Specific question about engine noise

Dan25 · Post by **Dan25** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:16 pm

Hey guys, when I'm driving in the lower gears, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, at revs up to about 4000, I can hear a general ticking/tapping noise coming from the engine bay. However, the noise is either inaudible or non existent in idle, and at revs over 4000. Also, the car will stall in idle for the first 5 minutes when its cold, guessing that's the stepper motor. Also, when the engine is started, one of the belts is slipping. Pretty sure this is the fan belt so I will be having it tightened tomoro.

Ok, so these are the facts. Would someone please tell me what the ticking/tapping noise could be and if it is/is not related to either the stalling or belt issue? Thanks heaps.

sublime19 · Post by **sublime19** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:45 pm

Could be your tappets or I had a similar problem with my magna (minor prob), it was the fan in my case.

Dan25 · Post by **Dan25** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:11 pm

which fan? radiator fan?

FTEvolution · Post by **FTEvolution** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:15 am

If it stops when the car is at operating temperature, it is 99% your tappets.

It's like a disease that almost every V6 mid 90's Mitsi gets so it seems

Dan25 · Post by **Dan25** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:23 am

Yeah I did think about tappets, but my mate told me that if it were them then it would be a lot louder. It doesn't necessarily stop when the engine is warm, only I can't seem to hear it anymore once I take the revs over 4000 (ie I don't know whether it's gone away or if the general engine noising is drowning it out). Also, I thought you could hear tappets at idle...

Post by **Bennoz** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:31 am

There is not only tappets, but there are also 12 hydraulic lifters in the Mivec engine. They are used to keep the Mivec rockers arms against the cam lobes when not being used. They can gum up & be noisy sometimes too. There are certain products you can use to flush the engine oil (& burnt on old oil that has bound to the hydraulic lifter sleeves) that may alleviate the problem.

Dan25 · Post by **Dan25** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:35 am

Thanks Bennoz. My dad is coming over today to look at my car for the first time. He knows quite a lot about mechanics so I will definitely pass that on to him and see what he thinks.

I need to get some pics up of my baby... It's been raining all week so I haven't been able to lol.

Valandis91 · Post by **Valandis91** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:39 am

i have this problem as well!
what do i get?

FTEvolution · Post by **FTEvolution** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 9:32 am

Oops, never been inside the heads... I thought tappets = lifters... my bad

Meant Lifters