip again and hope it is recognized with a guide to the cause:

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/attachments/ticking-sound-m4a.1487255/

 

Does sound like its leaking exhaust at one of the cyl. The reason is the uneven pattern of the sound. Check the exhaust header/manifold.

 

Must be a slightly leaking gasket. As soon as the engine heats up and there is enough thermal expansion from the parts the small leak gets closed, that is probably why you only hear it when the engine is still cold.

 

Does it disappear once warmed up?
Does it happen all the time?More so when the weather is cold?
That sounds like the AC belt on my car but it only happens occasionally depending on the weather but goes awy within a couple of minutes after start up.

 

Sounds like an exhaust leak to me, coming from one cylinder. IOW, it's most likely to be at the exhaust manifold gasket for that cylinder or the air injection tube for that cylinder.

 

Thanks everybody. The car is a 1988 328GTS with ABS. The noise disappears when warm after like 10 minutes. It is not the AC belt since I had that noise in the past as well but was not this loud. The exhaust leak seems best option. I bring the car on an ambulance to the shop and keep all informed.