Ticking sound

Hello everyone. I'd like to thank anyone that could help me with this problem. I have a 04' Jeep Liberty with 300,000 miles on it. So let me get right into my question. I keep hearing this ticking noise in the front end of the Jeep. I first thought it was one of the pulleys. So I took the belt off and all the pulleys seem fine. They spin easily and are not loose. So I figured I'd keep the belt off and start the thing up again, and the ticking got louder. I put my ear near the engine and it sounds like it's coming somewhere around the top. Not sure if its a lifter or rocker arm. Maybe a bearing?

Did anyone else have this issue? I know it has high miles on it so it could be ready to crap out anyways. I just want to prevent anything I can because it's my only vehicle at the moment.

Thanks for the help

Really depends upon the exact noise so if you could get some decent audio it may help. With that many miles I wouldn't be surprised if it was a lazy lifter (lash adjuster). They are hydraulic and do go bad. I just replaced one of mine recently. I've only got a mere 174k on mine. Other things that can make noise up there include rockers, timing chain chatter (tensioners are hydraulic too). Ticking makes me think lash adjuster first since you eliminated the belt drive system. I'm not sure what valve noise would sound like in these engines but they are prone to dropped valve seats under certain circumstances like overheating. That would be a worst case scenario.

I've dealt with almost every ticking issue there is with the 3.7.
My YouTube channel has all the issues and sound on video with the resolution if you're interested let me know and I'll post them on here


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here's my channel. Best of luck. Let me know which one sounds like yours!

https://m.youtube.com/user/StringsOfFire1


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Progress!

Hey guys thanks for your help. I was able to spend some time looking it over. While I was inspecting some things, I checked the oil and nothing came back on the dip stick. So I got under it and nothing was leaking from what I could see. Then I checked the coolant and it looked a bit rusty/brown. So now I'm just wondering if it's leaking into there. So is it possible that it's leaking into the the coolant? Thanks for the help!

I would add some oil right away and see if it helps. When was the last time you checked the oil? When were the oil and coolant changed last? Coolant should be about 100-150k intervals. It will get a bit cloudy looking with age and is sort of orange to begin with. How long have you had this thing? Maybe someone used some sort of sealer in it. I'd probably get both changed first before assuming anything. Hopefully it's not too late but oil that low could cause a tick and many other problems.

If you get the coolant flushed make sure they use HOAT type coolant. If they don't know what it is or don't have it take it somewhere else.

Change the oil and filter NOW...:gr_grin:

Add a boltle of Marvel Mystery Oil (any auto parts store and even at my local grocery store) as part of the oil change...