loud Ticking noise causing knock sensor code

[Z71will]

Just noticed a very loud ticking noise thats hitting the check engine light and a Knock sensor malfunction code, somewhat expierenced in these engines think it could be a lifter but not sure please help only at 70k miles, heres a video of the ticking and or knocking let me know if anyone has experienced this

[T-Town-Z]

Just going by what my truck has done and sounded like, it is a strong possibility that it could be one of the AFM lifters.  Looks like you are probably out of warranty, unless you have an extended warranty.

If no warranty, I'd suggest searching your area for a performance tuner, or shop, that is familiar with GM vehicles.  Until you get another code that tells you that one of the cylinders is misfiring, it will take some diagnosing to figure it out.

[Z71will]

I just dont trust most dealers around where i live, most dont know what they are doing. Theyll just end up throwing a jasper in it or putting in parts that it really doesnt need. I have some backround doing mechanical work but the 5.3s im not familiar with. I have a buddy who use to work for chevorlet and we are gonna start to tear it apart tomorrow and try to figure it out. We are both thinking its a lifter or maybe a rod. It just has this ignorant tick, not just the 5.3 tick , when i accelerate it sounds like im a ****ing spaceship lol. I ordered the service manual that has all diagnostics, but i also dont think its misfiring i didnt read a misfiring code, just a knock sensor malfunction code, and yea sadly im out of warranty by 10k miles, decided not to take the extended warranty but im sure gm would try to figure a way of making me pay some kind of money even with exenteded warranty. but fingers crossed its nothing too serious .

[swathdiver]

4 hours ago, Z71will said:

Just noticed a very loud ticking noise thats hitting the check engine light and a Knock sensor malfunction code, somewhat expierenced in these engines think it could be a lifter but not sure please help only at 70k miles, heres a video of the ticking and or knocking let me know if anyone has experienced this

Don't see a video link.  Just went through this myself.  Fired up the motor after an oil change and she was ticking loudly and I swore it was a lifter.  My kids figured it was an exhaust leak.  There were no misfires or noticeable performance losses.  I drove it around anyway because if it blew up, I would have a great excuse to put in a 6.2 motor!  In the end it turned out to be an exhaust leak because of a warped flange.  The 6.2 will have to wait!

[Z71will]

On 7/26/2021 at 8:16 PM, T-Town-Z said:

Just going by what my truck has done and sounded like, it is a strong possibility that it could be one of the AFM lifters.  Looks like you are probably out of warranty, unless you have an extended warranty.

If no warranty, I'd suggest searching your area for a performance tuner, or shop, that is familiar with GM vehicles.  Until you get another code that tells you that one of the cylinders is misfiring, it will take some diagnosing to figure it out.

Update the lifter was loose, no damage done to the cam literally changed the oil added some additive in with the oil that apparently helps with lifters. Idk if this additive is godly like or what, but we ran it a little bit hooked up a tuner to turn off the afm ****ed with oil pressure and boom no more knoocking and the lifter is back in place. Idk wtf happened or how it happened but im fully deleting the afm system garbage. And of course it was the cylinder that deactivates that was ****ed up

[Ravenkeeper]

A friend of mine just had a similar situation, one of his engine mounts “broke,” one the gel packs on one of the mount points was toast.  Believe it was the upper mount, but he easily replaced all three.  

Edited August 1, 2021 by Ravenkeeper