Hi guys,

well lifters indeed was the culprit of the tapping sound coming from the engine. It was diagnosed by Chrysler yesterday after the 5th attempt to get them to check into it. I was also informed that the dealer has no access to TSB's from Mercedes-Benz (Which is CRAZY). Anyhow the tapping sounds people are hearing (other than the regular faint diesel like sound which is normal) is NOT normal and they really need to listen for it. Mine was coming from the passenger side of the car (that's where it was the loudest).

I'm very familiar with the sounds of this engine be it that i also have it in my Mercedes-Benz CLK320 which coincidentally also had its lifters replaced at just 26,000 miles. So this is something Daimler-Chrysler needs to acknowledge and issue a TSB out on. Remember alot of the Chrysler mechanics are not used to this engine for it's the only car in their lineup that has it, furthermore, it's totally foreign to them due to that its a Mercedes-Benz unit not a Chrysler's unit. So when they hear these sounds they just tell you "it's supposed to sound like that" and since they've never had a servicing history experience with this engine in any other products of theirs, they don't know that the engine indeed has a flaw with the lifters.

The first four attempts to get them to look at my car were a mess. They kept starting other crossfires and comparing sounds and would tell me they sounded the same (when indeed they didn't), they would discredit my concerns that it was probably lifters and blame the fuel i was using, etc. Well finally it was diagnosed yesterday after speaking with the Service Manager. It seems the only way to correct this concern at this point is persistence, which doesn't hurt when it involves something that you are paying for. If you get the same noise and Chrysler doesn't want to help, take it to a Mercedes-Benz Mechanic that knows these engines well and let them hear it, whatever they diagnose, have them put it in writing for you and take it to Chrysler, they should be able to consider your concerns a lil better at that point.

Hopefully with enough claims to Chrysler's Warranty Dept. about these concerns, might push Chrysler to get the TSB's from Mercedes which will make our lives of explaining to a American mechanic the faults with our German engine a lot easier.

 

Hi Bullfrog,

My car now has 2000 miles on it I has started making a ticking sound which sounds like the hydraulic tappets or rockers.

It is very noticeable when accelerating under medium throttle between 1700 - 2500 rpm and is coming from the passenger side (UK).

It is quite loud and sounds a bit like its pinking but I think its the tappets.

The more the load, the louder they are.

However the engine is pretty quiet at idle - no unusual ticking.

Does this sound like the same problem as yours or does yours tick obviously at idle?

 

Bullfrog, you mentioned a Mercedes TSB...can you provide the number? It would be a big help in the battle. I am not having a problem at this time, but...

Thanks.

 

Do a Google, there are sites out there where you can find TSB’s and recalls for just about any vehicle. Here are three links I have saved where you can find TSB’s and recalls. The TSB below on the SLK 320 3.2L engine can be found on the Edmunds site.

Also, it has been my experience that dealers will not volunteer TSB information with the public. They are mainly for the use by their service people. The customer is generally left holding a bag of nothing and has to research things on their own.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/

http://www.ownersite.com/TSBMain.cfm?action=year

http://www.edmunds.com/maintenance/MaintenanceServlet

Component Description:
9. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Bulletin Number: 070021A
Bulletin Date: OCT 2002

Vehicle: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Summary:
SOME MODEL 211 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE 113.967 MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE TICKING (PISTON SLAP LIKE SOUND) NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 1200 AND 3000 RPM. *TT

 

I won the lemon law and DC replaced the car with a new XFire.

The ticking sound should not be confused with that of the normal tappet sound driving at around 2,500 rpm's in a low gear. My ticking sound was present at idle and at a high gear (6th) while on the freeway at 65-75 mph. When you're driving on the highway at 65 mph and you hear the valve train like if the engine was inside the car with you going tick-tick-tick really fast like mine did, then you have the same problem I had - and that's not normal in any car. The ticking sound just got progressively worse and louder and more apparent to the point where people were asking me why my car sounded like it had an exhaust leak-when it didn't. It was finally diagnosed by the service manager when i asked him to park the car isolated away from the service bay ambient noise. I asked him to park the car between two parked cars in the lot away from noise and just let the car idle and he heard it loud and clear. Mind you this was after the 4th attempt at getting them to hear the noise. Also when at a fast food drive thru when you're about to pay at the window you could hear the sound bouncing off the wall.

These engines by nature sounds very diesel like and are very thin walled alloy enabling you to hear a bit of tappet sounds but once the car is underway the tappet/lifter sound should fade not be louder and louder as the cars speed increases. The ticking (lifter sound) i'm referring is identical to that of a faint exhaust manifold leak.

I'll try and come up with the TSB from Mercedes and post it up for you guys. I know someone else on the forum, can't remember who, had the same problem where he got the cams, valves, lifters, etc replaced for the exact same noise.

Plus, the dealers had all kinds of answers and excuses for me like using the wrong fuel, or the engine is supposed to sound that way (WHAT THE HECK THEY KNOW THEY NEVER HAD THIS ENGINE IN THE PAST ON ANY CAR ITS A MB ENGINE), etc...

 

Thanks for the info.

Mine doesn't tick at idle nor is it particularly noticeable when cruising like yours bullfrog.

However that tsb posted by Ben47 sounds just like what I have. Unbelievably close to my explanation of the sound, in fact.

