Ticking noise coming from the driver’s side of the engine

ANSWER : There should be no appreciable run-out on the crank pulley and if a physical inspection of the harmonic balancer reveals damage such as a broken, cracked or separated rubber bond, the balancer should be replaced. If you do have a failed balancer, don’t operate the engine because the imbalance and/or torsional forces on the crankshaft can cause damage to the crankshaft and main bearings. You can obtain an inspection/repair quote, and schedule the repair as you like, by simply visiting YourMechanic’s harmonic balancer repair service page and click on "Get a Quote". If you request this service, the responding certified mechanic will first inspect what you have and, if indicated, implement the required repairs and answer any questions that you might have. With regard to the ticking noise, that is almost undoubtedly valve train noise. A certain, minimal level of noise can occur on particular makes and models. Whoever performs the balancer inspection and repair, if required can evaluate that noise up close and let you know if it is normal or not. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hi there. It appears you have more than one problem with your vehicle. The noise coming from engine area with a load on the electrical system, may be a bad diode in the alternator. Continuing to drive the vehicle with a bad alternator diode, may leave you with a dead battery. The hot air coming from the vents sounds like blend door actuator(s) problems. I recommend the concerns your vehicle has, it be inspected by a certified technician like one from YourMechanic to pinpoint the noise and help you fix it accordingly.

ANSWER : Often, that would be lifters making a noise. So, the first thing you’d want to do is get some good engine oil flush and have the engine flushed out, and then change the oil and filter. A lot of times, that would stop the noise. Now, if it doesn’t, my advice would be to change the oil and filter.

Use Castrol oil, that is a very good oil. Put one quart of Lucas oil additive into the mix. A lot of times, that would solve the problem and it would stop ticking. So, you can try that, but first flush it out because flushing is one of the best things you can do in this situation. If you are uncomfortable performing this, have a technician come to the location of your car to inspect the noise and perform any necessary repairs.

ANSWER : Hi there. These door issues are common on this vehicle. Most of the time the main issue is the master door lock switch on the driver door. It sounds like you already replaced that. As for the sliding door problem, most of the time, this is a failure within the door module or it can be a connection issue.

I typically take the door apart and check the connections on the module and inside of the door just to make sure that there is nothing apparent in there. If the connections and the wiring are fine, then I use a scan tool to check the module to see what the inputs and outputs are doing. If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose your door problem and recommend a repair.

ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided, I’m am inclined to agree with your assessment of a used engine being installed in your vehicle. An inspection of the engine, by a qualified technician could determine whether the engine is sound. The Check Engine Light on and having a TPS (throttle position sensor) code does not necessarily mean the sensor is at fault. Circuit tests should be performed to confirm the fault. The likelihood of the ECM (electronic control module/computer) giving you all the codes at once is remote. Other component failures could occur. Address those as they come up. Even though you already made the purchase, I recommend having your vehicle inspected by a certified technician so that you can get a thorough evaluation of the car’s true condition.

ANSWER : If the ticking sound seems to be dependent on temperature, I might suggest taking a look for an exhaust leak somewhere. Small exhaust leaks will normally begin when cold and diminish as the engine warms, but in my experience, I have seen exhaust manifolds and pipe connections that will respond in the opposite, like you are describing. I’m not sure if this is the case in your situation, but it is another credible place to look.

ANSWER : The noise that you are hearing from the engine could be one or more lifters ticking. The lifters use oil from the engine to create a hydraulic pressure in them to keep them in contact with the valvetrain. If the lifter is old and sticking, then at high rpm’s the lifter moves too slow to fill back up with oil pressure causing the lifter to tap as there is a clearance between the lifter and the valvetrain. If you need further assistance with your engine making a ticking noise, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

ANSWER : If your engine temperature overheated, then you have problems in the cooling system. Running it low on oil does not help an engine. If you are getting smoking and noise from the engine, then you need to have the engine checked for damage from the overheating. The water pump may have failed or your thermostat may have stuck closed. I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to you to diagnose the overheating issue to see what has happened.