Hi Guys, Well yesterday i notice a ticking in the right side of my dmax,so i call my dealer and took my truck in.The service tech told me that there was something broken inside the right side of the engine? He also said that without opening the engine it was hard to say what is the part,I was very upset this is brand new truck,never pulled with it or no mods only a k&n filter and delvac 1 synth.Does anybody have a clue to what could have happend? I know we have good knowlegable people here at the forum. Service also told me that it will be done in a week or two depends on the part. I don't see how a 46,000 dlls truck could break at 18,000 miles,I have pampered my truck ever-since i ordered from Chevy,also been changing oil at 3000 miles.Have anybody have this problem before?Thx, for all your help ,Alex

It's not just the standard Duramax tick is it? It's hard to beleive an experianced tech would not know about the "tick". Edited by: Blue Max

sometimes no matter how much prevention we use, we cant stop a part failure. Injectors are proof of that.


Its hard to say what it is, depends on what it sounds like and what can be done to change it, ie, cancelling cylinders.

Blue Max, to answer your ? No. the ticking your thinking is normaly at the driver's side and it's random,like a typewriter. Mine is at the other side of the engine and it a steady ticking and gets louder when engine get to 190 or so.Also i could hear it when cold but a little faded. it sounds like a 350 engine that have a stuck lifter. Thx for replying soo fast guys,that why i like this forum.

yep, thats a prob

Blue Max, to answer your ? No. the ticking your thinking is normaly at the driver's side and it's random,like a typewriter. Mine is at the other side of the engine and it a steady ticking and gets louder when engine get to 190 or so.Also i could hear it when cold but a little faded. it sounds like a 350 engine that have a stuck lifter. Thx for replying soo fast guys,that why i like this forum.


What engine do you have in your '04 LLY or LB7? I may have a similar problem with my '04.


When we purchase $46K trucks we expect a higher level of quality control, especially from Isuzu.

Hi Dura Mike..I have the LB7. I will let you know as soon as i hear from my dealer. I heard mine doing this at around 8,000 miles but i was told it was normal,and then it started to get louder as time went. Boy i sure miss my truck already,and it's only the first day. The only reason i bought Chevy is because of the engine,now i'm begining to wonder if i should have bought something else.Thx Dura mike for your reply.

They kept my truck for 7 days to do the injectors, I feel your pain about missing your rig. I was Jonesing on day 3...I'll keep a good thought for you! Let us know how it turns out!

Hi Dura Mike..I have the LB7. I will let you know as soon as i hear from my dealer. I heard mine doing this at around 8,000 miles but i was told it was normal,and then it started to get louder as time went. Boy i sure miss my truck already,and it's only the first day. The only reason i bought Chevy is because of the engine,now i'm begining to wonder if i should have bought something else.Thx Dura mike for your reply.


My '04 is an LB7 too...


I wish you the best and I hope the problem is something simple. Let us know what you find out.

Thx,to all of you for your support,it's nice to hear from people that have gone thru the same things...I will post asap when i hear from the dealer. I can't wait to hear what part broke inside. those engines are suppose to be stong. i'm hoping for it to be a small part.Do you guys think they can put this together like the factory,or am i expecting to see a bunch of jerry rigging. My grandpa always use to say and believe that once you open a engine it's never like it came out of factory. Well grandpa is gone now,what do you guys think?

My biggest upset is that i'm not used to driving a car (the rental they gave me)Gran Prix, i guess i can live with it,it's all the making fun at me by my friends here at work.

Do you guys think they can put this together like the factory,or am i expecting to see a bunch of jerry rigging.


There are a number of variables. Perhaps the problem was caused by someone (or robot) at the engine assembly plant. In that case you could end up with a repaired engine that is better than the factory assembled. A lot depends on the tech who is working on your truck at the dealership. If you get a well trained tech like dmaxallitech, you don't have anything to worry about.


You may want to ask the SM to see your dealership's tech's training certifications. That way you will know if the techs are certified for Duramax and Allison. My dealership has all of them in a display case for the public to see. Certification is not a guarantee that the work will be done correctly, but it could mean that there will be little or no "jerry rigging".

