Clicking sounds from the engine

[Eric Reed]

My 98 DOHC neon has a couple issues that came up at about the same time. First, the engine has started misfiring while idling. I suspect that replacing the plugs and wires will fix this, but maybe it is significant.

The engine has also started making a clicking sound though. It makes the sound when I accelerate. The wider I open the throttle, the louder the clicking gets, but after the engine has warmed up, the sound all but goes away. Does anybody have any idea what this could be?

This may also be relevant. Just before these problems developed, I think a small amount of water could have made it into the intake. I had been splashed with large volumes of water and slush a couple times. Each time, the sound of the engine changed dramatically for about 15 seconds. It lost quite a bit of power and kind of sounded like it was submersed in water, but then gradually went back to normal.

Aside from the rough idle, the engine runs fine now, but any thoughts would be appreciated.

Eric

[jsgold]

The clicking noise is most likely piston slap which is common on these cars. My wife's 98 was loud for a couple of minutes then ran quiet as a mouse. I have seen the same complaint over and over again here. best to just put up with it as no real big problem and would cost a fortune to fix. Put good platinum plugs in your car and don't put on cheapo plug wires. Change PCV valve, air filter, and should run better. If you are in a real cold area the clicking can also be a result of lifters due to thick/cold oil. That is normal too.

[Chud298]

I had the same exact problem. When it's colder it gets louder and so on. What I did was replace the power steering fluid. If that does not work replace the power steering pump. One of those will work but replace the fluid first because it's cheaper. Tell me how it goes.

[Eric Reed]

Cold climate is not an issue. It is typically around 30 to 50 degrees here this time of year. I also use Mobil 1, 5W-30, oil, so I think the oil should not be a problem even if it was a little colder.

So, I hear a couple entirely different explanations. Does everyone think it was just a coincidence that these problems both came up after the experience with the strange engine sounds after being splashed?

[Chud298]

Originally Posted by Eric Reed

Cold climate is not an issue. It is typically around 30 to 50 degrees here this time of year. I also use Mobil 1, 5W-30, oil, so I think the oil should not be a problem even if it was a little colder.

So, I hear a couple entirely different explanations. Does everyone think it was just a coincidence that these problems both came up after the experience with the strange engine sounds after being splashed?

I wasn't talking about oil, I was talking about power steering fluid. And 40 degrees is still cold enough for it to do that. It's the same here I live in the northeast.

[skatendestroy]

th clicking oise can eather be the piston slap or your valves are worn out if the sound starts getting worse take it to a shop to have you head checked because you might end up causeing serious damege

[Eric Reed]

OK. I replaced the plugs and wires. That did nothing for the missing at idle.
I did find a couple more things when I did this though. There was a pool of oil around the #4 spark plug. Also, the padding on the bottom of the air intake duct that sits on the valve cover was pretty severely melted in one spot.
So I have a guess as to what the problem could be, but I think I would just like to hear what others have to say first.

[justnotthatpunk]

The oil on the plugs is a common thing with these cars. I know that I have heard of many other people as well as myself who find oil on the plugs when they change them. If you want, you can replace your spark plug gaskets in your valve cover, but I don't believe that is necessary, as it is not the source of any of your problems. The stock air intake housing and piping is a peice of crap (on the first gen. cars at least). When I replaced mine with a short ram intake, there was a huge hole in the bottom of the piping. There is also a heavy chunk of metal that bolts the filter housing on to the back of the head (useless). The whole assembly is crap and I would recommend replacing it.
I am assuming that you are still using the stock air intake. If this is true, then it would be almost impossible to suck up any water into it (unless there is a giant hole in it as there was in mine). As for your other problems, the misfiring could be caused by a bad coil pack, which you can test (get a haynes/chilton manual). As for your engine noise, I have no suggestions. I don't notice any clicking sounds in my 97 SOHC, but then again, I live in Arizona. Are there any engine codes being displayed? If so, what are they?