VTS Cam Rattle

1. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

   #1 2nd September 2006, 15:40

   Right guys,
   
   Ive just got the new cylinder block onto the head and the engine in the bay, all wired up and plumbed in. Now ive got a few problems but this thread is concentrating on the rattle because thats the most serious.
   
   The engine starts and runs, tick over is ok and it does rev. However at about 2.5k there is a serious rattle coming from the head of the engine, if i rev above 3k it goes away and anything below 2.5k it dosnt rattle. It sounds like a VERY tappy rocker tappet but as well all know the VTS uses hydraulic tappets. Im assuming its the cam rattling for some reason or a tappet, im not sure.
   
   Im going to take the rocker covers off and have a look but im not too sure what to actually look for.
   
   Can anyone help me out with ideas, advice etc?
   
   Thanks
2. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

   #2 2nd September 2006, 19:17

   Need help with this guys.
   
   Btw it rattles even when the car is at a stand still and not in gear.
   
   Im 99% certain its coming from the cams or the cylinder head, ive taken the rocker covers off and everything looks fine, but the rattle is still there.
   
   Come on guys, someone must have come accross this before? The performance of the engine isnt effected. It runs sweet now, revs freely etc. Just cant figure out where this knock is coming from?
3. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

   #3 2nd September 2006, 20:49

   i have this prob at the min. i have changed followers, tensioner, idler, belt and have got water pump which i am going to change tomorrow.
   mine rattles throughout the whole rev range though. its pissing m e off. only started happening last week.
4. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

   #4 3rd September 2006, 01:51

   let me know what the deal is mate.
   
   Im gonnna get sump off 2moz and see if the big end shells are off.
   
   Jim
5. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

   #5 3rd September 2006, 11:44

   does your sound like internal damage?
   
   im sure it isnt internal, going to do the water pump in a min so will let you know how it goes.
6. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

   #6 3rd September 2006, 11:47

   mine sounds as if somethings catching inside the engine. let me know if the water pump sorts it out for you.
7. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

   #7 3rd September 2006, 11:47

   does it make a 'whirr' on the over-run? when you let off the throttle?
8. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

   #8 3rd September 2006, 14:34

   nah mate it dosnt do that.
   
   i think it might be the valve lifters. im going to investigate more.
   
   ill keep you posted.
9. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

   #9 3rd September 2006, 15:00

   ok, well, mi've just got the new pump in. need to get the belt back on and see how it goes.
   
   do you know about the 'screw driver test' to see which lifter is fooked?
10. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

    #10 3rd September 2006, 16:38

    new water pump still hasn't fixed it. has to be something from the bottom end as everything else has been changed.
    
    could be woodruff key?
11. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

    #11 3rd September 2006, 17:15

    hmmm, get ur sump off mate and see if anythings loose. Thats what ive done and its all ffine down there.
    
    Whats the screw driver test?
12. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

    #12 3rd September 2006, 19:41

    Ive taken the sump off and inspected the crank, bearings, con rods etc etc. Its all fine and in working condition. I am 100% sure its the cylinder head thats making the noise and im 95% sure the noise is coming from inside of the inlet cam cover. Its quite loud and very noticable at 2.5k. The tapping / rattling / knocking speeds up when reved and slows down when de-reving. Weve taken the lifters (hydraulic tappets) out from both cams and there all ok i think as i cant press them in, there solid. What other symptoms of a fucked lifter tappet are there?
    
    The only thing i can think of now is that a couple of them are been starved of oil, but theres oil around them and abit in them when i took them out. So i dont know. How can i tell?
    
    Has anyone got any more ideas as im well and truely stuck?
    
    Thanks
    
    Jim
13. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

    #13 3rd September 2006, 19:58

    the middle of the lifter would prob fall out if it was fucked. mine is the same when, gets louder with engine speed.
    its pissing me off a bit, i wish something would break sop i could fix it!!!!
    going to ma mates garage this week to see if he can find anything.
    
    ive tried the lifters on mine, even fitted new ones and it didnt change anything.
14. jim_cliff11 L-plater Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 33

    #14 6th September 2006, 16:16

    Fitted the followers in guys and its still tapping and rattling like a twat.
    
    Its all through the rev range and its very loud. The car is powerless and stalls at junctions when i stop and press the clutch in.
    
    Ive spoken 2 some lads who build rallye cars and they say a bent cam is very rare. So it could be a bent valve in the cylinder the water was in when my bottom end blew. That could be causing the rattle and the power loss right?
    
    What do you think guys?
15. CampDavid Saxperience Post Whore Joined: May 2006 Bedford Posts: 7457 Saxo VTS Peugeot 306 GTI-6 Astra SRI

    #15 6th September 2006, 16:54

    Probably isn't, but have you checked the sparks, its worth double checking that they're tight as they do come loose A LOT on mine
16. vtgrrrs Newbie Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 2

    #16 17th December 2006, 22:40

    Sorry to bring this back, but did you find out what was causing this? Mine has a very similiar prob (rattles at 3100 revs in gear and stops rattling at about 3400). Bit annoying!
17. Steve Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2005 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 19910 CW Honda Integra DC5

    #17 8th August 2007, 19:13

    get this mofo bumped what was it williams, mine started tapping badly just on idle really!
18. mattyk Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 St Helens Posts: 190 03 Saxo VTR

    #18 8th August 2007, 21:44

    probably a whole world away. but mine was rattling very badly at 2k and all the way down the rev range when off the throttle
    
    turns out it was the bracket on the exhaust near the front had snapped off and was ratteling against the engine
    
    worth a check as it free