Odd LOUD tap noise goes away after 3,000

1993 Rodeo V6 157K miles

It's pretty damn loud. MUCH louder than any valve tick I have ever heard...but too high pitched to be lower end.

Dumped oil and it's clean, no metal flakes. Pulled plugs and they are perfect. No signs of damage.

It's really odd. at idle it's LOUD. as you increase rpm so does the noise. Once it hits 3000rpm it shuts off like a switch. once it drops below 3K it comes back on like a switch. No gradual from loud to soft to gone or gone to soft to loud. It's Loud/Gone...Gone/Loud...

Just odd....

This definately sounds like a bad timing belt tensioner. When the spring weakens with age on these, the tensioner pulley bangs against it's stops and/or T-belt cover causing this noise, mostly at low RPM's. You will loose your T-belt eventually if you let this go. Not major tho- since this is not a valve crasher engine. While your in there, replace the water pump along w/ the t-belt & full tensioner assembly. About $300 in parts. Lots of $$ in labor if you have it done. Around 3-5hrs labor. G/luck
Joel

Damn...You hit it on the nose...THANKS!
The tensioner could be pushed in by hand. Took the front covers off and started it and she was flapping around. Did Belt, tensioner, pulley and water pump...She's all better now!

Good Call!

On a 1993 Is it 2 belts or one?

Only 1 timing belt on a 93, V6, 3.2L