RE: Ticking sound

[rwoods@triad1.com (Ron Woods)]

I will look into the vacuum pump, since most everyone here agrees that is my
problem. I think it is there for a good reason, so I don't think I'll try to
disable it. However, I will look into fixing it or replacing it. Anyone here got
one they can part with? This is for an 86 4KCSQ, let me know. 
 
On the subject of the clutch, I am a bit of a hard driver and probably not as
easy on the clutch as I should have been. The first one I replaced myself when I
had a house and the right tools (when I was still living in CA), but the second
one, I was living in an apartment and no place to do it. Needless to say it ran
me about $1000 total including some other small things I had done. Both times, I
had the pressure plate and cluth plate changed. OH, BTW, on the first one, the
clutch didn't actually go bad, the throw out bearing did, but I figured I was in
there, might as well change it! So I hope that helps a bit! At this point, I
have about 170k on the car and still going strong! 
 
Hope this answers some of your questions.... 
 
Ron 
86 4KCSQ 
 
-----Original Message----- 
From: MSV96@AOL.COM  
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 1997 11:07 AM 
To: RON WOODS 
Subject: Re: Ticking sound 
 
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   Wed, 7 May 1997 16:10:25 -0400 (EDT) 
Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 16:10:25 -0400 (EDT) 
From: MSV96@aol.com 
Message-ID: <970507160905_-733172715@emout11.mail.aol.com> 
To: rwoods@triad1.com 
Subject: Re: Ticking sound 
 
Hi Ron, 
 
Aren't they (4kq's) wonderful cars!!!!??? 
 
Anyway, your problem is probably not lifters if you replaced them...it is 
more likely the vacuum pump which operates off the cam. There are threads 
relating to this which you can pull off the archives...some people remove the 
shaft and run with no vacuum assist (for the brakes) but I don't advise this. 
My first 4kq did this (back in '88) with very few miles (less than 20k) and 
it only happened once, then went away. I don't know what the fix really is, 
aside from replacing the pump :-(...I do know that oil age and fill level is 
an ingredient. You change often and use synthetic so aside from being low 
(perhaps) I don't think this is oil related. Check out the vacuum pump! HTH 
 
Now a question for you...you write: 
 
<<this baby has never had any major mechanical problems other than a couple 
of clutches>> 
 
Scares me! How many miles you have? I understand it is not uncommon for 
clutches to go past 200k in these. Mine is original with 159k and I hear they 
are very spendy to replace. When did yours fail (did you really need 2???) 
and what did it run to replace? TIA 
 
Take care and enjoy that wonderful (but underpowered) car!!! 
 
Regards, 
 
Mike Veglia