Is your engine making a clicking or ticking sound?
You’re cruising down Greenwood Street or just idling at the lights on Te Rapa Road, and suddenly… you hear this weird clicking or ticking from under the bonnet. Not ideal, eh? These sorts of noises can turn up in anything, from a Toyota Aqua zipping between Rototuna and Chartwell, to a trusty old Peugeot 308 doing the Pirongia-Hamilton run. It can freak anyone out, and honestly, we get people of all ages and backgrounds (plenty of women, by the way!) popping in and asking what that noise could be.
Look, engines aren’t silent, especially with all the potholes we’ve got around Nawton or the endless stop-start in the Dinsdale suburbs. But if your engine starts sounding different—more clicky, less hum—you want to get onto it before the problem grows and gets spendy.
You may notice a dashboard warning like this if your oil is running low.
Common reasons for engine ticking and clicking in Hamilton
There’s a handful of things that’ll make your engine tick or click. Some are nothing to stress about, some want sorting now before you’re left stranded out Whatawhata way. Here’s what we see most:
- Low Engine Oil – First thing we check when someone says, “Oi, there’s a weird noise,” is the oil level. Not enough oil? The lifters, bearings, and moving parts don’t get the lube they need, and you get all sorts of ugly noises. We’ve had a Mazda Axela in from Tamahere almost run dry just from stop-start traffic, and it’s not worth the risk. Fix up leaks or top it up, or check out our Oil leak repairs in Hamilton service.
- Normal Engine Design – Fun fact, some engines just sound like that. We get Subarus—those old Legacy wagons and Forester SUVs—where a bit of clicking at idle is just the injectors. Some Isuzu diesels do it too. You get used to it after a while, like Hamilton’s weather—sometimes you can’t change it.
- Exhaust Manifold Leaks – If there’s a sharp ticking that gets louder as you rev, the exhaust manifold could be leaking. That means dangerous fumes (carbon monoxide etc.) can get into the cabin, especially if you’re stuck with the windows up on Pukete Road during winter fog. Get that checked quick, it’s a safety risk.
- Worn Fuel Injectors – We see this a bit in high-mileage Nissan Qashqais or hybrid Prius models. Fuel injectors wear out, start tapping noticeably, mostly at idle. If it’s clicking AND you’ve got a check engine light, sluggish power, or it’s thirstier than usual, injectors might be the culprit. More info here: Fuel injectors.
- Worn Hydraulic Valves – Especially on European stuff like Skoda Octavias or even the odd Volvo XC60, old or worn valves can cause a racket. If it gets louder as the engine gets hot, bring it in for a look.
- CV Joints – Getting a loud click when you turn out of a driveway onto River Road? Might not be engine, but your Constant Velocity (CV) joints. Super common after all those years of tight turns and the odd smashed pothole in Melville. Once they start, they won’t get better—time for a new joint if the boot’s split and grease has escaped.
- Worn Wheel Bearings – Sometimes it’s not actually the engine but bearings. If it’s more speed related—ticking that matches how fast you’re rolling—check your wheel bearings. Seen it plenty on Honda Jazz or Hyundai i30s after wet winters and gritty roads down Cambridge way.
Quick diagnosis and repairs – Hamilton and surrounds
No matter if you’re commuting from Morrinsville, dropping kids at school in Flagstaff, or doing your WOF Hamilton run, strange noises are never normal for long. We’re here to help. Our technicians have seen (and heard!) just about everything. Whether it’s a classic ticking Nissan Bluebird, a rattly Suzuki Swift, or even something oddball like a SsangYong or Peugeot, we’ll track it down.
We’ll give you honest advice, show you the fault if we can, and talk through your options before you spend a dollar. You don’t want a little click today turning into a major rebuild if you can help it.
For car service Hamilton, diagnostics or a click that’s driving you nuts, flick us a message or book in. We’ll sort it.