Engine Knock -- video link included

[FShearer]

While troubleshooting a rattle and finding/fixing a loose heat shield on one of my cats I heard this knocking coming from the left side of the engine. This is a 95 ATX with 177,000 miles on it. The sound starts around 1600 RPM and continues thru 2200 when it seems to go away. There are no codes. Any help would be appreciated.


[YOUTUBE]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PLS4XHuBsLg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PLS4XHuBsLg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> [/YOUTUBE]

 

[.RaMpAgE.]

is it coming from the head area or from the bottom of the block??

 

[FShearer]

Sounds like the top of the engine, here is another video where you can hear the knocking better. The sound is concentrated on the left side farthest from the intake.

[YOUTUBE]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xXdOkyOElFc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xXdOkyOElFc&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]

 

[stangeater]

Possibly your timing belt tensioner.

 

[lowc]

id say remove the timming cover and see if you can hear it more clearly if not posibly acc. belt tensioner

 

[shocrates]

Sounds exactly like a bad timing belt tensioner.

Take off the upper timing belt cover. If there is slack in the belt between the camshaft pullies, start looking for a new tensioner. To confirm, pull the middle timing belt cover and try to push the tensioner pulley towards the rear of the car. If it moves freely the tensioner is bad.

 

[FShearer]

Timing belt tensioner it is. Opened the top of the cover and could feel considerable play in the belt between the camshaft pullies. Since this is my daily driver am I going to do harm to it by driving until I get it replaced? Anybody have suggestions on where to find a replacement timing belt tensioner?

 

[shocrates]

I wouldn't drive it with a bad tensioner.

nesho.com
Fordperformancespecialists.com

Some have converted the tensioner into a manual one with a bolt and some nuts and washers.

 

[GR8WYT]

I think SHOSource is working on something. Other than that, it's off to the used parts world... I just replaced one of those on my 95 ATX.

*edit*

There's some fine reading to be done here in the forum itself. Follow the link on the manual tensioner in the previous post.

 

[Sho_Freak]

i got a timing belt tensioner from a 80k 3.2 ill sell ya if i can find it.....was holding good tension when i pulled it off and the bearing still seems to be good.

Adam M

 

[whiteguy3]

100% timing belt slap. Had that issue multiple times before replacing the tensioner's themselves three times due to failure. Then I started making adjustable tensioner's that have no fluid and will not fail. If you are interested in one just PM me. Here's a picture:

 

[riden2low]

whiteguy3 you have pm

 

[FShearer]

I made one with the help of some previous posts. So far so good, I have about 60 miles on it so far and the sound in my videos has gone away. Now I am trying to determine if the belt is too tight. I heard the "whine" the first day but haven't heard it since, maybe the belt stretched?

 

[HazMatt]

i have the same exact knocking and wondered for 5 years. It started after taking my car out of impound after getting a DUI doing 155mph. Ive drove my car since then for 5 years and I know my tensioner is bad. Thanks for info.