If you have the 3.6DI then it is normal. My 08 has it and just broke 77k miles. It is the HPFP. Some are louder then others. I cannot hear mine in the car and opening any window except the drivers I cannot hear it. It is more pronounced if you are say pull up against say a wall.

 

OMg hit one of the two possibilities. The DI fuel system is very high pressure, and the injectors do tick. Most cars have them buried so far inside the heads that you can't hear them. My first place for tick is lifters, and my first question is always oil level. When was it last changed? Have you checked the level? You could be a quart low, and hey tick. It happens a lot with DOHC engines, usually one side is lubricated better than the other.

Short answer, check oil leve. If that's ok, you may need an injector cleaning, especially if the car was run on poor gas, or started life in winter gas mixes. If nether of those are the problem, can you try to localize the sound for us?

 

OMg hit one of the two possibilities. The DI fuel system is very high pressure, and the injectors do tick. Most cars have them buried so far inside the heads that you can't hear them. My first place for tick is lifters, and my first question is always oil level. When was it last changed? Have you checked the level? You could be a quart low, and hey tick. It happens a lot with DOHC engines, usually one side is lubricated better than the other.

Short answer, check oil level. If that's ok, you may need an injector cleaning, especially if the car was run on poor gas, or started life in winter gas mixes. If nether of those are the problem, can you try to localize the sound for us?

Before I signed the dotted line, I ran a CarFax, AutoCheck, and had the dealer pull and print every single service record they could find...twice. There wasn't much on it at all, which may be good - or bad. The car was a local lease in the Piedmont area of NC so, winter can get cold, but not THAT cold, except on rare occasions. The only service record I could find was an oil change at about 8K. Old habits die hard, and before a road trip of any reasonable length, I do a preflight check of all the fluids, pressures etc. and run through the engine info readouts. She's got full oil level. Fuel-wise, I run it with a half and half regular/premium mix to stay around 91 octane. I tried a couple full 93 tanks and that made no difference either.

My wife has pretty much appropriated the car and is out now getting it hand washed for the second time this week! When she gets back, I'll try to localize the origin better with a few neat audio gizmos I use in my biz, but like I said, it seems to be on the driver's side at the rear of the engine off to the side just below the top of the engine near the cylinder heads...not way down towards the crankcase. I understand the solenoid that's been mentioned a number of times is on the pax side, so that may not be it, but I'll take a closer look (listen). I can't imagine it needs an injector cleaning already because, as they used to say, I've blown the carbon out that sucker more than once running some "tests" to make sure the manufacturer's specs aren't inflated They're not. I'm getting 0 to 60 times 0.3 less than published. Don't know about the top end speed (yet).

While the dealer I bought it from said it was normal, as some others have posted too, the service manager at my local dealership said it could be an indication of a failing something or other acronym I don't recall. I'm taking her in to have some accessories dealer installed and a seat belt retractor adjusted, maybe software updates for the nav, so hopefully they'll fix the tick while they have it. At least I'll either know it's normal (which I still find hard to swallow), have it fixed, or at minimum have it documented in case the engine blows up later.

Thanks to all for the speedy, helpful responses. All internet forums should be so useful.

 

Hello Xav8tor,

First let me welcome you to the forum and congratulate you on your new vehicle. That was a great deal you received! I am sorry you seem to be experiencing an issue hearing "ticking" in your vehicle. I see you visited a dealer already on this issue as well and they were unable to diagnose an issue. If you could private message me your VIN and current mileage, I will attempt to locate any information that may help your situation. I can also document this issue for you for our records in the event something happens in the future. There also is the option to visit another dealer to see if they could diagnose the "ticking" sound you are mentioning.

Reggie B.
Cadillac Customer Care

 

Reggie,

PM sent.

Thanks!!!

 

OMg hit one of the two possibilities. The DI fuel system is very high pressure, and the injectors do tick. Most cars have them buried so far inside the heads that you can't hear them. My first place for tick is lifters, and my first question is always oil level. When was it last changed? Have you checked the level? You could be a quart low, and hey tick. It happens a lot with DOHC engines, usually one side is lubricated better than the other.

