SR20DE problem

[The Gill]

I actually drive a Primera eGT (which like the 200sx is another great car to drive but generally ignored by most and also uses the SR20DE engine - though no turbo or intercooler). I am looking for a 200sx in the next few months.
Anyway I'm impressed by the tech knowledge of a lot of you chaps so maybe you can offer me a bit of advice.
For last 2 days on startup the engine bay has sounded a bit strange - difficult to describe probably a hissy rattley noise. Driving off at over 2500revs I occasionally get an intermittent whisting noise (that sounds like coming from the front half of the car). This is without the clutch (recently replaced) being moved (i.e. when driving in gear) so I doubt it's clutch related.
Think it stops when engine is warm but have only had a short drive since I initially noticed the noises.
Can anyone offer any ideas - those who live in the Bristol area can probably sympathise that We$$ex Garage$ are the only local main dealer.
By the way for those in the UK the October edition of 'Used Car Buyer' has a big feature on the 200sx - it's the cover car)
Thanks and great site / board.

[David]

definatley sounds like a gas leak..call the local gas board !! Or borrow one of those vans with the sniffer thingys at the front!!
Seriously though, sounds like air leaking in or out. Check air intake pipe connections etc worse than that it could be gasket related ie head gasket. If you didnt find a problem with any hoses, then get a compresion tester...pray thats ok..unlikley to be water as it would get worse as the engine gets hotter. If it gets better as the engine gets hotter htis is a sign that its small, as the component (whatever it is) get hotter it expands like most things inc male organs (ha) and the small gap is closed. engine cools down and the hole appears again..

Best a luck.
Thought:-
If it is the head gasket..why not bin the engine altogether and slap a 200sx turbo in it??

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P reg, K&N, Straight though Exhaust(tube torque), boost gauge, boost controller, modid front grill, bayley dump,1100wat sub(parcel shelf rattles like hell)14PSi ???BHP neck snapper!
www.netcomuk.co.uk/~daross\my200sx.jpg (http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~daross\my200sx.jpg)

[The Gill]

Thanks David - though having another listen to the engine on start up just then I think my 'hissing' description was not right - it's more a high pitched very frequent rattling noise - seems to come from the Cambelt 'area'. Nissan checked this in August and didn't recommend a new one and it does look fine.
Could a problem with the Cambelt cause the whistling/whiney noise I described earlier - and would this sort of noise disappear with a warmed up engine as it is doing at present?

[Tom_S14]

Cambelt tensioner bearing ?

The SR20DET on the S14 has a timing chain, not a belt, and this is definitely prone to rattle. I read somewhere a while back that there is an improved tensioner which reduces rattle. Not sure how easy/difficult this is to replace.

Tom

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1996 Blue/Green S14 (manual)
K&N cone filter
2.5" Tube-torque Cat Back Exhaust.
TechTom MDM-100
Race-Technology AP-22
http://tom.marshall.tripod.com

[Enigma]

I thought all UK nissans had cam chains since about 1994.......but could be wrong!

[The Gill]

Well I finally found out what was wrong with my car last night when it started making squaling sounds from the engine. AA man came out and diagnosed a frozen water pump - the rattley sound I described from the 'cam belt area' (sorry of course it is a chain driven engine - I should have said the alternator belt area !) was the pump on it's way out (bearings possibly) and when it finally went the belt was just rubbing against it.
Well it's in a local garage now - does anyone have any idea what the damage (£)would be for replacing a pump? (the AA chap said it looked a bit tight in the engine and may need the engine lifting to get to it ?)
Thanks for all help.

[David_S14]

I replaced my water pump about two months ago and a nissan one was about £60. It's pretty easy to DIY, took me about 1.5hrs with tea breaks.

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David
"Purplish Blue Pearl" 1995 S14
K&N,Mongoose,HKS Fuel pump, Blitz FATT-S,Racelogic Adj. Traction Control & Tree.

[The Gill]

Thanks all - FYI my repair cost £109 inc VAT
- non-Nissan water pump used £27+VAT (which is fine by me as I'm going to sell my car early next year).

All seems ok now.