I replaced my OEM iridium spark plugs at 65k miles back in June 2013 with more OEM NGK plugs. I gapped the new ones to 0.028", tightened them down, and thought I was done. Fast forward to last week, when I get a ticking noise at low RPM. It's all the gears, but between 900-1400 RPM when a slight load is placed onto the engine. At the time my waterpump was on the fritz, so I thought it was that. Got the pump replaced, that doesn't fix it. I had some mechanic buddies try to diagnose it, and they were stumped. I had time recently to look at it while doing more research.
Turns out, it was the #2 plug working its way out and rattling around! That plug was barely even finger-tight. I torqued them properly on install, and re-tightened them on re-install. The tick went away.
So, if you have a mystery tick that you can't diagnose, check your spark plugs.
Turns out, it was the #2 plug working its way out and rattling around! That plug was barely even finger-tight. I torqued them properly on install, and re-tightened them on re-install. The tick went away.
So, if you have a mystery tick that you can't diagnose, check your spark plugs.
