Tapping sound when car is cold

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 08:31 AM

Hi guys, i was wondering if you could help me. i recently installed a K&n sri on my car and everything works just fine. i noticed a noise yesterday when i was warming up my car to go to work. every couple of seconds(in no particular order) i hear a small tapping sound. after a few minutes of driving the sound is gone. i have [b]never [b] heard that sound before. this morning i turn on my car and hear it again. i look under the hood and nothing feels loose. i turn on the air inside the car to see if i hear it again, and i hear a few taps but i dont know where the sound is comming from. from inside its as if i hear it right in front of me but in the engine bay. now i know thats where the air filter would go but i dont see it moving anything. any ideas?

**Gonzo** · 04-14-2008, 08:42 AM

Only tapping sound I have heard in my car is the moonroof creaking on very cold mornings. You say it sounds like it is coming from the hood.

It is like intermittent like two components rubbing or hitting each other or does it sound like there is a pattern to it like something swinging around loose?

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Only tapping sound I have heard in my car is the moonroof creaking on very cold mornings. You say it sounds like it is coming from the hood.

It is like intermittent like two components rubbing or hitting each other or does it sound like there is a pattern to it like something swinging around loose?

nope no pattern. dude its so hard to describe lol. its like a mouse is tapping the metal inside my engine bay near the driverside then when i check it hides and laughs at me...like i said its not that loud but its something i havent heard before just random tap tap tapping. so far iv only heard it twice and when the car is cold.

**Gonzo** · 04-14-2008, 08:53 AM

Hmm, maybe check your brake line under the intake to see if it has come loose from its bracket? That is a common thing that happens, not sure if it is responsible for the tapping.

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 09:03 AM

i did notice now that the intake filter is touching one of the small metal pipes in the back of my engine bay. but i felt nothing loose either..i check and nothing is loose.

**Gonzo** · 04-14-2008, 09:09 AM

I am not sure how the K&N is positioned in the bay, but keep in mind the engine cradle does move around which includes the intake. If it is touching it might be tapping to.

Do you have any foam rubber? If you secure that to the pipe (I am guessing it is one of the brake lines?) between it and the filter that might help you narrow down what it is.

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 09:09 AM

yea im sittign in my car righ now and no noise... its because the car is warm. but when its cold. i hear it. even my 10 year old brother hears it...UGGGG now i have to wait till my car cools down again.

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

I am not sure how the K&N is positioned in the bay, but keep in mind the engine cradle does move around which includes the intake. If it is touching it might be tapping to.

Do you have any foam rubber? If you secure that to the pipe (I am guessing it is one of the brake lines?) between it and the filter that might help you narrow down what it is.

ill try that out., by the way man thank you very much for helping me out here. even if it doesnt solve the problem.

i appreciate it

**Gonzo** · 04-14-2008, 09:52 AM

Not a problem man, good luck.

Also if you need a place to buy foam rubber a local hobby shop (especially if they do airplanes) should have some.

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 09:56 AM

ok so i just took some pictures

on the 3rd one you could see that the intake filter is touching the black metal tubing. it didnt move, its not loose....nothing!!! ARGGGG lol.

**Gonzo** · 04-14-2008, 10:20 AM

Hmm, if it is exerting pressure on the line, maybe it is causing the line to move around further down the system?

What year is your car? One of your brake line clips looks different than mine. Mine is just a holder where the line pops in (and subsequently pops out) but yours looks like it has a locking mechanism to keep it from popping out. Hmmm...

What I am talking about is in the first picture. The white clip just to the right and slightly down of that copper ground.

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Hmm, if it is exerting pressure on the line, maybe it is causing the line to move around further down the system?

What year is your car? One of your brake line clips looks different than mine. Mine is just a holder where the line pops in (and subsequently pops out) but yours looks like it has a locking mechanism to keep it from popping out. Hmmm...

