rattle in 97 escort

[calla1231]

97 lx escort wagon 170,000
Took off valve cover and replaced gasket and cleaned intake manifold over the weekend. it was throwing a code p0304 and trying to stall and had some sputtering on start up randomly. Before I did that it started having a rattle that would only happen when the car has warmed up and only when driving. To get it to rattle while it's sitting at idle I have to mess with the throttle. I thought maybe the cleaning would help. the rattle is still there. as far as the code p0304, I haven't driving it except through the neighborhood so I don't know if that's fixed. I don't want to drive it til I find out what the rattle is. it is at about the middle of the engine, driverside. I'm thinking it's something with the IMRC or camshaft position sensor. Maybe there is a loose spring in the IMRC or something? I had the car run while I had the valve cover off and the valves were working fine and it wasn't coming from those. I used an auto stethoscope but I can't pin point to an exact part, just an estimated location. maybe the camshaft sensor is going bad, maybe that's what caused the P0304 code since it's right there at the #4. any ideas?

[AzTumbleweed]

I may be wrong but I don't think the cam sensor has any moving parts so it should make any noise.

[calla1231]

Originally Posted by AzTumbleweed

I may be wrong but I don't think the cam sensor has any moving parts so it should make any noise.

I took it up the road to a place my dad uses all the time and 2 mechanics agreed it's not the sensor, but they don't know what it is

[AzTumbleweed]

I've seen several posts on this message board about engines dropping a valve guide. Usually the #4 cylinder.

[calla1231]

Originally Posted by AzTumbleweed

I've seen several posts on this message board about engines dropping a valve guide. Usually the #4 cylinder.

Currently I\sitting in my bonus room is the intake manifold, head and various parts that had to be removed to get to those. everything looks good, nothing broken or loose or any corrosion, nothing rattles. valves look good. I'm at a loss.

[calla1231]

Originally Posted by calla1231

Currently I\sitting in my bonus room is the intake manifold, head and various parts that had to be removed to get to those. everything looks good, nothing broken or loose or any corrosion, nothing rattles. valves look good. I'm at a loss.

before I put everything back together I will remove the springs with the valve seals and see if the guides are dropped or not. I haven't looked that far yet

[denisond3]

If you still have the engine head off of the car, I would take it to a machine shop, and see how much they charge for replacing the inlet valve seat. That is what normally breaks up and falls into the combustion chamber in pieces. In so doing it messes up the piston pretty bad.

Take out the lifters, make sure each of them in still held lined up with the cam, and that the rollers on the bottoms still turn freely.

[calla1231]

Originally Posted by denisond3

If you still have the engine head off of the car, I would take it to a machine shop, and see how much they charge for replacing the inlet valve seat. That is what normally breaks up and falls into the combustion chamber in pieces. In so doing it messes up the piston pretty bad.

Take out the lifters, make sure each of them in still held lined up with the cam, and that the rollers on the bottoms still turn freely.

I checked all valves, lifters, seats, pistons, everything. It was all in good shape. Put the car back together and now the rattle is gone. Go figure.