I've been experiencing a loud "ticking-clicking" sound on startup (cold startup/after the jeep has cooled down). It lasts about 5-10min, then when everything is warm, it goes away. I had the jeep under the knife today tidying up some random stuff. We decided to let the jeep cool off for a 3 or so hours. We jacked it up and tightened everything up. We imagined it could be an exhaust leak coming from either the headers/gasket (new gasket even) area or the exhaust joints and fittings. To our surprise, the jeep ticked away. We went under it and tracked down the sound inch by inch until we found the culprit. It was the 700 miles old AEV catalytic converters I mean they are ticking-clicking so so bad it makes you think there's something seriously wrong with the Jeep. Both the left and right ones are ticking. When they warm up, it goes away. They are brand new with only 700 miles on them, could they be defective?? Or is it normal for them to tick until they are broken in?? I dont want to end up with honeycomb parts blocking my exhaust! Can you guys chime in, especially the ones that used AEV's Hemi kit, did you guys experience this?? Thx!

Bump!

I have the kit, but not the tick you mention so I can't help. Could it be just the metal expanding as it warms up?

Mine doesn't have anything like what you describe. But yes it could be contraction / expansion of the metal? Especially if you have a fully welded system.

Are your exhaust hangers the rubber ones, or maybe do you have more rigid style ones?

Are you absolutely sure of the source of the sound? I mean maybe that the sounds is resonating somewhere that it is not sourced from.

Lifter tick when cold could be described like what you have said. I have that in my pickup truck (180k miles) if I don't use Rislone in the oil changes.

I do have rubber hangers and the system is not welded. I am sure its not metal expanding/contracting. Checked everything, lifters, gaskets, seals, etc. The clicking sound is def coming from the catalytic converters. My exhaust system is the one AEV provides with their Premium kit.

Go to a dodge forum like dodgetalk.com and do a search of "ticking sound"

There are like a hundred threads on that.

It's notorious on the hemi's. Sounds like a stuck lifter. Hell my 04 made that sound.

Yes, but that was only certain years I thought. 04-06 I believe. And why only hearing at catalytic converter? If it is a lifter tick, oil additives with zinc and PFTE should take care of it, according to a local mechanic ( he says there is a TSB for this?)

I have an AEV installed 5.7VVT in my JKU. No pronounced ticking in the 43k miles I've had it. The engine was installed summer of 2010.

The Chrysler engine isn't the quietest until it warms up. Nothing in particular with mine, just sounds like an engine that needs to warm up.

BTW, if your converters were disintegrating and clogging the exhaust, you'd know it through a loss of power, maybe a loss of mileage too. (Of course in the first year of ownership its hard as hell to keep your foot out of it so even mentioning mileage is a hoot. On the other hand, since you're into so often in the first year, you'd definitely notice the power loss.)

JPK