'98 Eclipse RS Engine Knock/Noise (Video)

[r4mejor]

Have a 98 Eclipse RS w/ 150k miles and an engine noise/knock. Engine is quiet until around 3k rpm. I pulled each spark plug one at a time to see if the noise changed, but I didn't really notice a difference. In my opinion it sounds like it is coming from the timing belt side of the motor towards the top.

YouTube - 98 Eclipse RS Engine Knocking

Any ideas??

I don't need the car anymore and it just sits in my garage so if anyone in Socal wants to buy a project let me know??

 

[TalonEsi_96]

It sounds like it is probably a lifter that's going out if you hear it towards the top of the engine.. to check just take off your valve cover and push down on each rocker if any of the lifters are bad they would be soft or kinda squishy... if thats not your problem then it would probably be your rod bearings or main bearings

 

[Venom1515]

is it an automatic?

 

[r4mejor]

There is no real power loss or performance issues. Just the knocking noise around 3-4k rpm, anything above or below its quiet.

It's a 5 speed manual.

Probably going to inspect the timing belt, I think its original with 150k miles on it. If that looks ok then i'll pull the valve cover off.

Any other ideas?

 

[quayzar590awd]

150 k on a timing belt. DO NOT RUN THAT CAR WITH A BELT THATS 150k old. It sounds like a lifter. Go buy a bottle of lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer and take the valve cover off and dump that golden wonder liquid on your lifters and the rest of it into the oil. DONT OVERFILL. Start it let it come to temp and see if it goes away. If not your rod or main bearings are going bad. Lucas wont fix anything but it will buy you some time.

 

[r4mejor]

The first owner might have replaced the timing belt, I bought it with 65k on it.

I have half a bottle of Lucas Oil Stabilizer in it right now, haven't noticed a change.

 

[tec_41]

The first owner might have replaced the timing belt, I bought it with 65k on it.

Even then, with 150k on it now it's due for another change...If that belt snaps/jumps you're engine goes kaput.

 

[quayzar590awd]

I change ALL my timing parts after 59000 miles no matter what. I have NEVER HAD A TIMING BELT FAILURE for that exact reason. Piston slapping valves is not very fun. I see there is lucas in it already your rod or main bearing may be goind bad. Test the lifters for slack or play.

 

[r4mejor]

So took the valve cover off today...everything looked super clean, way better than I was expecting. All the rockers were solid too, couldn't find ANY play in any of them.

Recap:
- Pulling spark plugs one at a time didn't change the sound
- Valve rockers are solid
- Noise comes from the top of the engine

 

[quayzar590awd]

pour lucas right on the lifters they may feel tight but it takes a bit of force to make them work. There is really nothing else in the head that would make that sound. Maybe you have a burnt valve. My bro popped the engine is his wrx a few months back. He got a new OEM short block and got the heads decked and cleaned but not inspected. When we got it back together primed her and fired her up she made a similar sound but it is very very faint. I personally have stomped the dog piss out of that car and the valve does not hurt the performance nearly at all its just annoying to know you have a tick on a three thousand dollar engine that has 1500 miles now.. lucas made it almost go away in his case. We are replacing the cams and valve train this winter. The dealer said he can drive it to the moon and back and it wouldnt hurt a thing. I told him that but he didnt believe me. And our dad worked for mitsu and chrysler as an engineer for 25 years and he wouldnt listen to him either.