Yes, Quality of repairs will depend on quality of tech and the pride he has in his job.

eric and I and the other tech on the team are good techs. I think you all get that from the way we post.again the problem is in training and not keeping good quality techs on hand. ie a member here on the page
brought his truck in to me 01 192k miles truck smoking and he wanted it looked at I told him pay me 1 hr diag and we will scan the truck and go from there. Told him
injectors may be bad and Gm upped the warranty to 200k. could be rings, seals. so if the injectors are not bad we would have to go into it further. to make a long story short. he wanted to bring his truck back monday this was friday.well all of you folling me know I was let go that friday.monday he calls my cell and says what happened,told him the story. he says the dealer gave his truck to another tech and the injectors are bad and the injection pump as well.in a nut shell he was told no warranty on injectors unless pump is replaced. I told him the way to check the pump and flow amounts. dealer said $5600. well he put it all together and we in pushed the issue.dealer backed down and replaced the injectors
warranty.and said the pump had metel in it.and it will not rum good after injector replacement. injector replaced no smoke all ok. all said in done nothing said about the pump.so why did they try to sell him one.after I educated him on the pump specs.and how to check it the dealer (my old boss) backed dowm. the problem is not enough training and jerks for advisors and managers...

the d/max hands on is so cheep.when I went I was one of 2 techs with any diesel clue.all the others had not clue....ok I will get off my soap box.

Hi Guys. I got my truck back. They told me that the valves needed adjustment,from .014 to .012 ,when i was at the dealer it was running fine until it got to 195 degs. and it was worst!!!! it was ticking louder then before..so it's back to the shop this monday.I did talk to the tech,two advisors came out to hear it and they all agree that theres something wrong but they don't know whats wrong,i think there's something loose at the flywheel and torq converter.I was really upset when this happend and told them if they can't fix it ,it will stay there.

Isn't there a bolt that backs out on some trucks? I have read something about. Can't remember, though.

Isn't there a bolt that backs out on some trucks? I have read something about. Can't remember, though.





They use to put press in studs for the rockers years ago. With higher lift cams and stronger springs, they could/would pull out of the head.


I dont think they do this anymore but I could be wrong.

Something transmission related for the bolt(????)

Man you got my kind of luck. I had the dealer park my truck in the back and never work on it. I went to pick it up and it was untouched and still broken.

I was a little po'ed.

Its possible a converter bolt backing out could do it, doubt its the valves/adjustment.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif The rockers are mounted on a shaft and bolted to the head with 5 12mm bolts... Not likely those are gonna pull.

Hi guys..and good morning!! i just drop my truck and talk to the tech,he said he is pulling the transmission,and retight bolts,how long!!does anybody know? he also said that the reason it sounds worse after re gaping valves is that the top of the engine got quieter,but it sounds like a injector to me.thx,Alex

Well what was it?

Hi,Guys ....it's still not working right,their flying a gm egineer to listen to it..the problem
is still there and its getting louder. So far nobody has called me when he's showing up..
i'm thinking of suing them...thx,

It sounds to me like you have some un-educated techs working on your truck...I would be looking for a different dealer, if I were you...

Hi partsguy...this is my second dealer that has open my engine 4 times, a total of 6 times all together. Thats why gm said that a egineer needs to look at it ..before dealers can do anymore work under warranty,that why a very upset!!!..thx

Then I definetely refer back to my first statement....There are lots of GM dealerships out there that have well, for the lack of a better word, lousy techicians...Most of them qualify as part replacers.....Obviously, there are some good ones out there (lots of them spend some time on this site and provide up with great information). I would venture to guess that the guys that had your engine apart had no idea what they were looking for.....The problem with many dealers is they have a few techs that do know what they are doing, and a bunch of flunkies that they don't have to pay a premium wage to....In other words, your odds of getting the decent tech at the shop aren't very good in most cases....After the gm engineer comes by to look at your rig, talk to the service manager and ask him/her if that department has any techs that are expierienced with the duramax engine....(other than oil changes, of coursehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif) If they dodge the question or the answer isn't satisfactory to you, find another dealer....Asking a few quesitons up front before you get your truck torn apart again might just help you get this problem resolved correctly this time so you can enjoy your truck again.............
keep us posted as to what is going on here.......

