Page 1 of 2

Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 2:46 +0000
by IRISHDAN
Hi there, my mark 1 MX5 has a developed a really loud ticking while idling. Its an intermittent problem but is very noticeable when it is happening.
My mechanic is telling me that its the Tappits and that its normal but if that was the case surely it would have been happening all the time?

Anyone got any ideas?

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 3:26 +0000
by Stig
Yeah, they do suffer from this. Noisy Hydraulic Lifters.....can be cured, do a service incorporating an engine flush, and change with a good quality oil. I use Mobil 1 personally and keeps my HLA's in check. Magnetic is good too.
You can also consider adding an additive to your oil when serviced.

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 4:04 +0000
by Steve
+1 Magnatec will sort it out.

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:41 +0000
by Stig
srigley wrote:+1 Magnatec will sort it out.


naaaaaaaaaaaa, mobil 1 is the mutts nutz! :)

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:43 +0000
by sidewaysreilly
doesnt taste as nice tho..........

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 9:46 +0000
by Stig
have you tried it on Muesli? :P

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:39 +0000
by sidewaysreilly
no but i didnt like it on me toast, wouldnt mix with the butter!!

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Sun, 17 Feb 2013 2:25 +0000
by hoopsbhoy
sorry for the thread revival.

I know there is a million threads on the web about this but anyway.

My 5 didn't have the noise at all, done an oil change a couple of weeks ago and the car was only run on idle in the garden since. today i started it and it has the lifter noise (very loud) and is not going away at all. Is it likely the oil I used is to blame? Used magnetic 10w 40. I never done an engine flush as I never have done one in my life.

Just wonderin because it came on so quickly, should I go ahead and re-do the oil with a flush and different oil or just put up with it? Is changing them out an easy job and worth it?

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:47 +0000
by charged_rs
hoopsbhoy wrote:sorry for the thread revival.

I know there is a million threads on the web about this but anyway.

My 5 didn't have the noise at all, done an oil change a couple of weeks ago and the car was only run on idle in the garden since. today i started it and it has the lifter noise (very loud) and is not going away at all. Is it likely the oil I used is to blame? Used magnetic 10w 40. I never done an engine flush as I never have done one in my life.

Just wonderin because it came on so quickly, should I go ahead and re-do the oil with a flush and different oil or just put up with it? Is changing them out an easy job and worth it?


1.8's are especially prone to this in cold weather and or when the oil needs changed.
take the car for a good old Italian tune up ( seriously spank the life out of it) and when you come back the noise should be gone..if not , then change the oil again ...

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 9:52 +0000
by rhysmate
another thing the ticking could be is an injector clicking.

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 9:25 +0000
by Fergus
"Keep It Simple" :mrgreen:

I bet you don't have a Mazda oil filter fitted ??

OEM oil filters don't have a valve in them like the Mazda one has, no matter how many times you change the oil you'll always end up with the ticking. Check the oil filter and replace it with a genuine Mazda one :thumright:

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 9:33 +0000
by hoopsbhoy
Fergus wrote:"Keep It Simple" :mrgreen:

I bet you don't have a Mazda oil filter fitted ??

OEM oil filters don't have a valve in them like the Mazda one has, no matter how many times you change the oil you'll always end up with the ticking. Check the oil filter and replace it with a genuine Mazda one :thumright:


Nope funnily enough its not a mazda one, but neither was the one that was on it beforehand with no noise :-)

Will I have to go to mazda direst for a filter?

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:39 +0000
by charged_rs
hoopsbhoy wrote:
Fergus wrote:"Keep It Simple" :mrgreen:

I bet you don't have a Mazda oil filter fitted ??

OEM oil filters don't have a valve in them like the Mazda one has, no matter how many times you change the oil you'll always end up with the ticking. Check the oil filter and replace it with a genuine Mazda one :thumright:


Nope funnily enough its not a mazda one, but neither was the one that was on it beforehand with no noise :-)

Will I have to go to mazda direst for a filter?


no , just get one from a motor factors with a non return valve in it , the guys behind the counter will know what you mean - well they should do

the non return valve in the oil filter isnt the problem though if the car is still ticking even after a decent run...the oil filter valve helps prevent extended ticking once initially started from cold, but all 1.8's tick for 5 seconds or so once started on a cold day. On a warm day there should be no ticking

go for an italian tune up before you do anything ;)

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:46 +0000
by hoopsbhoy
Ya will do, its not going anywhere at the minute anyway

Re: Tick, tick, tick, tick .............boom?

PostPosted: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 1:12 +0000
by Fergus
Ok are we talking about a 1.6 or a 1.8 here ?
Talk about no details :)