Resolved Loud rattling when engine is on

[ohlegend]

SO I just got done putting on my new rotors, pads and SS lines. I turn the car on and let it idle, rev it up to 5k, and it sounds like something is clanging around. I turn it off and back on and it still does it. So I pull the intake and exhaust manifold off to see if it is the turbo (also pulled off lower IC pipe)... nope still made the clanking sound. so I pulled the spark plugs and looked inside, no pieces of valves. I can see all of the exhaust valves. So I put the plugs back in and verified timing...timing is spot on. I crank the car with no spark plug wires on, no sound. Any ideas?

 

[luv2rallye]

Did you remove all accessory belts to eliminate those items?

 

[ohlegend]

Yes. I only have timing belt, alt belt, and PS belt.
Im thinking my BS bearing is shot. It doesnt feel like a rod bearing.
The BS belt broke last fall and I didnt worry about it. I just left it off. I didnt drive the car until June, when I got back from basic. Maybe the BS got locked up?

 

[2fast2evo]

Put a stethoscope up to it to see where the noise is coming from if it's internal. Why would it just start doing it after brake work, I wonder? Have you done anything else to the engine, or was this just totally spontaneous? How long had you been driving it with the missing BS belt?

 

[ohlegend]

This was spontaneous... I probably drove it 30 miles since the belt broke.

 

[DSMattitude]

Do you know WHY the balance shafts belt broke? I would suggest looking at the crank while someone pushed the clutch. My old 95 gsx broke the balance shaft belt during a shift one time. It also killed the crank angle sensor. I replaced both, only to have the best break again and followed by rods knocking. My issue was crano walk, I hope yours is not.

 

[GymHobo]

if its a 7 bolt engine, it could be crank walk. They are more prone to this than the 6 bolts

 

[2fast2evo]

Was there ample oil in it after it sitting so long? Also check to see if the sound is going at the same pace as the engine revs or if it is going ~2x as fast. That differentiates bottom end from top end noise. Maybe post a sound clip as well to get a better set of opinions. In the meantime, minimize any use of the car period. I went through this rigmarole recently diagnosing a noise and the cause was quite ugly indeed (wrist pins ) even though everyone I spoke to thought it was only minor (lifters) at first. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ohlegend]

It would be hard to believe that it is crank walk. There is only 100mi on the new block. I am going to tear it apart and have a look. I'm hoping it is a balance shaft...

Yes there was ample oil still in it.

If the sound is going 2x as fast, is that top or bottom?

 

[ohlegend]

Good news everyone! No shot bearings, no crankwalk. the 4 bolts on the flywheel (1st pic) were loose and they were hitting the flywheel check plate (pic2) Making a horrible rattle. As I was driving home today, it hit me, this happened before. So I dropped my oil pan and sure enough they (all 4) were loose. Can anyone tell me the proper bolt size? - just to make sure the correct ones are in it. ALSO as I was checking the rods, bearings, and for crankwalk I noticed the I have no balance shafts. (Pic 3 is the rear balance shaft. where oil pump is to the right)

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[darknezz7]

so it has a bsek then

did you put loctite on the flexplate bolts? get some oem or arps, those look like hardware store..

while the oil pan is off I would still check the thrust end play for the heck of it, $8 feeler gauges at oreillys if you dont have them

skip to 4:00

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[DSMattitude]

Good to hear! Locktight is definitely a good idea, but i also found some sweet lock washers called Nord lock. They are fairly thick, so they may not work in this application. But i have been using them everywhere else

 

[2fast2evo]

Good to know! A sanity check is always good to do especially if you find nothing serious wrong And for the record, yes, if tapping noises are 2x as fast as engine RPM (among other things) it is often top end/non-internal noise. Just for future reference

 

[ohlegend]

So the genius who rebuilt the lower end before I got it decided to put the balance shaft belt on...??? WHY? It does nothing and if it were to brake it could take out the engine... luckily it didn't take out the engine when mine broke.

 

[Boobla]

Had a fly wheel come loose on a mk4 jetta, not Kool it destroyed my engine and tranny in just a few shifts.
I'm glad you found it in time, keep drive'n her bud