help please: rapid clicking noises at 70-80mph

[whodat]

I hear this clicking noise that reminds me of starting the car but the battery is dead. Which did happen a week ago. But this clicking noise happens every time I hit 80mph, not accelerating fast, rpm at 2000. So I stay at 70 and that seems to avoid the sound. But it started to come randomly now. Definitely taking it in tomorrow. But currently an hour away from home with the kids and wife. I think it's safe to drive under 70mph. Any thoughts?

 

[gm350reratliff]

Do you know what general area this clicking noise is coming from?

 

[whodat]

Do you know what general area this clicking noise is coming from?

Front driver side, almost like from under the hood

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

Take it through some heavy RPMs. Does it happen in lower RPM bands? Is it continuous at all speeds or just between 70-80 and that's it?

If its continuous it could be something on the drive shaft that got wrapped around and is smacking another part in the area. I would look.up under and check it out.

The only other thing I would think of if its coming in and out of gears to maintain speed. Sometimes on automatic trans I've heard that clicking sound when it switches over gears.

 

[Antman]

You've got to determine if it's vehicle speed related (MPH) or engine speed (RPM) related.

Sounds like it's MPH from what you've said- I would look in the wheel well/underneath the truck and see if the plastic is loose and flapping in the wind.

Noises like this can sound like they are coming from a completely different area than they actually are. I SWORE I had a leak and I heard water randomly dripping inside my headliner. In actuality it was the rubber weatherstripping on my GOBI fairing had ripped and was flapping against the roof directly over my head. Took me a few days to figure that out!

Good luck.

 

[whodat]

Well we made it home with no problems. I stayed at 70mph and the sound didn't come back. Didn't want to try going 80mph and mess something up.

Take it through some heavy RPMs. Does it happen in lower RPM bands? Is it continuous at all speeds or just between 70-80 and that's it?

If its continuous it could be something on the drive shaft that got wrapped around and is smacking another part in the area. I would look.up under and check it out.

The only other thing I would think of if its coming in and out of gears to maintain speed. Sometimes on automatic trans I've heard that clicking sound when it switches over gears.

The noise never showed up with any heavy rpms. It only showed up during the low rpm bands, between 2-2.5 The noise was definitely there at 80+ and it was continuous for 5 seconds, after 5 seconds I was too chicken to continue so I slowed down. I didn't even check the driveshaft at the time, I looked under the front of the 4R and in the wheel wells. I will check in the morning.

You've got to determine if it's vehicle speed related (MPH) or engine speed (RPM) related.

Sounds like it's MPH from what you've said- I would look in the wheel well/underneath the truck and see if the plastic is loose and flapping in the wind.

Noises like this can sound like they are coming from a completely different area than they actually are. I SWORE I had a leak and I heard water randomly dripping inside my headliner. In actuality it was the rubber weatherstripping on my GOBI fairing had ripped and was flapping against the roof directly over my head. Took me a few days to figure that out!

Good luck.

I think I narrowed it down to mph related. I look for any loose parts, I'm hoping that's all it is! We did drive through some really tall grass because we were looking at some property, the grass was up to the 4R's windows. I pulled a bunch of grass out from the factory skid plate. I wonder if the damn grass is the culprit! I'll check in the morning. Putting the kids to sleep now.

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[gm350reratliff]

Sounds like there is grass/weeds tangled around the cv shafts.

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

^^^^ but the noise discontinues?

So at low RPMs is the noise constant or only at 75+? It must be a loud enough noise for how much sound dampening they have done with these cars. What you can try doing is leaving the car parked in the driveway in neutral and revving between 2-2.5k to replicate. This will narrow it down to the motor since the trans is disengaged. Then do a road test with the drovers window down and then the passenger window down. Have someone else drive it with you in the passenger seat.

You can narrow down the noise this way since it appears while in motion. Doing it in the driveway rules out powertrain only issues. Once you get an area get under the car and check all parts that move. Axels, drive shaft, etc.

You maybe ran over something and it got stuck. There really isn't much that can come loose and create a clicking sound.


A prank we pulled on someone one time is we zip tied the drive shaft. The loose ends then flapped against the surrounding area. This drove our buddy INSANE and he couldn't figure it out for a week. Hilarious

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

Its all trial and error. Ruling things out. Is it coming from the back or the front. The left or the right. Then its high RPM or low RPM not moving. Nothing there then high speed or low speed.

Once you have enough variables to judge against you can then check for issues. If you can't find anything then you can pass that info along to a tech or a dealer.

