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....
__________________ World's Quickest 3/S FWD and AWD
FIRST 3S to break 140mph
World's Quickest and Fastest FWD
3SX T2 (FWD) 10.19 @ 140-FIRST and only FWD 3S to break 10's
3SX T4 (AWD) World Record holder 9.66 @ 139
Best 60'-1.380
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!
__________________ World's Quickest 3/S FWD and AWD
FIRST 3S to break 140mph
World's Quickest and Fastest FWD
3SX T2 (FWD) 10.19 @ 140-FIRST and only FWD 3S to break 10's
3SX T4 (AWD) World Record holder 9.66 @ 139
Best 60'-1.380
