Lately I have been hearing a strange noise coming from the engine compartment. It only happens occasionally and usually after I shut the motor down although a few times I've heard it while sitting at a light. It doesn't seem to matter whether I driven hard or just normal driving conditions. It sounds like a popping sound and does it five to ten times while decreasing in intensity. Usually by the time I get out and pop the hood it has stopped so I could not figure out where it was coming from. Today I drove it about 5 miles (didn't get on it, or drive it hard) and when I stopped it was doing it. I popped the hood and it was still doing it, and it sounded like someone was tapping from inside the intake manifold with a little hammer. I put my hand on the upper radiator hose and when it made the noise I could feel it in the hose, like it was burping. When I heard the noise it felt like it was pushing the water through the hose. It's not overheating so I am not sure sure if what I felt was just a side effect of what the real problem is or part of the problem itself. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated

If it was always when you shut the motor off, I'd think it might just be the metal 'clicking' as it contracts due to cooling down. I've never heard that sound over a running engine though.

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Sid Coleman, 71 Ragtop
TC (Gold) #174, MCC #347,
Aces #5457, N3JHV@bellatlantic.net

I know the metal ticking sound your referring to when a motor is cooling down. This noise is more pronounced like when you hear an echo. The noise has more of a hollow sound to it. Unlike the ticking one normally hears where it ticks quickly, this is slower and has a longer duration.