knocking problem

[wolf9304]

i have this knocking sound it sounded like the belt tensioner going out replace it sound still there went under the car to find the problem it sounds like its coming from somewhere around the starter but im not sure it sounds like at times someone is hitting the motor i think it might be internal but not sure engine sounds ok when pressing the gas runs ok any suggestions were i should look would help thanks in advance oh yeah its a 1994 oldsmobile cutlass supreme sl 3.1 and has about 125,000 miles the sound pretty much goes away while running the engine at higher rpms it just really happens while im idling

[xeroinfinity]

Welcome to AF!

What car/year/engine are we talking about ?
Mileage too ?

[randini667]

Does the sound pattern get faster when you have higher RPMs?

-Rand

[wolf9304]

when i recieved the car it wasnt making the noise ill see if i can remember whats going on so far the car ran out of gas still need to replace fuel filter valves were dirty i guess it had a strong gas odor when starting so i put a fuel system cleaner in no more gas problem bad fuel economy still i know i still have to replace the nuetral safety switch for the transmission oxygen sensor needs replaced and the head cover gasket next to the firewall needs replaced minor problems with this year of car and with the mileage now let me see if i can explain hopefully in better detail my problem when i start my car is when the sounds the worse it sound like someone hit it with a hammer and while its warming up the sound isnt so hard
once its warmed up or running for a bit it sounds like a lifter is going bad but thats not the problem the sound is coming from some where around the bottom of the engine towards the starter i checked the flywheel and dont see a problem on that bolts are tight on the starter like the picture shows im hitting my head on a wall i just cant seem to pin pont where the noise is coming from oh and if i run the engine at higher rpms thats what makes it sound like a lifter is going out when it goes back down to a lower idle the hitting sound comes back just not as strong as when it first started hopefully that helps explain it also is there any other way to pin point where the sound is coming from?

[xeroinfinity]

Sounds like you have some serious internal problems.

[caddyman379]

i would seek another car or engine. sounds like a bearing from what your describing, especially where it sounds like its from the lower part of the engine.

[wolf9304]

thats what ive been thinking but i was hoping on a different response thank you for the help it was very helpful

[randini667]

When my water pump went bad, the wear in the bearings caused some play in the shaft, so the fan inside would hit against the block making a loud noise. Maybe you can check your water pump shaft and bearing, or probe the water pump and see if it's making any noise? Just something that I experienced with my 93 Olds Ciera. Hope all works out for you.

-Randy

[xeroinfinity]

You could pull the oil pan and check the bearings on the mains and rods.

[wolf9304]

i dont think its the water pump when someone told me it might be the tensioner i took the belt off and ran the car it was still making the noise
im going to try and see if i can exchange it for something else i dont have the time to work on it to much its the only car i have hopefully it will last until then lol

[caddyman379]

cool, so now you can eliminate any of the belt driven acc. as the cause for the noise. so this leaves internal sources.


it might not be a bad idea to see if anythings loose, exhaust, etc.. but i doubt it.

exchanging or getting another car would be a great idea.

[wolf9304]

well i have finally found the problem the timing chain broke that was weird sound wasnt even coming from that area oh well i got rid of the car without spending mor money on it and got a 1998 ply. voyager and a 1988 f150 both very good running vechicals anyways thanks everybody for your help

[caddyman379]

The voyager may develop transmission issues not too far down the road. Good luck to you