ticking sound

I have recently purchased a 97 dakota with a 3.9L, standard trans.
I had the rad flushed, the oil and belt changed. I have found that after the engine warms up it develops a ticking noise that I can't seem to locate. The noise quiets down when when you increase RPMs.

I would appreciate any ideas you might have on finding and correcting this issue.

I am a newbie, so please forgive any mistakes I might have made in this my first posting.

My truck still does that too, even coming back from the shop that I took it to so they could correct it. They call it "pinging" or "spark knock". I don't know what's doing it, maybe bad timing or something...

My truck is a '97 1500 with a 3.9, standard trans.

Thanks for the feed back. I haven't had the truck long enough to check the timing yet. If I find anything to fix the issue I will let you know. Thanks again.

I know there is a TSB for the timing chain being loose and the case being messed up, but I haven't had mine fixed yet. I hope the timing chain goes and blows everything up. This was apparently only for the '97 and '98 3.9 engines.

I have a 2002 V6 with auto trans. with the same "spark rattle." The dealership said some of the older models had factory-recommended upgrades to the computer they would do when customers complained about it, but they say the newer models should come with the upgrade already. My truck only has 26,000 miles. The advice they gave me: upgrade to 89 octane. I did that yesterday, and I still notice it, but it seems to have lessened a bit.

Is there really not a real answer to this problem, or is the problem so widespread and expensive to fix, that dodge doesn't want to deal with it?

What do you guys think?

From what I've heard and understand, just about ALL 3.9 engines have a timing chain problem. A TSB was released that supposedly offered a kit that would install tensioners on the engine for the chain, and also replaced the chain and gears with new ones. Supoosedly, that's why the chains slap around under their covers; there isn't a tensioner installed for some strange reason to keep the chain from slapping around when it gets loose. It can cause backfiring even if it's loose; it doesn;t necessarily have to jump teeth to cause the timing to screw up. My 1996 Dakota does it, and a guy that works in the local muffler shop has a newer one that does it too. I don't know if DOdge ever issued a recall, but knowing how much of a b*tch it is to change that cover, and seeing how hundreds of thousands of Dakotas probably have this problem, then that should sufficiently explain why they don't seem to wanna recall it and fix it on their own time and money.

That's just my .2 cents

Kevin

Might as well just run these things until they give up. I know I won't be sad when mine does, I need an excuse to take that motor out.

Had to throw my two cents in...I've got a 97 Dakota 3.9L with 170k on it. I didn't notice the sound until I hit about 110k, but since then it's been pretty constant. I run 89 octane and that lessens it a bit, but I've driven it this way for 60k now and nothing bad has happened yet.

:2cents:

My 03 V6 has 15K on it and i took it in a while ago cause it was driving me crazy! they said "we had several mechanics look at it and they all agree it's normal" WTF a week or so later it kinda magically went away!

What kind of plugs do you guys run? You ought to try get a set of autolite plugs for your motor! It performs and runs much better. And I dont mean the high dollar plugs. The base model autolites. See if that helps your spark knock or not!

From what I've heard and understand, just about ALL 3.9 engines have a timing chain problem. A TSB was released that supposedly offered a kit that would install tensioners on the engine for the chain, and also replaced the chain and gears with new ones. Supoosedly, that's why the chains slap around under their covers; there isn't a tensioner installed for some strange reason to keep the chain from slapping around when it gets loose. It can cause backfiring even if it's loose; it doesn;t necessarily have to jump teeth to cause the timing to screw up. My 1996 Dakota does it, and a guy that works in the local muffler shop has a newer one that does it too. I don't know if DOdge ever issued a recall, but knowing how much of a b*tch it is to change that cover, and seeing how hundreds of thousands of Dakotas probably have this problem, then that should sufficiently explain why they don't seem to wanna recall it and fix it on their own time and money.

That's just my .2 cents

Kevin

My chain just went out and I had the tensioner kit installed this time...It has never ran this quiet in the 10 years I've had the truck. All the noise is gone!

oh yeah, I got a 1993 3.9L

There is a TSB on the problem with the 3.9L engine. You can find the TSB on the internet. I talk to a mechanic and was told that it would not effect the engine just the owner.

It is probably the fuel injectors! They are set to pulse at certain times in conjunction with timing changes. When they pulse (receive elec.) they make the arcing sound.