Thread: Strange engine noise

Have a look at the serpentine belt. In there you’ll see an idler up the top on the belt run. See if that’s moving about a lot. It sounds like it could be a faulty idler allowing the belt to flap. It’s not uncommon. How long has it been doing it? I’m hoping it’s that simple.

Originally Posted by danm14

I have a strange ticking/rattling sound coming from my sdv6 d4.
Seems louder while idling and does it cold and warmed up.
Doesnt get louder when driving and I cant here the sound from inside the cabin.
I have no loss of power or any ecu codes showing up.
Seems louder from the passenger side of the engine.
I will post some links to youtube where I habe a couple of videos.
Weird ticking sound - YouTube
Weird ticking sound 2 - YouTube

Sounds like tappets need adjusting

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

Have a look at the serpentine belt. In there you’ll see an idler up the top on the belt run. See if that’s moving about a lot. It sounds like it could be a faulty idler allowing the belt to flap. It’s not uncommon. How long has it been doing it? I’m hoping it’s that simple.

I just noticed it the other day...
Hopefully it is that simple!!!

This may help

Land Rover TDV6 3.0L Drive belt tensioner failure & repair - YouTube

Agree with the general comments so far, remove the engine cover and have a look at the serpertine belt tensioner (bottom drivers side down near the alternator) as it may have failed. Its the actual tensioner that fails and not so much the idler itself - the tensioner falls apart and the belt dosent run on the pulleys correctly - especially the alternator pulley.

Thanks for the reply guys.
I had another look, and I dont belive its coming from the pulley or belt area.
Still sounds like the right side of the motor.
Also noticed an oil leak around there and the filter housing.
I recorded another video with the cover off and emphasizing the side which the sound is coming from.
Ticking sound part3 - YouTube

Originally Posted by danm14

Thanks for the reply guys.
I had another look, and I dont belive its coming from the pulley or belt area.
Still sounds like the right side of the motor.
Also noticed an oil leak around there and the filter housing.
I recorded another video with the cover off and emphasizing the side which the sound is coming from.
Ticking sound part3 - YouTube

I'd seek professional advice. It's very hard to pinpoint on a video recording. There is an element of sounding like an open exhaust sound to it as well. I have heard of the rear exhaust pipe that joins the left and right sides together failing. It's buried behind near the firewall. Other than that, sorry, dunno. Keep looking, feeling for leaks etc, if it's not the belt.

This may or may not help but I remember my old man using a length of dowel held against the engine to locate noises. He would put his thumb over the end and press his ear to the thumb. Apparently the sound would travel up the dowel and he could hear if something was wrong. May help you locate the location better.

Martin