Short answer, check oil leve. If that's ok, you may need an injector cleaning, especially if the car was run on poor gas, or started life in winter gas mixes. If nether of those are the problem, can you try to localize the sound for us?

It is either the fuel pump or the injectors lifter tick is from an overhead valve engine. The engines in the CTS are overhead cam. No pushrods and as a result no lifters.

 

The engines in the CTS are overhead cam. No pushrods and as a result no lifters.

The absence of pushrods does not guarantee the absence of a hydraulic lash mechanism. Many DOHC designs employ a cam over bucket design which requires periodic adjustment by inserting shims.
The GM 3.6 however does not. If you choose to call them lifters is up to you. However, it does have a hyd device interposed between the cam lobe and valve stem to maintain clearance over temperature change and mileage "wear"
This is why there is no valve adjustment interval mentioned in the manual.
My SHO Taurus ( Yamaha engine) was shim over bucket.
My 2.8 BMW was hydraulic.
Both were/are DOHC 4V designs

 

Good afternoon all. Also my first time posting and a new 2013 CTS Premium Coupe 3.6L w/performance package owner. Just picked up my new CTS from the dealer a couple of weeks ago, now with 400 miles on her. I also hear the ticking noise when outside the vehicle, e.g. remote start. I haven't had a chance to get back to the dealer yet for an evaluation. The ticking does concern me as I thought it might have a lifter issue, but as gohawks63 indicates there are no lifters. I'm looking forward to seeing what Xav8tor finds out if he posts the results.

The forum is a great resource and very happy to be a participant. I used the Corvette forum alot while I had my C5 for 11 years, which I retired when I got the CTS. Thanks.

 

Good afternoon all. Also my first time posting and a new 2013 CTS Premium Coupe 3.6L w/performance package owner. Just picked up my new CTS from the dealer a couple of weeks ago, now with 400 miles on her. I also hear the ticking noise when outside the vehicle, e.g. remote start. I haven't had a chance to get back to the dealer yet for an evaluation. The ticking does concern me as I thought it might have a lifter issue, but as gohawks63 indicates there are no lifters. I'm looking forward to seeing what Xav8tor finds out if he posts the results.

The forum is a great resource and very happy to be a participant. I used the Corvette forum alot while I had my C5 for 11 years, which I retired when I got the CTS. Thanks.

Again all direct injection engines have noisy injectors. This is perfectly normal and not unique to Cadillac or the 3.6 engine.

 

Maybe so, aircraft engines I get, but auto engines these days aren't exactly my forte. I can check/refill the fluids, but that's about it.

Based upon prior experience, I can rarely depend on ANY service department to do a thorough differential diagnosis that may culminate in a costly (to the dealer/manufacturer) repair, versus them saying, "Oh, that's normal, don't worry, you'll get used to it and won't even notice it after a while." It's already basically happened with this car as described above. No computer codes, then there can't be a problem right? The last time I heard something like that on a new car purchase, after six weeks of repair attempts (lifters on that one for sure), and getting regional managers/engineers involved, I corralled the dealership owner himself and handed him the other set of keys, the payment coupon book, and a copy of the NC lemon law, then walked across the street and called a taxi. Never heard another word from them.

If it is the injector(s), and they all do it (which I WILL check by cranking up a few identical cars on the lot), then OK, but regardless, GM really should address the issue since it is a source of confusion and can be disconcerting to some people...like me, obviously.

Any additional suggestions on how I can attempt to verify that it is indeed an injector, as opposed to other's suggestions of the noise being the high pressure fuel pump, EVAP purge solenoid, etc.? Does cleaning the injectors help? If so, is it done via fuel additive or a manual process by a mechanic?

Thanks again.

 

FYI - GM service info copy/paste below in reference to ticking sound.

