Rattle Rattle Rattle

[Seventynine]

what's your valve clearances like?

I'd give the head a once over, check for stuck/sticky valves. clearances. get the intake off and check to see if they're all closing fully.

also, when you say "more of a clack" would make me think a blowing exhaust close to the head, check manifold/gaskets etc.

what colour were the plugs when you took them out? if it's running slightly lean you could have burnt an exhaust manifold gasket out

[BumbleBeat]

Thanks 79. Haven't had the valve cover off yet. Plugs are dark, rich if anything. Don't know how old they are, just got the car. The thing about valvetrain, I can't see how valve noise would occur when driving in gear, but not occur by just revving the engine to the same rpm while not it gear.

[Andrew Fisher]

Both Beats I've had have had an annoying rattle at about 2800 - 3000 rpm, especially on increasing revs. The only cure is driving it harder so the period affected lasts less.

Very annoying in slow traffic. Sorry can't help more sounds like a clutch issue (problem 2) to me.

Good luck! The other option is to get a VERY LOUD STEREO.

[BumbleBeat]

Thanks Andrew. I'm thinking all 3. Clutch, loud stereo, drive hard. That should do it.

[old'uns]

mines had a 'rattle' or 'whine' of some sorts for 3-4 yrs now.
i've always thought it's backlash or worn bearings in the 'box?
when replacing the aux belts i spun the alternator and AC by hand, nothing too loud to suggest bearings on those

loud stereo is a good call .....new HU, new component door speakers along with tweeters in pods alongside 2 other smaller ones and a big black box behind the passenger seat sorted it........

[Andrew Fisher]

(You must understand, I know nothing)

At least it's on the transmission side. Are you sure it's not something like a cv joint boot clip or something getting physically free and spinning round and clattering on something?

Has the car been used much? I found that the latest one I've got had hardly done anything or been properly lubricated for ages, and it loosened up quite well with a bit of honest use.

Please post some more pictures! I think you could fit two in the back of your truck.

[BumbleBeat]

Ha ha old'uns, it probably doesn't take a lot of stereo to be head banging loud with such a small interior!

Andrew, I don't think it could be cv joint related because it tracks with engine rpm, not kph. I have a clutch on order, we'll see what she looks like when I open her up.

[Seventynine]

Thanks 79. Haven't had the valve cover off yet. Plugs are dark, rich if anything. Don't know how old they are, just got the car. The thing about valvetrain, I can't see how valve noise would occur when driving in gear, but not occur by just revving the engine to the same rpm while not it gear.

Engine load

[BumbleBeat]

The load doesn't change appreciably on the valve train. Note, too, that the rattle occurs under light load. Heavy throttle (load) takes it away, but it also goes away by coasting in gear. It seems to me it has to be clutch or transmission. Both of those see an increased load whether by increasing the throttle or lifting the throttle. When lifting, the load is backwards--the tires are forcing the transmission to spin against an engine that doesn't want to. I'll find out soon I expect, I'm almost done with the clutch replacement....

[BumbleBeat]

The clutch is in. The first rattle is gone, the second one (the scary one) is not, sigh. Once I saw the clutch I didn't expect it to fix the second one. The four compression spring in the disk were loose (the normal cause of the annoying rattle), but everything else was solid. The input shaft to the transmission was also solid, I couldn't detect any play in it. Not sure where I'll look next.

[old'uns]

not many things left then?
AC compressor / alternator bearings
layshaft/end bearings etc in the box of magic tricks

[Andrew Fisher]

The fact that it goes away when you press the clutch down, there is a load of good gear oil in the box isn't there?