Weird knocking noise

[joseph_a21]

I bought a '98 Neon from an auction and at that time I replace everything that needed to be serviced but heard a small knocking noise only at high reving in park. Now its almost a year later and when I start the car I hear lots of loud knocking and while I drive it sounds like its a deisel engine. I dont know if the timing belt or water pump has been replaced. I dont want to spend alot of money to change those if there is no problem with it. Unfortunately it is hard to take so much apart just to check the belt. I never noticed any power loss from the time I bought it so I dont know what I should do. If anyone knows or has been in this situation let me know what I can do. Oh yeah its just over 230km on it Thanks in advance.

[KatWoman]

That doesn't sound very good. It could be a number of things. I know as Neon motors age they get a little bit of valve ticking, but what you descibe sounds worse. I would get it checked out ASAP. If the costs to repair are too much you can get a junkyard motor with lower mileage on it. I did that when mine blew (water pump seized).

[Polygon]

It sounds to me like your engine has had it. It sounds like rod knock, when one or more connecting rod bearings go out, also it might be your crank bearings. Either way it will cause the crank to be unbalanced and eventually snap probably sending a piston through the block.

My advice, rebuild the motor, or put a new one it. Also don't high rev the engine. Also you will want to have this checked out, this is just what it sounds like to me.

[Scatch!]

Hmm, sounds to me like the previous owner didn't take care of the car. If you can't afford a replace/rebuild, start using Shell Rotella oil. It kept my old beater T-bird running long after it should have croaked.

As Kat said, replace it with a used engine if you have them means. Neon engines are cheap and often in very good running order. Just make sure you get some sort of warranty. Most boneyards offer a 90 day warranty.