Grapeape

Recently I had a local indy perform the oil change and while on the lift a visual inspection. Comments from the indy were positive, very dry with no visible leaks but he did hear an occasional ticking in the engine. My inexperienced ear could not hear it. Naturally I searched the forum and the pessimist in me focused on the worst case scenarios. I started my search for a local specialist to perform leak down diagnostics, etc. This past week-end I decided to clean the engine area, I find cleaning/detailing therapeutic, and while wiping down the A/C compressor area I noticed the inside rear bolt was loose. So I put a socket on it and found no resistance. Low and behold the square nut was not on the bolt.
Back to this great forum and I found a thread that advised; do not lose the nuts when removing the A/C compressor or you'll have to go blind fishing. I grab my telescopic magnet and stick it into the nether region of the engine and on the first try I hear a clink, gotcha you S.O.B.! What a bitch to get that nut started in this area, you really need baby hands. I used a duct tape cradle to hold it in place to align and to get the first few threads started. Reattach and torque to 20ft-lb and finish with a smile. I hope my next visit to indy for state inspection will have found the source of tick being the loose bolt and or square nut doing the waltz on the case. I likely avoided spending more than a few Benjamen's unnecessarily because I decided to clean the engine.

Dan V

Welcome to the Club!

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Grapeape

A comment in your thread mentions the square nut sits in a slot, I did not notice a slot for the nut. Is there a slot for the nuts to slide into so they don't rotate out?

NYC993

Quadcammer

some of the a/c compressor bolts have it, some don't.

Grapeape

Thanks, good to know I don't have to remove and replace.

Quadcammer

Well to be clear, when you remove the bolt, the nut is loose and can potentially fall out. If you are doing belts or something and need to remove the compressor, you have to pull those square nuts out of the slot and then slide it back in upon reinstall.

NP993

Good that you fished out that bolt, but it's almost certainly not the cause of a ticking noise. If one missing nut was enough to loosen the compressor, the AC belt would have shredded or flown off, as the compressor and engine pulleys would no longer be parallel. The ticking is probably a lifter.

Grapeape

Probably, but until someone more knowledgeable performs a diagnostic I'm hopeful the loose nut moving on the case or the bolt moving around freely was a source of the intermittent tick the indy heard. The other 3 bolts were at proper torque spec so the compressor was secure. I'm visiting a family member who is a certified mechanic this weekend so I'll borrow his ear.

Grapeape

Understood thanks.

NP993

If you get a ticking sound on startup after the car's been sitting for a few days, it's a lifter(s). If it only happens when the engine is at operating temp, could be something else. Use an automotive stethoscope to isolate the noise.

Grapeape

it has been sitting all week so I'll listen for the ticking as recommended, thanks for the tip.