Engine just started knocking... no loss of power...

[crizzaSHO]

My engine just started knocking, or tapping towards the top of the engine. There is no loss of power what so ever, there is no rough idle and this only happens around 2500 to 4000 rpm... I also just passed emissions today here in CT... This sucks... I just have 59k miles... any help would be appreciated.... thanks......

 

[AutoSHO]

Do you have an oil pressure gauge? Any loss?

Does it sound like something knocking on the valve covers, towards the driver's side?

 

[crizzaSHO]

I just gave it an oil change on tuesday. It sounds like it comming from the middle of the intake..

 

[AutoSHO]

Thats a weird place for the noise to be coming from. Could be a valve shim, but you would hear that at all RPMs. Have you performed the 60k yet? I have heard of the water pump or timing belt tensioner failing and giving unusual noises like that.

Just make absolutely sure its not coming from the oil pan!

 

[Chris Benvie]

Did you do the oil change? Did they put oil back in? I know thats a stupid question but weirder things have happened.

It could be just a valve shim and i don't suppose that you have done the 60k yet.

Stop driving it until you have diagnosed the problem. It could be something simple or something alot worse.

 

[crizzaSHO]

thanks guys, what are some of the ways I could check some of the things that might be causing the problem(waterpump, tensioner etc.) I did a search, but no one's problem is like mine. Also, They have way more miles....

 

[revhardSHO]

that sucks! I doubt its a shim with such low mileage.

Could possibly be a loud, worn fuel injector (they can be loud), but again, I could not see this happening given such low mileage.



<small>[ March 13, 2004, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: smithsil ]</small>

 

[BeautifulDisasterSho]

Try taking a long screwdriver and use it like a stethoscope to try to find the source of the knocking on each side of fuel rails, valve covers, timing chain tensioners..ect. Try taking off the oil fill cap and see if you can hear it coming from in there, if so you need the valve shims done.

 

[crizzaSHO]

the funny thing i now remember is that it's actually louder sitting inside the car. When I have my head in the engine bay, the sound get drowned out by the motor itself

 

[crizzaSHO]

ok, so I narrowed down where the noise is coming from. It's coming from the back of the motor, by the firewall, on the driver side. It really sounds like it coming from the valve cover...THIS SUCKS madflame madflame

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Time to tear off that rear valve cover.

What is the 60k history?

 

[revhardSHO]

crizzaSHO:
ok, so I narrowed down where the noise is coming from. It's coming from the back of the motor, by the firewall, on the driver side. It really sounds like it coming from the valve cover...THIS SUCKS madflame madflame

Could be the rear head cam tensioner - these will fail because they are old (operated by a hydraulic) and not always because of high-mileage. Relatively inexpensive and easy replacement. Also from what you have described, it sounds like its coming from the tensioner area.

 

[Chris Benvie]

JDLangevin:
Time to tear off that rear valve cover.

What is the 60k history?

None its only got 58k on it.

 

[Dr. Tweak]

oh

Well that's not good. Rip off the valve cover and check it out.

Might as well get all the 60k stuff and do it 2k early?

 

[Alex Perry]

cheap and easy? can you elaborate, please? mine I think is the source of a little noise on my engine, but i've been avoiding replacing it like the plague, because I heard they are discontinued, rare, and expensive as ****.

smithsil:

crizzaSHO:
ok, so I narrowed down where the noise is coming from. It's coming from the back of the motor, by the firewall, on the driver side. It really sounds like it coming from the valve cover...THIS SUCKS madflame madflame

Could be the rear head cam tensioner - these will fail because they are old (operated by a hydraulic) and not always because of high-mileage. Relatively inexpensive and easy replacement. Also from what you have described, it sounds like its coming from the tensioner area.

 

[crizzaSHO]

yeah, the tensioner actually makes sence. I plan on ripping the engine appart at crazySHos house this week.... Where do I get the tensioner from??? Oh, and the 60 history... I actually allready replaced everything except the valve shims. Should I expect to get the tensioner new or what????

 

[SHO--ripper]

Chris your problem sounds like your rear timing chain tensioner. Don't worry too much because mine was making noise on one of my SHO's and 20lbs of Nitrous didn't effect it at all
If you need shims or the tensioners i have some thumb They aren't new but they are good burnout

 

[SHOTerror]

Do yourself a favor and spend 10 dollars at autozone on the stethescope. For those of you who have used one, you must agree there is no better way to diagnose a problem. My '93 ATX was making a very discomforting noise. I took it to ford they wanted 80 dollars to diagnose since they thought it was something serious. So I went out, purchased a stethescope at autozone and pinpointed the noise to the water pump. Performed the lower 60k with water pump and noise is completely gone and car is running great once again. Hopefully it will be something less durastic for you as well.

 

[crizzaSHO]

yeah, I understand that those stethoscopes(sp) work very well, but what If you don't know what you are listening to?? besides, I found the noise by actually laying on top on the engine and sticking my head and ear by the noise. I was actually quite a funny sight to look at..... How do I know if the tensioner is bad when I rip the engine apart? Is it going to look broken??

 

[Dr. Tweak]

look for looseness in the chain and check the wear block. there's a good pic of the front one on my 60k guide...