I started another thread where I explained I had the truck towed due to a cylinder 5 misfire. This isolated problem lead my technician investigating the ticking/rattling a little further. I wanted to start a clean new thread for future ticking, tapping, rattling Disco-owning searcher's.

We put it on the lift and dropped the oil pan. Had suspicions of a cracked flex plate "flywheel". Sure enough my plate had cracks in it (SEE PICTURES BELOW). A new plate is on the way and I should have it back shortly.

If anyone has the notorious "ticking" and you can clearly hear the ticking/tapping/rattling when under the truck looking up at the oil pan, but its not so prevalent when looking down over the top of the engine, this may be your problem. I had all the familiar symptoms, ticking/tapping/rattling at idle (hot or cold). Once, I gave a little throttle past, ~1400 RPM, the noise would subside. If you have that "diesel" sound. I would bet you have a cracked flex plate.

I could not tell you how many oil changes, flushes, and additives I've done to this truck in the past year, just because I thought I had a stuck lifter or clogged oil passage. My engine has to be the cleanest 150,xxx mile engine in the universe.

Not sure if this is the root cause of all Disco ticks, taps, and rattles but it sure was the cause of my problem.

Questions:
Did your tick start immediately on start, or just after heating up?
As you revved up past 1400, would the tick increase in frequency before it went quiet?

Is it a tick or knock? Mine knocks steadily at idle then speeds up a bit before disappearing at about 2000 RPM

Devil's Advocate Time : The ticking isn't necessarily "solved" just yet, you just found the potential cause.

...I'm only saying this because the Rover Gods don't take kindly to 'counting chickens before they are hatched' I hope it works, you'll help a LOT of people on this board sleep better at night knowing what's causing the ticking

Both. It was temperamental.


No, it would not increase in frequency. It stopped completely.

Definitely, not a knock. It was more of a rattling/ticking noise.

Sweet. Looking forward to the pics.

Her ya go! This is how the plate came out of my truck. My tech had another DII in the shop the same time with a bad flex plate. Same ticking, rattling, tapping, diesel noise as mine. Unfortunately, for him his was so bad it sheared a torque converter bolt.

Hopefully, this will help people sleep better at night. Did I uncover the answer to the notorious Land Rover "ticking" mystery!?

Take note of all the stress cracks throughout the plate. NUTS!!!

I can confirm this issue as well. Had the ticking sound and the plate ended up breaking leaving me stranded on the side of the road. Had a local mechanic fix it and thought i was good to go. The ticking had stopped. Unfortunately when it broke it messed up the transmission oil pump and it decided to die 300 miles from the house. Ended up having it towed to a local dealer in SC (an ordeal which i documented in another thread).

I ended up needing a new transmission. Not saying it will happen to you as it lookes like you caught it early.

My local mechanic handed me a small ring exactly like the one in your pictures.

does the pan have to be dropped to inspect the flex plate?