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Service Information
2012 Cadillac CTS | CTS VIN D Service Manual

#07-06-04-025H: Information on Clicking/Ticking Sound/Noise Heard During Cold Start - (Jul 27, 2012)

Subject: Information on Clicking/Ticking Sound/Noise Heard During Cold Start

Models:
2009-2013 Buick Enclave
2010-2013 Buick LaCrosse
2008-2011 Cadillac STS
2008-2013 Cadillac CTS
2010-2013 Cadillac SRX
2013 Cadillac ATS, XTS
2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse
2010-2013 Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox
2012-2013 Chevrolet Impala
2009-2013 GMC Acadia
2010-2013 GMC Terrain
2009-2010 Saturn OUTLOOK
Equipped with 3.0L or 3.6L VVT Direct Injection V6 Engine (VINs G, D, 5, V, Y, 3 – RPOs LF1, LFW, LLT, LFX)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This bulletin is being revised to add the 2013 model year and the Cadillac ATS, XTS models.
Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 07-06-04-025G (Section 06 – Engine/Propulsion System).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do This
Inform the customer that this is normal operation of the high pressure fuel pump and injectors.

Don't Do This
DO NOT replace the high pressure fuel pump and/or injectors.

The 3.0L and 3.6L SIDI engines use a direct injection fuel system that operates at very high fuel pressures. A direct injection fuel system produces a rapid clicking and ticking sound that can be heard from the engine compartment. The sound is more evident when outside around the vehicle or when the hood is open. The sound is more noticeable during idle and is more frequent during a cold start, but lessens once the engine is warm.

The rapid ticking noise on cold start up is the fuel pump (located on the rear of the left cylinder head) building up high fuel pressure. When the engine warm-up is completed, the high pressure fuel pump will continue to tick at a lower rate of approximately one tick per second during idle. The clicking sound is the fuel injectors pulsing on and off under higher fuel pressures. This sound is a normal characteristic of Direct Injection Fuel high pressure fuel system.

DO NOT attempt to repair or replace any parts for this kind of clicking or ticking concern. The clicking or ticking sound is not indicative of any concerns with the engine or the vehicle. You may wish to give the customer a copy of this bulletin.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The ticking sound I am complaining about happens hot or cold and does not change in rate over time as the engine warms. It's the same after sitting overnight as it is after a 300 mile nonstop drive. Always there and always annoyingly loud. I can even hear it with the window down when stopped at traffic lights. I'm still going to have it checked out regardless of the SB and documented. That way, if a week after the warranty runs out the engine seizes or blows something, I'll have the ammo needed to get it repaired.

If the service department can put an electronic steth on the suspect part and prove that's where it's coming from, and if two or three CTS's on the lot make the exact same sound, and if they properly document my concern, then fine, I'll accept it as normal...until/unless there's a failure. I've already had one service manager at a large dealership tell me that a ticking sound like I described, if coming from the HPFP has, in his experience, been an indicator of impending failure.

 

Just relax and enjoy your car. so far a great number of posts attribute the noise to the fuel pump or injectors. The dealer wouldn't shoe you away as they get paid for warranty service just like the walk in trade; albeit at a lower rate. I'm on my fourth CTS and I don't even hear it after awhile.

 

If the service manager told you it was a harbinger of bad things to come, why didn't he take the car in and fix it or at the very least locate the problem to document your concern.

 

If the service manager told you it was a harbinger of bad things to come, why didn't he take the car in and fix it or at the very least locate the problem to document your concern.

Because he was at a dealership nearly 100 miles from me. I've made calls to about a a half dozen service departments to arm myself with info before I go in locally. Look how many different opinions there are in this thread alone, then the others, as well. Research and preparation is usually one of the keys to solving problems of this type. Like I said, I'm not a modern auto engine expert by any stretch, but I know that just hooking up to a computer and reading the OBD codes, getting an all clear, and saying it's normal is not exactly comprehensive diagnostic technique. Works the same way with a lot of doctors these days: labs come back normal, nothing is wrong. Six months later, you're in intensive care.

 

928S, I (believe) I hear just a small, low, steady hum which I believe is the fuel pump. It has to make noise (once again, I believe) being high pressure that it is. I just seem to hear it from my car while it is in the garage.

 

Another cause for a top-end click is the closing velocity of the valves based on the cam profile. Late C4 Corvettes (Lt1s) had a similar issue. I had a '92 that I thought had a top-end issue but learned it was a normal valve noise. '93 model year went to a slightly different cam profile (to slow the valves) and a composite valve cover to quite the noise. I believe 2011 or 2012 CTSs have some improvements to dampen the noise caused by the direct injection system. Note that 1992 Corvette at 5.7 liters put out less HP than our CTS 3.6 so consider our motors pretty "built" so there are some compromises for performance.

