Help is much appreciated because this is supposed to be my "reliable" car (other than the rock-solid Fiero but I want to keep its mileage to a minimum...) My 1998 Cavalier auto/2200 SFI has a clickety noise that I'm trying to identify, and I'm hoping it's not a bearing or something else expensive.
It's hard to say why, but it sounds like a "sprockety" type noise, if that makes any sense. I doubt it's an exhaust leak because it seems to go away at slightly higher RPM's (sorry, no tach to pinpoint) and slightly heavier load. IIRC, it's slightly lower pitched at idle... almost like a miniature diesel xD ...so maybe not a stretched timing chain. Still, it sounds much higher pitched and more of a clicking than the rod knock that my friend's LS1 had... and it seems to click much faster at idle than a rod would.... so hopefully not a rod bearing?
BTW, the noise also follows the engine speed as well. I'll try to remember to record the sound sometime...
Any ideas on what the problem is? Serious mechanics only, please. Thanks
Whereabouts in the engine compartment does it seem loudest? And an audio clip would definitely help when you get around to it.
Well, you know how cars are.... now that I got out the heater hose stethoscope, it doesn't seem to be making the noise!
Yes, if I recall correctly it sounded a lot like that video. Based on the changes as the camera moved around the engine, I'd say that one was a timing chain?
^^ dam that engine sounds like ass!
Ok here you go..if the tick is there at a idle and goes away or is less noticable at higher revs then id say its lifter knock...which is just something these engines do after abit..now try and rev it up and if it ticks on the rev down and then settles down at idle its the timing chain setup...
If its lifter tick deal with it..i used lucas oil stabalyzer and some high milage engine oil and it reduced mine alot on my old 2.2. If its the later timing setup then change it asap! get new tensioner/chain/sprockets..hope at helps..phil
Have a look at the belt while the car is running, sometimes the tensioner will go bad and make a similar sound, if the belt is whipping back and forth on its longest stretch, take it off and check the tensioner play, if its good you just have a stretched belt and the likely culprit for the noise is the timing chain.
If it gets louder as the oil warms up and you can hear it best on the passenger side down by the wheel, then my vote is for a timing chain tensioner that no longer works.
