93 sho 3.2 low rpm rattle

[UtahUtesSho]

If anyone knows, my 93 atx 3.2 has a rattle at low rpm that disappears above 2000 rpm. It returns when slowing down and the engine rpms drop down. I was wondering if it is a valve problem since the car failed emissions today. Worried that it could be major! Thanks!

 

[shoon]

What did you car fail emissions on?

I tried everything to get ym car to pass... the cats were good / clean, new spark plugs, no vac leaks, new o2 sensors but still kept failing on NOx.

I unplugged the SPOUT connector and it passed. Unplugging the SPOUT retards the timing 10 degrees IIRC by bypassing the cam sensor, and synchs the timing with the crank sensor if I got it right.

By the way, is your check engine light still on, and does your car still stall / tach dies? that might be part of your problem if your cam sensors not working right as suggested in the other post.



Edit: as far as the rattle, any chance you could post a sound clip? and did you check the basic stuff, like bang on the exhaist to check for loose heat shields? any idea on the location of the rattle?

 

[UtahUtesSho]

It stalls sometimes, my emissions were off the chart, can smell fuel in the exhaust and I wondered if a valve was sticking or messed up.

 

[UtahUtesSho]

It failed HC and CO

 

[CademiaX]

It stalls sometimes, my emissions were off the chart, can smell fuel in the exhaust and I wondered if a valve was sticking or messed up.

hey! i utah sho!!! OMG, they do exist!!! wooo

maybe your cats are blown, get under your car and wack one and see if it rattles, hammer would be preferable if its hot

 

[shoon]

NVM, saw your post

 

[UtahUtesSho]

Not sure on the heat shield, sounds like the rear passenger side.

 

[UtahUtesSho]

263 ppm on hc, 6.42 on co

 

[bigblock]

is it a rattle or a knock? rattle could be bad cats and that's what it sounds like to me.

 

[CademiaX]

Not sure on the heat shield, sounds like the rear passenger side.

ah, then I would say timing belt tensioner, accessory belt tensioner, or one of the accessories acting up.

 

[UtahUtesSho]

It is a rattle

 

[CademiaX]

http://www.box.net/shared/j4f9crt1ms

can you hear your noise in this clip?

 

[UtahUtesSho]

mine sounds louder

 

[CademiaX]

yup, I would say timing belt tensioner then.

Start your car and unplug one spark plug wire at a time from the coil pack and listen for the noise to get louder, only one at a time!

If its knocking that will tell you where its coming from.

 

[frosho]

It stalls sometimes, my emissions were off the chart, can smell fuel in the exhaust and I wondered if a valve was sticking or messed up.

You need to pull your codes. It's easy to do yourself without a code reader. Follow the instructions here- http://www.shophoenixproject.com/eec/eec.htm.

 

[UtahUtesSho]

I get code 214, but it sounds like a valve problem.

 

[CademiaX]

214 (M) Error in Cylinder ID (CID) circuit or signal - Ignition Systems

two threads for the same thing!?!

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=100044

 

[UtahUtesSho]

I think the top end noise is unrelated to the cam sensor.

 

[UtahUtesSho]

Changed the cam sensor, cel is off but dies at idle with the same noise at 1500 rpm.

 

[CademiaX]

the noise is the timing belt tensioner most likely.

you can bring it by and I can have a listen if you want.