I have ran a lot of tune-up's on series 60 engines.The valves have a window of adjustment.If anything when I adjust the valves I go alittle loose on my adjustments.Personal perference.Uniform in adjustment nevertheless.Was always taught uniform adjustment.Hard to believe tightening the gap solved anything.Sounds like a dealer blowing massive amounts of smoke up someone's third point of contact.Censored

If I were you, I would take the truck back, and run the snot out of it until something breaks.

Guessing at noises can be a waste of time. Broken parts are easy to find.

Hi Guys thats for all your help...I love this site!!!! well i met with the engineer yesterday and spent 2 hours looking at my truck(his name was Hank).after a series of tests and me very pissed off,He found that the flywheel is cracked?He said that in 2003 models they change design on the flywheel balancing welds,and that they had a few that were cracking and causing ticking noises like lifters,oh by the way to answer tomslick24 ,they did adjested the valves two times,and re torque the torque converter bots(please excuse my typing errors i'm trying to type and talk on the phone at the same time.) you guys are the best!!!!

Oh!! I almost forgot .....He said(Hank) the late 2003 and 2004 were not having injector problems...and 2005 will have two fuel filters,and upgrade will be available this spring,for all duramax's. and for me to keep changing my filter every 10,000 miles like said in owner manual...the injector problems were being reported in east coast and mid coast and he has seen only a few in Washington State, and it was because of transporting of diesel fuel that get dirty with heavy sand...OK ....I was believing him until he said the sand part...i live in kennewick wa..there's plenty of sand here!!!!!!

Hmmmm....it sounds to me like he blew some sunshine up your *ss.......

yes i know he is partsguy.....that's why he knows that if he does not fix my truck this time he is buying it back....i have a lawer already in the case....it got to be fix this time ...it bieng the 7th try...to correct the problem that started when the truck reached 3500 miles..now that it has 32,000... thx for your quick reponse..

Well guys after installing the flywheel like said by the engineer from gm,.....the TICKING is still there...i'm so disapointed at gm..now i'm waiting from gm's main office answer if i get a new engine...the tech said he will call me with a answer by tomorrow evening...what should i do if they refuse?,,my truck has 37000 miles now and it was open at 14000 for a total of 8 times and still no fix,sue? or wait? thx,

Accept nothing but a new motor. I was getting pissed just reading your posts. If you're lucky they'll buy it back. Good luck. Nick

thx for the advice duramaxdiesel..just thinking the engine has been open too many is times is bothering me...and it's not fix yet.

Hi guys.....well i went and left my truck two weeks ago at the dealer after i was told that the gm engineer was in town and that he would like to see my truck again....after seeing my truck for the secound time...they GM decieted to put a new engine in!!!!!!!,,i went this morning to see it and they should have the new engine by this friday, what they found is a bad cylinder #7 was all beat the heck and they did get it open and showed me. The tech was was great for pushing the issue of a new engine....thx

Lennox69, Kudos to you, I would not have had the patience. Can you get pics?

Lennox69, Which dealer did the attempted repairs on your engine? I had mine in at McCurley and they acted like they'd never seen a diesel before. My truck is now at James Chevrolet in Moses Lake getting 8 new injectors due to massive smoking at idle and fuel in oil.

dmlong....pm me and i'll lt you know...thx,

Hi guys.....well i went and left my truck two weeks ago at the dealer after i was told that the gm engineer was in town and that he would like to see my truck again....after seeing my truck for the secound time...they GM decieted to put a new engine in!!!!!!!,,i went this morning to see it and they should have the new engine by this friday, what they found is a bad cylinder #7 was all beat the heck and they did get it open and showed me. The tech was was great for pushing the issue of a new engine....thx
Lennox69,

I'm glad that GM finally did the right thing. I hope GM gave you the first 37,000 miles free by giving your new engine a new 5yr / 100,000 mile warranty. :) My '04 LB7 still has a an unknown tick in very cold weather. In warmer weather there is no tick.:confused:
Good luck with your new engine.