ginding/rattling after timing adjustment

[bigbro6785]

My timing was off one tooth so I took it to a well known shop here to get it fixed. Before I left the shop i checked to see if the timing was correct but i see that all four lines still do not line up. I argue and argue with the owner but he swears that the timing is right and says i can come back tomorrow and have them re-do it and see for myself how they did it. Whatever, i decide to take my car home. i get half way home any I start to hear a grinding/rattleing noise coming from the engine. I listen from under the hood and it sounds like it is coming from under the valve cover on the intake cam side. Its not to noticable at idle but is loud when i rev the engine at all. Any idea what this could be? Bent valves maybe?

Another question. When i check the timing marks I make sure that all 4 marks line up on the cam gears with a straight edge. The left, and 2 center marks line up, but the right mark is one tooth above the straight edge. Am I correct in thinking that the timing is off one tooth?

 

[mephist0]

first things first, if you knew the timing wasn't right you shouldn't had driven it period, hope u didn't mess anything up, just take it back to those guys and have them check it again

 

[bigbro6785]

Thats the thing, I saw that the timing was off but they argued with me saying it was fine. They really pissed me off and were being dicks. Can anyone answer the questions I have?

 

[oldman]

Didn't I already answer your question?

 

[bigbro6785]

Didn't I already answer your question?

ya i think your the one answering my questions on another forum.

My guess is that I have bent valves, but wouldnt the valves bend and start making this loud noise right when the engine starts? I didnt hear the noise until i drove the car about 10 miles...

 

[bigbro6785]

Ok, i dont have time to take off the lower timing belt cover to be sure that the engine is at tdc, but i used the "pencil in cylinder #1" trick to get it at tdc and the timing marks seem to line up. I even put a thin screw drive between the teeth and the timing marks line up right where the valve cover meets the head. So if my timing is right, what could have caused my motor to suddenly start making that grindind/ticking noise (that im thinking is a bent valve)? Could having the timing off for so long and then fixing it cause something in the engine to fail? That might be a dumb question but im just trying to figure out what happened. Thanks.

 

[oldman]

Could having the timing off for so long and then fixing it cause something in the engine to fail?

No, having one tooth off won't really hurt anything physically. This is what I would do.

1. Perform a compression test.

2. Call the shop and NICELY ask them what was removed and reinstalled during the process.

 

[bigbro6785]

My compression tester is leaking so im going to have to buy a new one. Ill try to get that tomorrow. When I asked them exactly what they did they said they took off the tbelt, took off the tensioner (they said it was on backwards. It that possible?), lined up and crank mark and cam marks, and then re-installed everything.

Im gonna stop posting on both forums cause it seems like you are the only one answering my questions. Thanks Oldman

 

[oldman]

(they said it was on backwards. It that possible?)

ding ding ding!!!! I hope they didn't put it back on backwards. Read the timing vfaq I linked you tonight, follow directions and remove the lower cover tomorrow, have a camera ready so we can re-inspect their work.

 

[bigbro6785]

alright ill try to do that tonight when I get off of work. I might have to wait until friday tho because i get out of work at noon. Ill post those pics as soon as i can. Thanks.

 

[dsm91TalonTSi]

hmm, kinda sounds like the problem i had after i had a guy install my sbr stage 1 block

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265615

i hope that its not as bad for you as it was for me

 

[bigbro6785]

Finally got the car to a shop and it turns out that the grinding noise it from the lower timing cover rubbing on somthing ( I feel stupid for not double checking that ). They are also checking out why my car is so slow and he said he thinks it is an electrical problem but needs to check it more today. Not sure what that could be. Hope I find out soon and have my car finally running good!!