[da13ro]

Hey all,
I briefly read a topic over a year ago that states a similar problem to this, but for the life of me I can't find it.

The other day I noticed a tapping sound coming from the front of my coily. I didn't think too much of it. It's now a little worse and at around 3500k it starts to get a lot louder. The car doesn't have to be rolling, in gear etc - neutral and stationary has the same issue. I left it to idle a little yesterday and popped the bonnet. It sounds pretty high, and just beneath the rocker cover?

Any ideas? So fast paced tapping sound, similar to a thousand hammers bashing around =)

Cheers.

[zooky08]

is your valve clearances right

[jonno_racing]

tap or nock?

[zooky08]

have a look here. might be one of the reasons.

[jonno_racing]

my money is on piston skirt.

[Microwire]

Exhaust manifold on tight? Not exactly what you have described but never know

[Fatzook]

What fuel do you use? It could be detonation brought on by slightly higher intake temps from warmer weather?

[Microwire]

Fatzook wrote:

What fuel do you use? It could be detonation brought on by slightly higher intake temps from warmer weather?

Yeah I hate that, premium's the goods then. Just don't put Nitro into your lawnmower.

[ZookiMonsta]

Could it be the tappet clearances?

[Blueberry]

maybe remove the hammers?

most likely tappets though, blueberry needs them done bad, im just lazy.

[whincup]

i had my tappets done a while back, MASSIVE difference!... engine noise gone, i could actually hear other problems instead no power difference but it was smoother and more responsive...

[89_tintop]

check all the "screws" holding the rocker assembly to the head and as stated before check tappets

[da13ro]

Just pulled the rocker cover off and the assembly seemed tight enough. Could someone give me a brief how to check the tappets and adjust if necessary. Sorta had a feel but wasn't sure what I was after.

I use the e10 regular unleaded blend to prevent pre-ignition. Bit worried since this sorta just started in one hit.

Will take a video for thee audio when I find the camera and maybe that might help. I appreciate the help guys =)

[da13ro]

zooky08 wrote:

have a look here. might be one of the reasons.

Sounded awfully similar to this the other day. Not that bad today but still similar. That can't be good news - wouldn't mind trying the quick fixes first though.

Cheers.

[LAY80N]

da13ro wrote:

Just pulled the rocker cover off and the assembly seemed tight enough. Could someone give me a brief how to check the tappets and adjust if necessary. Sorta had a feel but wasn't sure what I was after.

I use the e10 regular unleaded blend to prevent pre-ignition. Bit worried since this sorta just started in one hit.

Will take a video for thee audio when I find the camera and maybe that might help. I appreciate the help guys =)

E10 is shit, pure and utter shit.

Have you checked your tappet clearance with feeler gauges and confirmed its within spec? Do you have the FSM, it will give you the specs and a rundown on the procedure. I dont have access to it at the moment and cant remember the clearance. Basically you need to have the cylinder that you are checking at TDC compression so that both exhaust and intake valves are fully closed. You then use a feeler gauge to check the clearance, then adjust the clearance between the rocker arm end and the valve stem if needed. This should be done with a warm motor as clearances change when cold.

Coilys do have known problems with piston skirts and ring lands smashing, fingers crossed that its just a tappet adjustment, but it may be something serious.

Layto....

[da13ro]

Thanks Layto!

Just got back onto this now with some time. The bad boy started first time and ran smooth after 4 weeks of just sitting there. The issue still remains though - rev to 3k and hear the devil.

Went over the tappets and all are within spec, checked the assembly again and its all tight as buggery. So preparing for the worst, just uploading a video/audio of it now if you fella's could have a listen that would be sweet.

- edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRAsH0Ea3yw

Just wanted to get someones ears on it before I tear it down. It seems to be pretty loud in the cab when driving. =)

[mondo]

just had a listen, mine did a piston skirt late last year, bit hard to say if yours sounds the same as mine did from the video, mine also made a bit of a wafting sound (if that makes sense) as the piston went up and down with missing rings.

[christover1]

It vsounds like timing belt and/or pulleys touching on the timing belt cover.
But I am hard of hearing.
Is the sound near front end of rocker cover.
Sometimes the gasket/bush wears out and cover can touch the moving bits

[christover1]

Wobble timing cover see if it gets better or worse,
but watch out for spinning fan blades and fingers

[shandy92]

christover1 wrote:

It vsounds like timing belt and/or pulleys touching on the timing belt cover.
Sometimes the gasket/bush wears out and cover can touch the moving bits

mmm i dont think so, my timing belt had walked forward after changing it and it made rubbing sound not a ticking/clicking. but yeah go and push the cover and see if it get worse, but i highly doubt it.

maybe pull the sump off and check everything down there.

good luck
Mitch

[paulv]

I'm thinking piston slap.....

Taking the sump off and looking for any excess metal, checking the condition of the bottom part of the bores is probably a good start.

[da13ro]

christover1 wrote:

Wobble timing cover see if it gets better or worse,
but watch out for spinning fan blades and fingers

Thanks Chris, just tried this - didn't seem to make it any better or worse, but since the timing on the coilys are chain driven (I think?) it could sound like the chain hitting the plastic cover? Is this something I should persue? It seems like it only happens at certain revs.

[christover1]

da13ro wrote:

christover1 wrote:

Wobble timing cover see if it gets better or worse,
but watch out for spinning fan blades and fingers

Thanks Chris, just tried this - didn't seem to make it any better or worse, but since the timing on the coilys are chain driven (I think?) it could sound like the chain hitting the plastic cover? Is this something I should persue? It seems like it only happens at certain revs.

I didn't know they were chains.
It must have a tensioner system.
Don't know enough about them to offer advice.
But if chain breaks, angine stops.

Because of my crap hearing, I use a bit of garden hose, or tube, like a stethoscope, to listen to noises..it may help you find right location of noise.


Dont put hose on hot bits

[da13ro]

My bad, just pulled the cover off and it's a belt! Will pull the sump of now and search for metal =)

[Taylor74]

If the noise is worse when cold put your money on it being cracked piston skirt, 80 persect of the ones i have done have been number 3 cyl not sure why. When the engine is cold the piston clearances are bigger and allow the piston to float more.
If its worse when warm think valve train,worn rocker shaft or rocker could still cause the problem. As the engine warms up the valve clearences get bigger thats why the cold clearance setting is much less than warm.
The vid does not show alot other than you better get to the bottom of the problem soon, Ive seen pistons turn side on in the bore and destroy heads and rods.

[da13ro]

The noise is worse when warm definitely. It makes the noise very briefly when it first starts also, but for the first 1/2 second.

Just drained the oil and found a nut somewhat blocking the drain on the sump. Just trying to remove it to see what else is in there - any tips for removing the sump. All the nuts n bolts are removed, finding it difficult to even separate it from the block.

[Taylor74]

Coilys are more dificult but jack the car up and put stands on the chassie letting the axle hang free, some people remove the steering linkage at the rear. The sump will come out then.

[da13ro]

Any tips on the best place to pry a screw driver in? I can't seem to find a place that lets me approach it best.

[Taylor74]

Off memory left side start with a stubby at the front corner or hit the sump near the bottom sideways with a soft hammer ususly works for me.

[dogbox]

try listening with long screwdriver(or metal rod) touching various parts of your engine the other end in your ear like a doctors stethascope you might be able to isolate were the noise is coming from
unless you have access to a stethascope then use that