The most likely causes for your Abarth 500 having a ticking sound are interior noises (like loose items), noises from under your car (like an object stuck in your tyre) or noises from under your hood (like failing lifters or low oil pressure).
Abarth 500 has a ticking noise/sound
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Why does my Abarth 500 have a ticking noise/sound?
It is important to note that when trying to identify a sound coming from your Abarth 500, you try to pinpoint where the noise to coming from. Is it coming from inside the car, the front dashboard, the boot of the car, the engine, the tyres or maybe from something scraping along the road? Is the ticking noise happening when your car is idle or when you’re driving slow or when you’re driving fast or when you’re driving over bumps or when you’re accelerating or… do you just hear it all the time?
Is ticking coming from under your car?
The most common reason for your Abarth 500 to have a ticking noise/sound coming from under your car is having something lodged in one of your tyres. This can cause a ticking noise as the object that is stuck rotates around the wheel and then touches the road. You’ll need to visit your local tyre centre to get this fixed. If the ticking noise happens under your car when turning, you may have a CV axle that is torn or needs grease. Your mechanic can check your CV axle for grease or signs of wear/damage.
Is ticking coming from your engine or from under the hood?
The most common reasons for there to be ticking noises coming from under the hood/bonnet of your Abarth 500 are low oil pressure/levels (the engine isn’t getting properly lubricated) or potentially noisy fuel injectors. You can top up your oil yourself but will want to have your fuel injectors checked by your mechanic. Other potential causes for ticking can include having:
- worn valve train components (hydraulic lifters and cam followers)
- a worn camshaft lobe or a broken valve spring (they cause this noise when they have too much clearance)
- an exhaust manifold leak
- a bent pushrod
- a loose/cracked spark plug
- a bad bearing
- a loose engine fan
Is ticking coming from inside your car?
The most common reasons for there to be a ticking noise coming from inside your car are loose interior panelling, open glove compartments & centre console lids, rocking drink bottles in holders, worn window channels/seals, small items (like loose change) ticking inside plastic compartments or wind causing loose objects to move around inside your cab, creating a ticking sound. These can generally be fixed cheaply by removing the objects, closing compartments or using a screwdriver to tighten ticking interior components.
How do I fix my Abarth 500 when I have a ticking noise?
If the ticking sound is coming from inside your car, the fix can be simple and quick – find the loose object & remove it or find the interior component making the noise so you can fix it with a screwdriver. If the ticking noise is coming from under your car hood/bonnet, you can check the oil and fill it up if it is low. If you’ve tried these and your car is still ticking, we’d recommend that you book a mechanic to look at your Abarth 500 as soon as possible.
Should I still drive my Abarth 500 when it has a ticking sound?
We’d recommend that you do some quick checks to make sure the noise isn’t from low oil or from an interior noise then, if these are not the causes, only drive your car as far as your local mechanic, if the ticking noise continues.
