Tracking down a tick when cold and put in gear..

nolift911

Well-known member
Feb 19, 2006
403
0
Folks - stumped on this one

01 Disco 310k miles, ticking/clicking when cold and first put in gear...ticks for the first half mile and goes away when warm and then does not resurface. Does not do it in park, and revving engine does not make sound only when put in gear and moving. Changed all exhaust gaskets, no change.

Have had for the last 10-20k

Does not sound motor related - just transmission related as it only services in gear and cold.
Flex plate maybe (which to my knowledge has never been changed)
Low transmission fluid?
Other?
 

CORover

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2007
745
65
Colorado, USA
Cats rattling maybe? I was 100% positive I had a transmission issue a while ago so I brought it to a shop for diagnosis, it was the cats. Only did it sometimes and was hard to isolate.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
310K? So much for toyota.

Anyway, I had a rattle that had similar symptoms and I swore was the flex plate. Took it to someone who got it on a lift and it was immediatley diagnosed as a broken CAT. Got a new one, no more Rattle-Trap. Bob's your uncle.

310K? What the secret?
 

nolift911

Well-known member
Feb 19, 2006
403
0
I have had the cat deal - doesn't sound like that. Very rhythmic tick...only in gear and moving and when cold - like 2-3 minutes it stops. Forward and reverse...does not do it in neutral when revving the motor.

So flex plate - how to diagnose and what to look for? If it is the flex plate what is the issue and what is making noise?

Thanks -

(310,000 miles secret...?? Head gaskets, new motor, 5 power steering pumps, 2 alternators, many hoses, many gaskets, 2 radiators, 2 downpipes/cats, 2 mufflers, 2 MAFS, 3 batteries, many bushings, many lights, 5 brake pad changes...on and on and on)
 

Dave03S

Well-known member
Jun 22, 2012
62
2
Seattle, Wa
Vacuum leak? I've had a tick that only shows up when cold and under load. Mine was the plastic nipple in the throttle body that goes to the right side valve cover.
 

ezzzzzzz

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2010
604
7
SE Va
I had a heat shield on one of my D2's break free at one end. The rattle was inconsistent and only found after a closer look. I did have a cat go bad that would rattle only when cold. You could also hear it if rapping the cat with a rubber mall while the engine was off.