Hey guys, ever since I had my 16% pulley installed, I hear a ticking/ tapping noise under hard acceleration. It sounds like it is coming from the driver side of the car, maybe the middle. Passengers don't tend to hear it even though I do. It's like someone is tapping their nails on glass. The ticking is uneven and sometimes louder in each little tick.

What could it be?!

 

So I have been trying to think through parts that may be correlated with a pulley install. How rapid is the tapping and is it related to engine speed or vehicle speed in any way?

It could be a number of things so I'm trying to narrow it down.

 

The ticking does not get faster or anything with engine speed. It does only do it while I'm driving, and only in higher revs (between 4k and 5k). And it will do it in any gear, but mostly even gears, 2,4,6. Sometimes 3rd.

 

So is it an intermittent tap? There's no regularity to it? If that's the case it sounds like a loose part. Judging by the quality of the sound do you think it could be two fairly large pieces of metal pinging into each other when the engine mounts flex under hard acceleration?

 

Are you using premium gas? Do a search for pre-ignition detonation and see if those symptoms are what you are experiencing.

 

Hmmm, I'm starting to wonder if it is an engine mount. Last time I was at MINI, they told me I had a bad right front (R/F) motor mount. I have the inspection report and I completely forgot about that. That was over a year and a half ago. I'll have to check that out soon. As for gas, I have always used premium. That's for sure not the issue. Thanks for the help guys.

 

I definitely think it is possible that it's a bad mount. Maybe start there as they are one of the most common parts to deteriorate. We have a great DIY for mount replacements here. Engine mounts here too if needed. Let us know if that solves your issue.