My 2010 HHR SS does a great deal of ticking while idling. Dont really notice it much sitting in the car but lift the hood and OH MY.

Tick tick tick.

Is this all normal or is there something wrong with the thing?

My old 1991 Mazda MXG GT turbo did lots of ticking but not this loud.

 

What you are hearing is the high pressure direct injection fuel system, one of the characteristics of Direct Injection engines is a "ticking" sound made by the fuel injectors.

Every DI engine I've heard does that to some degree, the engine in my wife's new Fiat 500C ticks away happily like a sewing machine at idle.

 

So if it's ticking before you start it, then you might worry.

 

Yeah, ticking before you start it might leave you wondering who you "ticked" off for the lack of a better term, maybe a quick call to the bomb squad might be in order if that's happening.

 

Ecotec Tick+direct injection.

 

If I was a high pressure fuel pump making 1700-1800 psi at start up I would make noises too!!!

 

Yes the tick is present in all new DI engines. Also if you see a black puff of smoke and soot on the tail pipe that is also normal as they puff at start up.

Yes even with the puff these are cleaner running engines.

The later SS have a insulated cover on the pump that helps. The early 09 and the 08 SS lack this cover and if you are under warranty they have a TSB to add it at no charge.

 

So are the 2.2 and 2.4 motors direct. Injection as well?
Are they prone to the ticking and puffing as well

 

[QUOTE=hyperv6;619840]

Yes even with the puff these are cleaner running engines.


Until you rip the CATS off!

 

The 2.2 and 2.4 are multiport injected engines, "old fashioned" tech these days, but DI will be on the "new" 2.5 Ecotec coming in the 2013 Malibu and other models.

So no ticking or puffing of carbon at startup, a happy 2.2 or 2.4 will idle with a gentle mechanical purr, they are actually quite pleasant to listen to when you're under the hood.