1994 SL-2 Cold Rattle/Warm no rattle slight hesitation

[acidburn_335]

Hey Guys,
I own a 1994 SL-2 1.9L DOHC w/ 136K auto-tranny replaced at 127K. The past week I noticed that I get a rattle coming from the lower belts/lower exhaust region when the car is cold. Once the car warms up rattle is almost non-existent unless you are really listening. The rattle sounds like a metal tinpan. I do not recieve a SES light nor any other dash lights. I have checked the fluids which seem to be their proper colors and levels. Checked valves/lifters which are also getting oil to them so the problem isnt there. Ive also checked the upper engine mount which also seems to be ok as well. The car has a solid idle, and no problems shifting gears. Ive only noticed a slight hesitation which is somewhat random.

I assume that both hesitation and the rattle are the same thing if not then I would attribute the hesitation to leaky valve cover but the rattle to something else.

So my questions Doc are whats the prognosis, the cost and easy to do myself (and if taken to a mech how much?).

Thanks,
Tim

[sierrap615]

the rattle could be a million things - check this one i wrote two weeks ago - http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=277222

the hesitation again could be a few things. did you swap the trans, motor, or both? what year/model was the donor?

in S-series the ECT tends to go bad on older cars, and the TB, IAC, and EGR can get quite drity, i alway start there, but they normally cause a high idle too.

[acidburn_335]

Originally Posted by sierrap615

the rattle could be a million things - check this one i wrote two weeks ago - http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=277222

the hesitation again could be a few things. did you swap the trans, motor, or both? what year/model was the donor?

in S-series the ECT tends to go bad on older cars, and the TB, IAC, and EGR can get quite drity, i alway start there, but they normally cause a high idle too.

Swapped just the tranny, donor was a 93 SL-2. I have had no problems with it besides the first few days of the computer "getting to know you" cause they didnt reset it.

I checked all the surrounding hoses/cables and they are all tightly secured. I really beleive this to be something on the belt. Possibly the belt tensioner or the lowest pulley in the system threw a bearing.

[sierrap615]

that trany shouldn't cause a problem. some places think lots of tranny work that really don't(they will bolt up, but it won't shift right)

i would next check the belt tensioner like you said and the idler pulley. both have been known to be less then perfect in saturns. also double check all four mounts. can you hear the rattle in the cab? is the sound better or worse?

[acidburn_335]

Originally Posted by sierrap615

that trany shouldn't cause a problem. some places think lots of tranny work that really don't(they will bolt up, but it won't shift right)

i would next check the belt tensioner like you said and the idler pulley. both have been known to be less then perfect in saturns. also double check all four mounts. can you hear the rattle in the cab? is the sound better or worse?

You can hear the rattle in the cab but it does not sound like a thud (of hitting something "solidly" planted to a larger item (ya know like hitting a pillar in a ship hull).

If it was the idler or tensioner pulley would that cause a slight variance in performance (ie hesitation)? I ask because hesitation only started when the rattlin' started.

[sierrap615]

the tensioner shouldn't have anything to do with engine performance. the only other thing i can think of is catalyic convertor going bad. that would cause a MAJOR lack of power at higher RPM.

ask the techs on the Saturnfans.com forums, maybe they can catch something i'm missing

[rajjhauf]

If you put the car on a lift and take a rubber hammer to the cat you will prob find its the cat. This is very common and the only thing you can do is replace it. Mine is doing the same thing. Hope this helps.