Engine Noise / Ticking, Knocking, Tapping MERGED

[eric489]

All threads with vague titles regarding engine bay noises are now merged HERE.

If you honestly feel we can diagnose an internal engine problem from a poor description or low-quality video / audio sample, give it a shot.


I own a 1997 gst spyder and there is a ticking noise comming fron the engine. It comes and goes and it mostly sounds bad at idle. I have 97,000 miles on it and i change the oil regularly. I changed it about 2000 miles ago I need help to fix the problem.

 

[jlude2000]

Ok try to stick with me hear, i am new to the DSM scene. I recently bought a 1995 Eagle Talon TSI, AWD, AUTO with 195,000 miles!. When i bought the car it had many small problems including numerus exhaust leaks and lack of matince things like spark plugs,wires,fuel filter. I have since done everything as far as tune up goes and the car runs awsome! Very smooth at idle, turbo spools nicly but...... When the motor is reved up there is this loud humming and viberating noise coming from the timing belt side. This is even worse when it is being driven. As soon as the car gets to 4000rpms and above the vibration is crazy. I let off the gas in fear of blowing somthing up. The car also does seem to lack power above 4000rpms. What could this be? I dont think it is crank walk because most people say when you get crank walk its a ticking sound. There is no tick from the motor at all. Any input is appreceated

 

[wishgst]

could be the motor mount right next to the timing belt. makes sense from everything u said

 

[jlude2000]

Checked that and it seams tight. Also will that cause the car to loose power?

 

[wishgst]

it shouldn't. i don't see why it would. i'd check the other mounts too for the hell of it. might seem like its coming from the timing belt but could be elsewhere

 

[jlude2000]

I checked them all and replaced two of them when i did the tune up, they where shot. I am sure its coming from the t-belt area. At first i thought it was the trans to blame but now im sure is something on the motor because it does it when im driving or just siting and reving it. And it is defenetly coming from the T-belt side of the motor.

 

[jlude2000]

I Got a 1995 Eagle Talon TSI, AWD, Auto with 194000 miles. I just recently got the car and did all the tune up stuff, plugs,wires,fuel oil air filter, fixed all exhaust leaks, replaced motor mounts trans filter and flush. The car runs awsome at idle but.... when the motors is reved up it has thes relly loug vibrating/humming noise coming from the timing belt side of the motor. It does it when i just rev the car or when i drive it. when i drive it at 4000rpms it gets so bad i fear somethig is going to blow up so i let go. it seams to have no power after 4000rpms. it makes good boost @ 12-13 psi as of now im stumped. Any help is appreceated!

 

[No_Skillz]

Check up on your balance shaft belt recently? I just found mine shredded during a water pump change. "Just" as in about 7 hours ago. Boy that was a fun 6 hours.

 

[jlude2000]

what was your car doing that caused you to check your balance shaft belt? what does a bad balance shaft cause as far as symptoms

 

[crensinivon]

Did you replace the timing belt all associated pulleys and tensioner?

 

[delta448]

Check the harmonic damper and the balance shaft belt. Something is probably out of balance.

If you've replaced the b-shaft belt or timing belt recently you need to make sure you have the shafts in the right phase with each other and the crank.

 

[bluetlr2001]

As stated above check your harmonic balancer. Our cars have a bad problem of them coming apart. The outer ring were the belts set will seperate from the rubber in the middle of the balancer. Just take a look at it and see if it will slide back and forth.

 

[No_Skillz]

It's barely noticeable. Slightly more vibration through the steering wheel and shift knob at ~3000rpm+. I was changing my waterpump and when I took off my timing belt I happened to see shredded pieces of balance shaft belt. I was lucky that none of it escaped to take out my timing belt.

 

[wibblersnatch]

Gonna have to agree with the balance shaft. When their not timed right they'll cause a lot of vibration at higher rpm's like your describing. Pull the timing cover off and to a timing and balance shaft belt job, it probably needs one anyway.

 

[jlude2000]

Will the harmonic balncer going out cause relly bad vibration when driving in any RPM above 4000? iv read that if the balnce shaft is out of allignment it will cause bad low rpm vibration but it smooths out at high rpms. And no i have not gone into the timing belt area myself yet.

 

[jlude2000]

OK im thinking that iv narowed it down to eather a balance shaft issue or harmonic balancer problem. pulling off the t-belt cover will revel alot. how hard is doing the timing belt and balnce shaft belt on these cars? iv done it on my 2000 honda prelude and there where marks on the blance shaft sprocket and all the timing components. made it very easy. Will this be just as easy?

 

[wibblersnatch]

Like all things they get easier the more you do them. The only thing i can tell you is to read over the vfaq a few times, possibly buy a manual. Oh and try to come across a quarter inch drive ratchet and ten socket. Makes the timing belt cover a little easier. Other than lining all the marks up the toughest part is putting tension on the tensioner pulley. Before i bought the right tools i was using a hurst shifter from an eighties chevy truck . Be creative. Oh, and bring a friend.

 

[Red95Gs-t]

if you have a balance shaft that has snapped..will you get a random clunking noise at idle?
car has a brand new bottom end with 140 miles on it and now have a horrible clunking noise at idle.

Thanks.
Jared

 

[GSpikeX]

I have heard that your car will just a have a bit more vibration, as far as the clunking noise you may have bigger problems then that man.

 

[bluegs03]

it might be a balance shaft but its more likely rod or main knock as the previous poster indicated. I would get it checked out either way its something that needs to be taken care of

 

[Red95Gs-t]

thanks for the advise guys..im a rookie dsmer.
not going to hide that and pretend to know what im doing.
but from past experiences with cars if its a knock isnt there a persistant knock noise with the stoke of the engine?
this is just a random noise that just doesnt sound really like a knock. though it is plenty loud.

 

[talontsi98]

I am looking at a car. When I test drove it, it make a metal to metal sound on the frond drivers side. It does it up to about 30mph and it does not matter which way you turn. It grinds when you turn left, right or go up or down hills. Could this be a bad tie rod or wheel bearing?

 

[schroder]

Could it be the brakes? If its on all the time, without much description from what your saying, it could be that the pads, and probably now the rotors, need to be replaced. Where exactly is it coming from though? Just the drivers side? Towards the front, under you, the more information you can give the better it would help us brother. Thanks man!

 

[talontsi98]

It coming from the front driver tire only. You can hear it between 10mph and 40mph. Rpm's does'nt make any difference. And the sound sounds like brake rotor.

 

[No_Skillz]

How long has it been sitting? If there is any rust on the rotor it will cause a noise like you are describing. However, a couple hard stops will polish it right off.

To check if caliper is siezed, go for a drive and check to see if there is a substantial difference in heat being emanated from the left side and right side brakes.

 

[Red95Gs-t]

So did some checks today and im almost positive it isnt a knock.
Found my harmonic balancer pulley was loose..that solved some of the problem.
still this clunking noise..seems to be coming from top towards the rear of the motor.
really need some help here guys.

Thanks
Jared.