What I am talking about is in the first picture. The white clip just to the right and slightly down of that copper ground.

its an 07. yea i checked it too when u told me to. nothing loose there either....so odd!!

innrfusion · 04-14-2008, 01:56 PM

officially stumped...i waited 2 hours and i guess the car wasnt cold enough so the noise didnt happen. looks like im gonna have to wait till morning to hear it again

04-14-2008, 08:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
innrfusion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nb, Nj Posts: 340 Fuentes iTrader: 2 / 100%	Tapping sound when car is cold Hi guys, i was wondering if you could help me. i recently installed a K&n sri on my car and everything works just fine. i noticed a noise yesterday when i was warming up my car to go to work. every couple of seconds(in no particular order) i hear a small tapping sound. after a few minutes of driving the sound is gone. i have [b]never [b] heard that sound before. this morning i turn on my car and hear it again. i look under the hood and nothing feels loose. i turn on the air inside the car to see if i hear it again, and i hear a few taps but i dont know where the sound is comming from. from inside its as if i hear it right in front of me but in the engine bay. now i know thats where the air filter would go but i dont see it moving anything. any ideas?

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04-14-2008, 08:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gonzo You're doing it wrong!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 21 Posts: 5,651 iTrader: 5 / 100%	Only tapping sound I have heard in my car is the moonroof creaking on very cold mornings. You say it sounds like it is coming from the hood. It is like intermittent like two components rubbing or hitting each other or does it sound like there is a pattern to it like something swinging around loose?

04-14-2008, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gonzo You're doing it wrong!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 21 Posts: 5,651 iTrader: 5 / 100%	Hmm, maybe check your brake line under the intake to see if it has come loose from its bracket? That is a common thing that happens, not sure if it is responsible for the tapping.

04-14-2008, 09:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
innrfusion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nb, Nj Posts: 340 Fuentes iTrader: 2 / 100%	i did notice now that the intake filter is touching one of the small metal pipes in the back of my engine bay. but i felt nothing loose either..i check and nothing is loose.

04-14-2008, 09:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gonzo You're doing it wrong!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 21 Posts: 5,651 iTrader: 5 / 100%	I am not sure how the K&N is positioned in the bay, but keep in mind the engine cradle does move around which includes the intake. If it is touching it might be tapping to. Do you have any foam rubber? If you secure that to the pipe (I am guessing it is one of the brake lines?) between it and the filter that might help you narrow down what it is.

04-14-2008, 09:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
innrfusion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nb, Nj Posts: 340 Fuentes iTrader: 2 / 100%	yea im sittign in my car righ now and no noise... its because the car is warm. but when its cold. i hear it. even my 10 year old brother hears it...UGGGG now i have to wait till my car cools down again.

04-14-2008, 09:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Gonzo You're doing it wrong!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 21 Posts: 5,651 iTrader: 5 / 100%	Not a problem man, good luck. Also if you need a place to buy foam rubber a local hobby shop (especially if they do airplanes) should have some.

04-14-2008, 09:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
innrfusion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nb, Nj Posts: 340 Fuentes iTrader: 2 / 100%	ok so i just took some pictures on the 3rd one you could see that the intake filter is touching the black metal tubing. it didnt move, its not loose....nothing!!! ARGGGG lol.

04-14-2008, 10:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
Gonzo You're doing it wrong!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 21 Posts: 5,651 iTrader: 5 / 100%	Hmm, if it is exerting pressure on the line, maybe it is causing the line to move around further down the system? What year is your car? One of your brake line clips looks different than mine. Mine is just a holder where the line pops in (and subsequently pops out) but yours looks like it has a locking mechanism to keep it from popping out. Hmmm... What I am talking about is in the first picture. The white clip just to the right and slightly down of that copper ground.

04-14-2008, 01:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
innrfusion Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nb, Nj Posts: 340 Fuentes iTrader: 2 / 100%	officially stumped...i waited 2 hours and i guess the car wasnt cold enough so the noise didnt happen. looks like im gonna have to wait till morning to hear it again