Vehicle: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class
Summary:
SOME MODEL 211 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE 113.967 MAY EXHIBIT ENGINE TICKING (PISTON SLAP LIKE SOUND) NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 1200 AND 3000 RPM. *TT

Just a couple of questions on this please:

1. Is engine 113.967 the 3.2 v6?

2. Is this TSB stating that some may exhibit this noise and its normal or is it saying that some may exhibit this noise and there is a fix.

3. Anyone else notice this ticking noise when accelerating between 1500 -3000 rpm (Sounds like noisy lifters/ Tappets).

Will be calling the dealer tomorrow so as much info and help from you guys would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

An Update:

I took the car to the dealers today and went out with the service manager.

He says that the ticking noise is the EGR valve and it is normal.

I am not sure. Do EGR valves tick?

The ticking is quite loud in my opinion and rises and falls in frequency with the revs. It is noisiest between 1500 and 3000rpm under load but can be heard ticking on a constant throttle, especially around 2000rpm. Sounds like a tappet / lifter tapping.

I have a basic understanding of the EGR valve function but not sure that it would tick.

Help please - do EGR valves generally tick in operation?

Thanks

 

ukroadster, this is definitely not normal. Try to get your service manager to compare your car to another crossfire. My manual roadster has no ticking at your quoted revs, all is smooth - I don't know if it is different for an auto but I don't see why it should be.

Hope you get this sorted soon.

 

The EGR valve normally does not modulate rapidly and certainly not in sink with engine rpms but what you are probably hearing are the fuel injectors. The injector ticking is very noticeable on mine. I have around 6K miles on mine and my lifter are quiet.

 

No EGR valve has no ticking, again there's the typical Chrysler Service Answer they don't know what they are talking about. If i were you i'd take the car to a shop that specializes in Benz' and have them listen to it and you'll see how their answer will be totally different than Chrysler's, and you might even get an accurate diagnosis of the problem right then and there.

 

Thanks for the info - I have done some more reading up myself.

It would seem that the service manager has been feeding me b*lls**t.

Like you say Bullfrog this EGR valve should be closed under full acceleration, deceleration and at idle and open under lean fuel conditions such as small throttle openings and cruising.

It certainly wont be opening and closing rapidly in line with engine rpm and clicking.

Its definitely too loud to be the injectors and more metallic in sound so not that.

I would swear its a lifter ticking but they are quiet at idle which is confusing.

The problem now is that I have to go back to the dealer and basically tell the service manager he has told me a load of b*ll and then ask the same guy to find what's wrong with it when I no longer have any faith in him. I always prefer to work with people rather than against them for best results but I cant see him taking it well.

I will also get the long winded 'its normal engine noise' comments etc etc.

I know this isn't normal engine noise and I am not being over sensitive - when I accelerate under load from 1500 rpm upward the engine is making a metallic ticking sound, which gets louder with an increase in load.

With the windows down, my mechanical sympathy makes me lift off the throttle as it tick, tick, ticks. I can even hear a faint metallic ticking on a constant throttle now at around 2000 rpm with the windows down.

The car was quiet up to approx 2000 miles but the dealer just says it has loosened up and you should expect some noise ??!!

I would like to take it to a Merc dealer to see what they think but its not easy approaching them and getting help when your not paying for there time, especially as it would involve taking the Tech out in the car as the engine is pretty quiet at idle.

Looks like I am going to have to go back to the dealer again this week but don't relish having to inform the service manager that he doesn't know what he talking about regarding the EGR valve.

I will ask to drive another one while there but they don't usually have any manuals.

I could really do without this to be honest. Its a good car but one of the reasons i bought it was the smoothness of the V6 engine and mine sounds like an old ford escort with unadjusted tappets at the moment and its becoming a real headache to get the fault recognized, let alone resolved .

I am even considering selling it but I cant think of anything else for the same money i could buy instead.

 

The more I read about Chrysler service departments the more adamant I that I am not taking my XF back to the dealer I bought it from. They were very good but are a Jeep and Chrysler dealer dealing mostly with the MPV side.

I think my choice has to be the other Chrysler dealer in the area (Wolverhapton UK) who are MB / Chrysler / SMART dealers.

There is no substitute for experience and I prefer garages not to gain experience at my expense.

 

I seem to be having a similar problem. Everything was fine until 9800 miles then all of a sudden it started. I can here it at idle but it's most noticeable at 2600-2800 RPM's which just happens to be around 70 MPH on the highway which is what I was doing when it started (trip to FL). Dealer in FL said it sounded ok to them. When I got back the local dealer said he couldn't find anything wrong but had a factory rep coming in two weeks. The factory rep couldn't find anything wrong either. All this and they have never opened the engine. It seems if it's not in the diagnostics it's not a problem to them. The service manager told me they don't work on the engines just replace them, but, there isn't one available. Actually I would like to keep my existing engine (matching vin #'s) unless maybe they had an SRT6 engine.

Anyway really pisses me off. Not only shouldn't the car sound like the lifters are ready to fly off, but I paid for the extended warranty and what good is it doing.

 

I had my lifters replaced twice before they lemon'd the car. Alot of dealers follow the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" and in the meantime they diagnose problems without valid evidence. Chrysler needs to be made aware of this somehow, they just don't seem to care at the dealers about this car, they treat this car like a neon (no offense to neon owners).