Ticking Noise in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A tick that follows your road speed is usually a nail or stone in a tire, while a tick that follows the engine points to low oil or a noisy valve.
You hear it rolling slowly past the grain elevator, a tick-tick-tick that keeps time with the wheels, or a light tapping from under the hood on a cold morning that fades as the engine warms up. Most ticks are small problems when they are caught early, so bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
We answer texts the same day we get them.
Ticks, decoded by when they happen
Tap the ones that sound like yours.
You ticked 0. That is worth a look.
Text us which onesHow we track down a tick
We find the tick before we fix anything. A stone in the tread takes a minute and costs you nothing, and we will tell you if that is all it was.
If it is a puncture, we repair it properly from the inside when the tire can be saved, and tell you straight when it cannot.
If it is the engine, we start with the oil and work forward. We tell you what we found and what it costs, and nothing gets done until you say so.
Then we listen again, cold and warm. We want the tick gone, not just quieter.
Why Hillsboro brings ticking noises to Moxie
-
Tires and engines under one roof
We fix punctures and engines, so we have no reason to blame one over the other.
-
We tell you when it is normal
Some engines tick by design, and we will say so rather than sell you a repair.
-
An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
-
Warranty in writing
Most repairs carry the NAPA 24/24 nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles, and engine and transmission work carries Moxie's own one-year warranty. We tell you which one covers your repair before any work starts.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Ticking myths we hear at the counter
Hover or tap a card to flip it.
Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
Usually yes, but check the oil and the tires first.
Most ticks are not emergencies. A nail in the tire can often be driven gently to the shop, as long as the tire is holding air. An engine tick is fine to drive on only if the oil is at the right level. If the oil is low, top it up before you drive, and if the tick gets louder or turns into a knock, park it.
Stop driving and call us if
- The oil pressure light comes on, or the oil is very low
- The tick turns into a deeper knock
- A tire with a nail is losing air or looks low
- You smell exhaust inside the cab
Want the details?
Tap any of these to open it.
What causes ticking noises around here
- Roofing nails and screws picked up near construction and farm buildings
- Stones wedged in tire tread on gravel roads
- Oil that is low or overdue for a change
- Exhaust manifold bolts and gaskets that loosen after years of heating up and cooling down
- Normal injector and valve sounds on some modern engines, which can be mistaken for a problem
How we diagnose a ticking noise in Hillsboro
- We ask whether the tick follows the road speed or the engine speed, which splits it in two straight away.
- We check the tires for nails, screws and stones, and test any puncture for a leak.
- We check the oil level and condition, and when it was last changed.
- We listen to the engine cold and warm with a mechanic's stethoscope to pinpoint the tick.
- Then we tell you whether it is normal, small, or worth fixing now.
A ticking noise across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Ticking noise questions we hear every week
How do I know if the ticking is from my tire or my engine?
Sit parked with the engine running. If the tick is still there, it is the engine or something it drives. If it only ticks while you are rolling and speeds up with the car, look at the tires.
I found a nail in my tire. Should I pull it out?
Leave it in until you get to us. The nail is often plugging its own hole, and pulling it can turn a slow leak into a flat. Text us a photo of where it is, because a nail in the tread can often be repaired but one in the sidewall cannot.
Is it normal for my engine to tick?
Some engines do tick a little, especially newer ones with direct fuel injection. What is not normal is a tick that is new, getting louder, or showing up with low oil. If you are not sure, text us a video and we will tell you honestly.