scratchy noise coming from engine bay

[erc's_gsx]

alright i have this problem with my gsx where whenever i accelerate, i hear a scratchy noise, a loose chain noise of some sort in my engine bay. i hear it on the passenger side. this happens mainly when i try to accelerate and whenever im in low rpm's like somewhere below 2500 rpms at the most. i've heard someone say that it can be the harmonic balancer? can anyone help me on this as it gets annoying and/or something serious might be wrong here, thanx

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
...
a loose chain noise of some sort in my engine bay. i hear it on the passenger side. this happens mainly when i try to accelerate and whenever im in low rpm's like somewhere below 2500 rpms at the most. i've heard someone say that it can be the harmonic balancer? can anyone help me on this as it gets annoying and/or something serious might be wrong here, thanx

Noises are so subjective it's sometimes impossible to diagnose without a professional being in the car with you. There are no chains so it can't be that, and yes it could be the harmonic balancer. An up close and personal visual inspection of the rubber is needed. You can grab the pulley at 3:00 and 9:00 and try to see if it moves. In a darkened environment you can watch the pulley rotate using a flashlight to see if it's wobbling. It should do this without the car being driven. If it only happens when the car is being driven then chances are it's not engine related but possibly a C/V joint.

Wait, possibly pinging from cheap gasoline. Knock sensor failure? Do you have a CE light flashing on the dash?

Cheers,
GTM

 

[erc's_gsx]

i was relating the sound with clashing chains, i will inspect the pulleys later tonight. the highest octane rating we have is a 90 and this is what i use which is premium unleaded, this is the best gas i can get in town. how can i tell of a failing knock sensor? im pretty sure the symptoms are in the engine bay, heat shields of some sort maybe? my check engine light doesnt flicker on and off, but is always on because of a test pipe i've added on.

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
i was relating the sound with clashing chains, i will inspect the pulleys later tonight. the highest octane rating we have is a 90 and this is what i use which is premium unleaded, this is the best gas i can get in town. how can i tell of a failing knock sensor? im pretty sure the symptoms are in the engine bay, heat shields of some sort maybe? my check engine light doesnt flicker on and off, but is always on because of a test pipe i've added on.

Heat shields could cause this, you can sometimes shove tightly wadded up used/new aluminum foil inside a heat shield and see if the noise changes without removeing them. My son uses Calif. regular at 87 and rarely has ever had a ping. I have reported gas stations for mixing lower grade with the high octane when one of my own cars which was tweaked to the edge started pinging.

There is just no substitute for having someone drive the car while you hang your head out the window or crawl around the back seat.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[erc's_gsx]

i'll have one of my friends stick his head out the window while i go up a hill at around 2,XXX RPM's, which is where the noise starts to actually start. could it also be that the engine speed is too slow when i go up a hill and is causing a noise or a vibration that is causing the rattling noise? i think that this might be the problem, but it has never happened before until recently which is why i am concerned about the noise, thanx

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
...
i go up a hill at around 2,XXX RPM's, which is where the noise starts to actually start. could it also be that the engine speed is too slow when i go up a hill and is causing a noise or a vibration that is causing the rattling noise? i think that this might be the problem, but it has never happened before until recently which is why i am concerned about the noise, thanx

I would think 2,000-2,500 would be too low. I don't have a torque curve graph in front of me but I think you are needing to shift to a lower gear to keep the engine happy and in the power band. Lugging an engine is very hard on the rod bearings, combine that with pinging and you are just asking for trouble. I don't know the hill, but I'd suggest 3,200 minimum for most any hill. Make your test they way you have and then another test at the 3,200 rpm. Let us know the results.

Not meaning to pry or be insulting, is this your first car with a stick shift? We all had to learn to crawl before we learned to walk.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[erc's_gsx]

no, this isnt my first manual car, maybe the reason why im not getting any power is because my clutch is giving out on me, my clutch is slipping pretty bad, therefore im not getting any power from it whenever i give it some gas when i go up the hill. i know that around 2,500 rpm it is alright to go up a hill unless its really steep, in this case the street is just an uphill and not a steep hill which my car should be able to climb easily. if i do go up the hill in 2nd gear, 3200 rpm it wouldnt make the sound, but if i go up the hill in 3rd gear in the same rpm, the car would make the scratchy noise as if it is asking for more power from the engine. thanx

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
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my clutch is slipping pretty bad, therefore im not getting any power from it whenever i give it some gas when i go up the hill.
...

Well if your clutch is slipping you _sure_ don't need to be in a higher gear. From everything you have said I'm more certain than ever the engine is pinging. If you are not driving a lot you could buy some gasoline additive, since the fuel pump is recirculating you should see a change with a few minutes IF my diagonosis is correct.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[erc's_gsx]

Originally posted by GTM
Well if your clutch is slipping you _sure_ don't need to be in a higher gear. From everything you have said I'm more certain than ever the engine is pinging. If you are not driving a lot you could buy some gasoline additive, since the fuel pump is recirculating you should see a change with a few minutes IF my diagonosis is correct.

Cheers,
GTM

wat do u mean when u say that the engine is pinging? im getting my clutch replaced with a feramic clutch probably this weekend. wat are some good gasoline additive products that i can get?

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
wat do u mean when u say that the engine is pinging? im getting my clutch replaced with a feramic clutch probably this weekend. wat are some good gasoline additive products that i can get?

Back in the olden days of giant V8s the sound was ping ping ping~ hence the name. It;s the same as knocking (but not that of rods) or detonation. It's frequently caused when you get a hot spot which glows and starts the ignition. Along comes the spark which has it's own flame front and the 2 collide something like clapping you hands. Of course this just makes things hotter since the glowing spot is too far in advance and is pushing the piston back down before it gets on the power stroke. The knocking comes from the hot spot being close to the side of the piston (or in the combustion chamber) which hits the piston on one side and then the spark hits the other and kicks the piston hard up against the cylinder wall.
This is very hard on pistons and rod bearings, if you continue to let it happen you can burn a hole right thorugh the piston or hammer the rod bearings out of the engine.

This is an educated _guess_ based on the info you have provided. The octane booster will help if that's what it is. I don't have a brand name to suggest but any well known brand will do. You should have a professional listen to the sound for as previously mentioned sounds are different to different people. If the octane booster doesn't make an improvment and it's confirmed to be pinging then the knock sensor may be at fault. After that then ignition timing is suspect.

Getting the clutch replaced may hide the problem for you will be able to keep the rpm higher and not lug the engine down.

Cheers,
GTM

 

[erc's_gsx]

after doing my clutch install and everything, do u think i should get my knock sensor and ignition timing checked? and are there anything else that i might look into checking just in case?

 

[GTM]

Originally posted by erc's_gsx
after doing my clutch install and everything, do u think i should get my knock sensor and ignition timing checked? and are there anything else that i might look into checking just in case?

Actually I'd rather see you get the "sound" diagnosed correctly, then the clutch. If a shop is doing the clutch they may have someone who can go for a spin around the block and give a better idea of the problem. A timing issue or knock problem can be sorted out once the clutch is done.

Cheers,
GTM