rod knock

[btracer]

im lookin at a 95 tsi that has a few mods but the owner says " it starts, runs and drives but sounds like it has rod knock" what would be the symptoms of rod knock and would that mean a complete bottom end rebuild?? thanks

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Sympton of rod knock is a "knocking" sound comming from the engine and yes it requires an immediate rebuild of the bottom end.

 

[jesster84]

My car developed a light "ticking" or "tapping" sound at about 140k miles. It comes and goes over time...a few told me it was the lifters, and nothing really major. It seems to happen around the time my oil needs to be changed or gets low I think. Anyway, at about 173k miles there was a loud knocking sound, which a few told me was a rod or possibly bearing. I started driving it really slow...not really going over 3000 RPM...and it stopped at about 175k miles without me doing anything. Now I'm at almost 177k and it hasn't happened again. Now my suspension is squeaking really bad when I go over a bump or turn the wheel...anyone know if I can just oil it or if it needs to be replaced? It's the driver side front. Also, my electrical system has something wrong. The whole time my car is running (except after it idles for 30 seconds or so) my lights and all electrical (except CD player I believe) fade in and out. My dash lights, headlights, engine, etc. all fade from dim to regular. It doesn't matter what RPM either, it's the same fade speed. I haven't found anyone who can figure out what this is. The alternator only has about 2k miles of use, and the battery is pretty new too. Thanks for any help =)

 

[1993eclipseGS]

Jesster84 : My talon was doing the (lights fading in and out also) It was the alternator.

btracer : You definatly wouldent be able to drive it for long with 'rod knock'. My 90 gsx ran low on oil and I drove it home because I didnt know it was that low, By the time I got home it was knocking extremly loud, Added oil the next morning and it quieted down alittle bit. I noticed a big loss in power though. I would expect it, It isnt knocking because its healthy you know.Something definatly wrong and needs to be fixed.

Rob.

 

[btracer]

well the owner said the car drives fine excpet when you let off the gas becuase the rpms drop fast and the car stalls, it sounds more like a valve train problem than rod knock. the car recently recieved a clipped & ported 16g with less 100 miles on it so what do you think could be causing the knocking sound?

 

[Coldandafraid]

does it always knock, or does it come and go.

 

[rebuilt65]

To check for rod knock:
Start the car.
With the engine running, remove each spark plug wire, one at a time, and listen to the engine. if the knocking, tapping disappears, chances are that you have a rod bearing that is defective.
This works most of the time.

I had a tapping engine, so I did the following:
1. Replaced the connecting rod bearings. They were ok, but had excessive wear probably because of a moment of oil starvation , the overlay was wiped out. They had not shingled and broken though. The journals were alright. Checked the clearance with new bearings and they were all in the .0020 range
2. Eliminated the ballance shafts: The rear one's bearing had worn down at the bottom, and was probably knocking a little on cold start ups.
3. replaced the valve lash adjusters with new 3s ones.

Results:
A quiet cold start engine. No tapping, knocking or anything
No matter what I do, the engine remains quiet.


Me friend has a car that the identical things were done to it and he still has a slight knock on cold start up that we attribute to a worn cylinder and piston slap.
Hope that this helps.