DU Car Experts? - Is it natural for rocks to be in the car's thingies?

[philosophie_en_rose]

As you can tell, I know nothing about cars. I took my car in for repairs on Saturday, because there's a clinking sound that starts AFTER I turn the engine off and lasts for about five minutes. It seemed to be just a few clinks at first, but now the clink/ clicks are faster.

Shady looking mechanic claims that the clinking is based on rocks in the grill, is not dangerous, and is incapable of being fixed.

Does that make sense to anyone? I'm taking it in for a second opinion, but would like to be a little more informed before i go.

[idgiehkt]

1. wow.

you mean the mechanic doesn't want to charge you $500 to fix something that isn't broken? That is strange...I don't know what to think about this. You are doing the right thing by taking it for a second opinion.

[philosophie_en_rose]

3. Oh no. He wants to charge me $600 to fix other things.

Just not the sound that I wanted fixed.

[idgiehkt]

7. ah, the plot thickens

that makes more sense now. I'm with you on getting a second opinion.

[reyd reid reed]

2. I dunno...

I know next to nothing about cars either, but it seems to me that rocks in its thingie wouldn't be a good thing. And if someone can take a car out and put it back together, then why can't they get the rocks out?

But how'd they get in there to begin with. Around here we have problems with chipmunks in cars...and mice...and occasionally cats...but I've never had rocks in my thingie.

I'd take it to someone else, though. Can't hurt to at least ask.

:shrug:

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. Apparently little rocks get sucked up into something

and then roll around in there, after the car stops.

Allegedly, this is something that can't be helped. Though I've had the car for ten years and it's never happened before.

[reyd reid reed]

10. It's never happened to me, either.

Ever. Maybe I'm being cynical here, but something doesn't sound right.

[Radical Activist]

5. Is the car not working right?

I never understood people who take in a perfectly well functioning car just because there's a noise. Cars make noise, especially as they get older. Turn up the radio.

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. It needed a tune-up anyway.

I'd just rather not have the car not work, when I need it.

[uncle ray]

6. that makes no sense.

what i think, based on your description, is that the noise you are hearing is just the cooling off of the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe, which is normal and nothing to worry about, usually. if it is getting worse, i would check the engines coolant level, and see if the temp gauge is working, if the car has a temp gauge. the car likely has an electric cooling fan, i would also check that it is functioning properly. if it isn't, the car could be running at a warmer temperature than usual, causing the exhaust to make more noise as it cools.

[philosophie_en_rose]

9. that makes sense. I'll ask about it.

The rock story seemed ridiculous.

[lildreamer316]

15. That's what I think...

..the fan makes the most sense given what you have described. That isn't "life threatening" per se, but should be checked. And yes, ANYTHING can be fixed by the right person, sorry...he's full of crap about that. What he meant was that either he couldn't fix it or that he didn't want to tell you how much it would cost to fix.
Go get that second opinon.

[LostinVA]

11. I get acorns in my engine

They just fall from the trees into the "gutter" where my wipers rest, then wind up in there somehow. I just get tongs and take them out... last Winter, I removed about 100.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. Are you talking about preignition, i.e. 'run-on'?

Is the noise like "clackita clackita clackita clackita" and is it accompanied by the car lurching slightly forward, or acting like it wants to? That's preignition, or "run-on," and it can mean one or more of a few things.

If it's more of a metallic "tick... tick... tick..." it's the expansion and contraction of metal as the engine abruptly goes from being cooled to just sitting there.

PM me if you want. :hi:

[philosophie_en_rose]

18. It's a 'tick tick tick.' Almost like a muted cowbell.

sometimes really slow and sometimes really fast ticking.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. How fast?

Couple ticks per second, maybe?

[philosophie_en_rose]

20. pretty fast.

maybe three or four per second.

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. That's kinda fast for what I'm thinking

But they use different metals now.

I'm guessing it's just metal expansion/contraction, which is normal at shutoff in many cars. It might help if you had the cooling system flushed, but it's no big deal.

I'm just guessing, though. Can't really tell from here.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. The natural rejection of heat and the expansion of metal parts...

as well as contraction during cooling will make clicking, clinking and tapping noises. Dripping oil from various drainback tubes and openings in the engine will make tapping, popping and tocking noises. Most likely, it's nothing to worry about.

[Duer 157099]

14. Sounds like the mechanic has rocks in his head

:)

[Poiuyt]

16. I would definitely go to a different mechanic

[LSK]

17. get a 2nd opinion

Ask if your catalytic convertor or muffler is going out.