RE: Loud metallic tapping from top of engine.

["Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@nwonline.net>]

>To: "Daniel Hussey" <dan_hussey@email.msn.com>
>From: "Doyt W. Echelberger" <Doyt@nwonline.net>
>Subject: RE: Loud metallic tapping from top of engine.
>In-Reply-To: <000601bf2ec3$51954260$c843153f@AF13XRX.rayovac.com>
>
>Same thing happened to me in my 86 4kcsq. Towed the car to garage because
I thought some engine part was going to come flying through the block or head.
>
>Turned out to be a loose bolt on the alternator that was allowing the
alternator to bang against a support on each spin of the pulley. New bolt
and nut fixed it.
>
>So,suspect a loose unit that is normally bolted to the engine, and which
is belt-driven.
>
>Doyt
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>At 11:11 AM 11/14/1999 -0600, you wrote:
>>> Hi all
>>>
>>> Nasty problem occurs this afternoon, I come of the dual carriageway having
>>> had a bit of a blast and I hear this loud mettalic tapping noise from the
>>> top of the engine. It happens most when you rev the car and the rev's drop
>>> back again. It sounds like a much louder version of hydraulic lifter
>>rattle
>>> (this almost like someone is tapping the cam cover with a small hammer),
>>> engine runs fine other than this.
>>>
>>
>>Hi Ian,  I had the exact same noise you describe on my 200TQ one time.   It
>>was very loud and would speed up as engine revs sped up.  I was not very
>>comfortable driving it, figuring it was a bad valve somethingorother, but I
>>was late for a study session and drove to my friends house (stupidly?) just
>>a few minutes away.  Could hear all this inside the car and over modified
>>exhaust!
>>
>>Well, ... and this is the wierd part... I was complaning the whole time
>>saying that this was it.  The engine was surely going to have to come apart
>>now as something was seriously wrong, etc, etc, etc.  Car drove ok, but was
>>easy on the revs and drove it home that night....  the noise was still
>>there, but was much quieter and less noticable.  Next time I drove the car,
>>the noise was gone completely and has never returned again (been months and
>>about 15K miles).
>>
>>So, my advice is be carefull with it, but maybee drive it a little bit more
>>and see if it goes away.  Mine did.  BTW, Anyone out there know what it
>>was???  Was surely not lifters.  I've never heard them get that loud and I
>>think they were improved in the 200's as I have not had a problem with them
>>at all.  It sounded more like a valve wrap!  I don't think it was a crank
>>bearing as Huw suggested though as it most definately was coming from the
>>top of the engine, but then again, I really don't know.  Just glad it's gone
>>now and I didn't have to rebuild the motor at a $$$$ cost to me!  :)
>>
>>Later,
>>Dan
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>