What makes cars tick when they're shut off?

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa) 08/01/2014 at 16:58 • Filed to: None

1

11

Title is all you need to know. I have absolutely no idea what causes cars to so regularly tick when they're turned off. Metal contracting as it cools off and rubbing against other metal bits?

Lekker > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:00

3

I'd wager metal shrinking after expanding due to heat as you stated. It's like the scary creaky wooden floors in an old house at night, they creak because they're contracting and rubbing on other stuff. That is my educated guess at least.

Alfalfa > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:00

5

That's it. Namely, the exhaust system components contracting.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:00

0

Pretty much what you said. Sizes and clearances of parts changing slightly as they cool.

T5Killer > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:01

0

I always assumed it was the catalytic converter cooling off since I never noticed it in older catless cars.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > T5Killer 08/01/2014 at 17:09

1

Yeah, I heard mention somewhere that excessive ticking could be indicative of a collapsed cat, which I'm pretty sure has happened in my car.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:10

5

love.

Alfalfa > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:15

1

On second thought, this information may be more helpful.

Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise: http://youtu.be/Tx1XIm6q4r4

CAR_IS_MI > HammerheadFistpunch 08/01/2014 at 17:20

6

When your hampsters get tired and they no longer need to be on the wheel they start to wander the hallways of your engine. The sounds you hear are their tiny heads colliding with the walls of your engine as it is very dark in there.

Alfalfa > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:22

0

That makes sense. Of course, it could also be affected by air temperature, internal temperature/how long the car has been running.

EL_ULY > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/01/2014 at 17:24

1

cat converter buddy

tick tick tick

BZiel > T5Killer 08/01/2014 at 18:12

1

It's this in 90% of the cases.