Its a 2003 350Z with 22k miles. Other than test pipes and a catback the engine is stock.

I started to hear a ticking sound which sounded normal to me but it just sounds louder than normal and starting to get concerned.

I have checked oil levels and its fine and not due for an oil change yet.

I have no other symptoms of smoke, hesitation, rough idle and etc. Car runs and operates completely normal thus far.

Video:


Does this sound normal to you?

 

Might be the bad coilpacks.

 

sounds exactly like what mind sounded like when i chipped a chunck off one of my eagle rods due to oil starvation. its it very audible from inside the car while you are driving? mine started off with a very slight ticking that you could hear from outside the car then it became louder to where it was obvious something was wrong.

 

is not audible in the cabin unless im at a light with windows rolled down...

 

Sounds like a fuel injector (bad fuel damper).

 

^^^ Agreed, sounds like an injector. It could possibly be a dirty/bad lifter, but that usually goes away after a rev or 2.

 

mine sounds about the same way. had no real issues either.

 

O2sys. The next day I called u I inspected a 03 with 5399. Didn't make that noise at all.

 

well still so far car is running fine, i noticed the sound goes away under load at higher RPMs, but it could be that the engine/muffler is canceling it out...

Jiggy you suggested that it could be a exhaust leak, but if it was wouldn't it get even louder as rpm rises?

 

My old Altima sounded like that, I took it to the dealership a few times and everything always came back as "normal".

I just chalked it up as noisy valvetrain.

 

o2sys, did you figure it out yet? my Z has the same issue. I broke 100k in the thing a couple of weeks ago and started noticing it around that time. I took it for an oil change thinking it might have been a little low but all was ok there. A friend from way back had a Ford that started making the same sound and it was his Hydraulic Tappits (at least I think that is what they were called!) that were messed up. It was a messy yet relativley easy fix. My Z still runs fine albeit a little rattley and ticky. I may use a heavier grade oil the next change to see if that helps. If you manage to figure it out be sure to post.

Cheers

 

I did an oil change yesterday and went from 0w-30 back to 5w-30 synthetic and the noise is still there. Didn't notice anything in the oil that I was draining out either.

Still running fine and still no issues...

 

Maybe try fuel injector cleaners?

 

Please don't.

 

Was at the dealer to have a recall done, something with a fuel hose leak and ask them to just check out what it was...too add to my paranoia all they said something is wrong with your engine, its going bad...but with further diagnostics which they will charge me for they couldn't say more...

 

Any word? My motor sounds like yours...

 

Ive heard alot of high mileage Z's making that same sound. I have a friend that doesnt take care of his and never changes the oil and it sounds just like that but worse. The sound comes from the heads and is in the valvetrain. Mine has started making the same noise, we put it on the lift and standing under the car looking up at the head you can narrow the noise right down to the exact spot its coming from.....mine is the rear of the drivers side cylinder head.

 

huh/// doesn't sound "right" to me, but don't know the source. did you try
replacing fuel injectors? trial by error is prob the only way to narrow culprit.
gl

 

still no clue what it is, car only has 22k miles and its been well maintained...

 

Nissan techs couldn't point it out?

I've only got 43k on my '04...but it's been boosted for about 15k.