Engine Bay Tick

[jamcllw]

I have a tick in my engine bay. I originally thought it was just the normal piston slap. Then I thought that it might be a pushrod because I changeed the LIM and wasn't sure if I might have messed something up.
Well I went out this morning ready to tear into the motor and re-torque the pushrods. I take the belt off and crank it up to see if it could possibly be something belt driven. It is there was no ticking present with the belt off. Which led me to believe it might be a pulley. I replaced the pulley located between the alternator and the power steering pump. That didn't help it.
What I would like to know is if anyone else has had this problem? What exactly is making the ticking? Could it be the power steering pump? I've never head 1 tick before. I've replaced the water pump. Does the idler pulley make a ticking sound? I took it off and spun it to see if it made a sound but nothing. Same with all the pulleys. Any help would be appreciated.

[FormulaNERD]

if the idler pulleys are in good condition they make no tick, i just replaced both of mine because one of them seized and broke a belt, and led to an alternator problem.

[FormulaNERD]

oh, and i have the tick too.

[jamcllw]

I think I've narrowed it down to the power steering pulley. I don;t know if I can get just the pulley or if I have to replace the entire pump.

[flalero]

I had a really bad tick under my hood and I investigated it. It was my PCV valve. I just went to wal-mart, paid about $3.00 for a new valve, and voila, no more tick.

[jamcllw]

I replaced my PCV valve when I did the LIM gasket. The tick is definatly coming from something belt driven. I think I've got it narrowed down to the power steering pulley. I've got a pulley ordered from the parts store. It should be here around Thursday. I'll find out then if it's the power steering pulley. If not I'm going to change the idler pulley. After that I have no clue what to do I guess I'll just live with a tick.

[FormulaNERD]

well like i said, i changed both my idler's and my alternator, still ticks. maybe it's the tensioner.

[Redog]

I have this tick too. I haven't been able to locate it exactly but I also narrowed it down to the pulleys.

[bigd6983]

I have a tick too but I could have swore it was internal, now that you guys are talkin about it being maybe a pully it questions what I thought.........

[jamcllw]

The only reason that I know its not engine related is because the belt was removed and then cranked up to see if the tick was present. I've always heard that these motors had piston slap but goes away after a couple of minutes. This tick never went away and it is loud. I'm almost positive it's the power steering pulley. It should be changed this coming up weekend.

[Vtolds]

My 2.4 liter engine ticks when I start it and also has a slight squeel to for the first couple minutes after startup. I have no idea what it is.