 

I too have a 12 Coupe and the only ticking I hear is what has historically been described as normal for a DI engine, especially during the brief running when cold before RPMs settle down to normal idle rates. Dont hear it when running the car - just the aggressive growl as I accelerate. No noises heard while cruising but thats probably something you wouldnt hear at highway speeds anyway.

 

There is a cover that goes over the fuel regulator (towards the back of the engine) intended to dampen/deaden the sound. Is yours missing?

 

Got back from the dealer after having some things checked and done. Indeed, he said it's the DI system as soon as I opened the hood and pointed to the origin (back of engine, driver's side, under the cover). I told him it was the same hot or cold, and he said, yes, some were louder, some softer, depending on temp and the SB kind of leads you down the wrong path if you take the "cold start" part literally. I just hope he's right. After I got home, I happened to notice the weatherstripping inside the body panel at the front of the driver's door was loose. Darn if there's not a current thread on that too. One thing is for sure, no one will tell me that's normal.

 

I own a 2009 CTS 3.6 DI 6-speed manual. I live in South Carolina and flew to Pennsylvania to purchase the only 6-Speed loaded CTS I could find in the country in February 2010. I certainly did not notice the ticking noise the engine made at that time. Upon first notice of this noise I immediately took it to my local dealership. He explained that this is a common noise emitted from the 3.6 liter DI's. I researched online to see if anyone else heard this same noise and was told the same thing. Sure thing. It was the same answer for other owners. Even though this is considered normal for the maker Cadillac, who wants to own a 304 hp engine that sounds like a Ford Fiesta out of oil? People see the badging on the rear of car and think they have a contender; only to find a wimpy sounding engine under the front. It is totally embarrassing. I love the car, though it has other drawbacks. But this ticking is so annoying I had hoped Cadillac would have an after market fix, like a muffling device that could be added. You know, like the headers put on cars and trucks in the 80's. I certainly hope the engineers were disciplined accordingly for this ridiculous snafu. The owners of these cars should be apologized to. I hate starting my car around a crowd. I don't want them to hear the lame engine. So please, Cadillac give us a fix.

 

This not unique to Cadillac or even GM. Most high pressure injection systems make noise. You are hearing it because it is straight in front of the driver. There is an after market product called dyna-mat that you can try to muffle the sound more to your liking. This is something you will have to explore on your own. As you have no doubt seen; various posts and threads confirm this is a normal noise. Turn up the radio a notch and you will not hear it anymore.

 

Did you ever get this sorted out? I just had a similar issue with my 2014 ATS 3.6. Took it in Tuesday for service and was given same bulletin. Thing is I told them I had misfire and rough running as well. Sure enough next day I got check engine light. Ended up having to replace the exhaust cam solenoid valve on the right side. Don't know if it helps or not, but it's not always as cut and dry as the service bulletins make things sound. I had a terrible experience through all of this with the original dealer and ended up having to take my ATS to a different Cadillac dealer.

 

Welcome to the CTS forum!

 

All high pressure fuel injected engines make that noise. The mustang I had before my cts was loud also as well as my 03 corvette. I don't even give it a second thought. It's too clear of a tick to be coming from inside the engine. I test drove a Lexus and a BMW when I was looking for a car. They did it too so chill and enjoy your ride

 

My 2012 makes this noise. had it 5 years. No issues i believe fuel pump and or injectors. Normal sound always done it bought with 27000. 80000 now.

 

DI "tick".
Completely normal, as noted 6+ years ago on this thread.

 

What, read the entire thread?

 

IKR?
Too much work.

 

Thanks guys for all your input! Ive owned a 08 di performance package for over 3 years now. Always thought it was an exhaust leak at the manifold until I was under the hood one day. Needless to say that's what brought me here. Thanks for everyone's input!

 

Just purchased a clean meticulously maintained 2012 CTS Coupe and came in here to thank those that replied to this thread. I was sweating bullets thinking I had bad lifters.🤣