 

[wfo9]

I'll bet it is just something flopping in the wind... Nothing to worry about.

I had some straps on my roof rack on a trip and they would go into a loud whine right at 80mph.

Something as simple as s strip of paper under the truck can make quite bit of noise....

Curious to hear what it was.

 

[whodat]

Sounds like there is grass/weeds tangled around the cv shafts.

^^^^ but the noise discontinues?

So at low RPMs is the noise constant or only at 75+? It must be a loud enough noise for how much sound dampening they have done with these cars. What you can try doing is leaving the car parked in the driveway in neutral and revving between 2-2.5k to replicate. This will narrow it down to the motor since the trans is disengaged. Then do a road test with the drovers window down and then the passenger window down. Have someone else drive it with you in the passenger seat.

You can narrow down the noise this way since it appears while in motion. Doing it in the driveway rules out powertrain only issues. Once you get an area get under the car and check all parts that move. Axels, drive shaft, etc.

You maybe ran over something and it got stuck. There really isn't much that can come loose and create a clicking sound.


A prank we pulled on someone one time is we zip tied the drive shaft. The loose ends then flapped against the surrounding area. This drove our buddy INSANE and he couldn't figure it out for a week. Hilarious

Its all trial and error. Ruling things out. Is it coming from the back or the front. The left or the right. Then its high RPM or low RPM not moving. Nothing there then high speed or low speed.

Once you have enough variables to judge against you can then check for issues. If you can't find anything then you can pass that info along to a tech or a dealer.

I'll bet it is just something flopping in the wind... Nothing to worry about.

I had some straps on my roof rack on a trip and they would go into a loud whine right at 80mph.

Something as simple as s strip of paper under the truck can make quite bit of noise....

Curious to hear what it was.

Well, did what you guys suggested and here's the result.

Slid under the 4R and looked for any weeds/grass stuck anywhere. Nothing.

Looked for anything loose, nothing.

Popped the hood and pretended to know what I was doing, then I saw a bunch of these "helicopters":

located here (this is the picture after I removed the helicopters):

Did a test drive at 80mph for 30 miles roundtrip and the noise went away. Thankfully that was a freakin easy fix!

That explains the noise at +80mph, lower speeds didn't really catch enoug wind to make it vibrate and click. I now I recall the noise would sometimes pop up at 70mph because I would hit a little bump in the road. Never had any problems in the past because this is a new place we are living in and the first time we parked under a tree.

Like always, thanks for the help everyone! :drummer:

 

[1engineer]

Good job! Quick story: Back in the day I had a Jeep. I didn't have much money and needed tires so I bought recaps. Used. Yeah I know but anyway after a few months I was driving along and heard a wapwapwapwap. I slowed down a bit and it went away. I sped up and at around 45 mph and wapwapwap! Long story short I tore that Jeep apart looking for what could cause that noise! Always at 45 mph. I took out the driveshaft and everything because it was speed, not RPM related. Finally a few weeks later I was washing the Jeep and found a bare place in the paint on my wheel opening on the rear. It looked like the paint had been rubbed through instead of a scratch. I took the tire off and found it! That stupid recap had a loose spot in the tread that would sling out at 45 mph and above. The faster I went above 45 the worse it got. Sometimes it's hard to find the source so glad you did!

 

[whodat]

Good job! Quick story: Back in the day I had a Jeep. I didn't have much money and needed tires so I bought recaps. Used. Yeah I know but anyway after a few months I was driving along and heard a wapwapwapwap. I slowed down a bit and it went away. I sped up and at around 45 mph and wapwapwap! Long story short I tore that Jeep apart looking for what could cause that noise! Always at 45 mph. I took out the driveshaft and everything because it was speed, not RPM related. Finally a few weeks later I was washing the Jeep and found a bare place in the paint on my wheel opening on the rear. It looked like the paint had been rubbed through instead of a scratch. I took the tire off and found it! That stupid recap had a loose spot in the tread that would sling out at 45 mph and above. The faster I went above 45 the worse it got. Sometimes it's hard to find the source so glad you did!

Thanks! Sure glad I found it relatively easy. Like you and [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION], and I'm sure with everyone else, it was really getting on my nerves! Was at a waterpark with the family and I didn't enjoy it one bit because it was on my mind the whole time! Plus I was afraid I was going to end up in the ditch driving home lol

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

Never underestimate what parking under a tree can do to your vehicle....oh and guess whats going to be all over your cabin filter when you change it