Idle Tapping...

[dan_t]

Hi all,

I had what I thought was the VVT Rattle... but recently the tapping noise will come back when I stop the car and let it idle.

As far as I know the VVT noise only comes when you first start the car?

Symptoms are: Tapping noise when idle, Taps Quicker when Reved, Disapears as soon as there is a load on the engine (ie in first).

The only other things I can personally think of is the Big Ends ( :no: Please no!! )

[HEWETS]

Hi Dan-t, :wave:
My car has exactly the same symptoms, but I have read so much about tapping noises on this site that I assumed the tapping on mine was fairly typical and harmless. :nod: As far as I know (please correct me anyone if I'm inaccurate), there is a VVT related rattle, injector rattle, some sort of tensioner rattle (same as VVT), which are common to SR20. Apparently these are not a big concern. :confused: My car is modded similar to yours and has 65k on the clock and runs well (so far). 'Big ends' sounds worrying but I reckon its not the case.
Comments and reassurance from anyone please!
Cheers,
S

[dan_t]

Hi mate,

nice to see im not alone... maybe we'll get to the bottom of it one day!

[tbone]

Hello all

Ive had the same rattles and had it checked at dixons nissan dealer under their warranty (my mates the manager) and all they have found is the known tensioner fault, the rattle comes back after a few months but doesn't cause any problems so i leave it now.
If it sounds like a chain catching on a tin guard then its the same sound as mine, hope this helps.

[Mark]

How heavy is the tapping, if its light it is probably a tappet, if it sounds heavy like a diesel it will be the vvt sprocket ;)

[paulsx200]

Mines only started rattling after the last service

[hadyn]

the SR20DET is just a noisey barstard engine

injector pulse is the usual tick noise i think you'll find

and paulsx200 your rattling could be down to whoever serviced your car last using a slightly thinner oil, which will expose a few rattles :)

[paulsx200]

Castrol Magantec was used hope this is ok!!!

[Vez]

The ticking could well be the boost solenoid, unplug it and see :)

[paulsx200]

why would it tick???

[Dave200]

The ticking could well be the boost solenoid, unplug it and see :)

Yep common cause of people's worries when it comes to a ticking :nod:

[dan_t]

Mine deffo isnt a ticking, its with out a doubt a TAP noise...

[Vez]

why would it tick???

Because it does, its a solenoid :wack:

[McK]

Castrol Magantec flush the engine and get rid of this shite it has to be one of the worst oils on the market go the full synth route.
Lift hood rev to 3000 let it off if your rat is clear as engine dies back it's big end hopefully just shells. Will be evident that its low in the engine if you do it under the hood

[Busky2k]

Theres nothing wrong with castrol magnatec. Being a semisynthetic, its better than the OEM rubbish Nissan use at other dealers.

Sounds like you have a lifter problem. Perhaps try an engine flush...

[davebargh]

Castrol Magantec flush the engine and get rid of this shite it has to be one of the worst oils on the market go the full synth route.
Lift hood rev to 3000 let it off if your rat is clear as engine dies back it's big end hopefully just shells. Will be evident that its low in the engine if you do it under the hood

Yes big end rumble is usually heard on overrun. On my S13 it was very noticeable when foot was taked off throttle only one big-end shell gone (usual fault)

[archenemy.co.uk]

Castrol Magantec flush the engine and get rid of this shite it has to be one of the worst oils on the market go the full synth route.
Lift hood rev to 3000 let it off if your rat is clear as engine dies back it's big end hopefully just shells. Will be evident that its low in the engine if you do it under the hood


Theres nothing wrong with castrol magnatec. Being a semisynthetic, its better than the OEM rubbish Nissan use at other dealers.

Sounds like you have a lifter problem. Perhaps try an engine flush...

Before you start flushing the engine, every other time its mentioned people say don't do it, so I think there may be a good reason not to flush it.

Look at the Oil advice thread on the top of the "200 related questions" sections

[Sir Nodrick]

Hi all,

I've had the same problem with the tapping coming back just whilst idling. would arrive home, leave it running on the turbo timer and as i walk away, the tapping would slowly start to come back, getting louder and louder. I have found that my car starts doing this as a "change my oil" message to me. as soon as i have changed the oil, the noise does not come back during idling. I put a 10 40 oil in last time and this seems to have helped dramatically.
See ya

[DaveV]

Hi all,

I've had the same problem with the tapping coming back just whilst idling. would arrive home, leave it running on the turbo timer and as i walk away, the tapping would slowly start to come back, getting louder and louder. I have found that my car starts doing this as a "change my oil" message to me. as soon as i have changed the oil, the noise does not come back during idling. I put a 10 40 oil in last time and this seems to have helped dramatically.
See ya

I alsoi have the same thing, @Sir Nodrick, what oil did you have in before the 10W40?

[mikewSW18]

I notice this too - and it seems to go away when I top the oil up a little. My complete lack of mechanical knowledge makes me guess that the hot, thinned oil just trickles to the bottom of the engine quicker on idle when the oil pump isn't doing its best. But I really shouldn't post tech replies.

[Pulsargt]

it sounds like a chain catching on a tin guard then its the same sound as mine, hope this helps.

Have exactly the same thing usually Just on start up soon as i put load on engine it goes away but any time i.e. if warm or cold

car only got 40 000 mile on it

I'm not realy worried though, just sounds bad

[Sir Nodrick]

I had Mobil1 motorsport 15 50. My dad thinks the mobil1 oil may be slightly too thick, i dont know.
I put a fully synthetic 10 40 in and changed filter and as i said, seems to have sorted it. :-)

[jabroni_83]

i had what sounds like the same problem when i got my s14a. took it to simon norris (noises like that bug me big time!) and he replaced the inlet cam pulley. no noise anymore :thumbs:

[The Stig]

this is my story. spark plug electrode fell out and put a hole in i of my exhaust valves on number 1. before that the engine ran lovley and there were no rattles. I took my head off and replaced the valve. when i put the head back on i have developed what seems to be the timing chain rattling about but cant be sure. I have fitted a new tensioner and it will not go. as soon as i start it up it rattles bad and does not go when i rev it up. i have seen the other posts on the vvt sprocked and selonoid. but if it is 1 or the other why didnt it rattle before. has anyone ever had a rattle after refitting the head?? or have i missed anything out. Please help me :confused:
P.S and would it make the timing chain rattle too?

[Richy_Boy]

Jabroni, how much did Simon Norris charge for this fix? I think my S14a might have the same issue...

Rich

[Matt_S]

The inlet cam pulley is the VVT cam pulley on the S14 SRs. You can get good VVT pulleys from £100 off a breaker.

[LowRollaBoy]

Just a tip, that the cam tensioner and vvt solenoid all operate via oil pressure. If you still get ticks at 3000rpm and not on overun, then look into changing your oil pump. Especially on higher mileage SR20's.

[Richy_Boy]

Cheers LowRollaBoy.. I'm presuming oil pumps for jap cars are going to be pricey? Anyway, it seems others have had success from changing the sprocket and soleniod, so I think (if an oil change does fix) I'll look into fixing these first.

Cheers again!

Rich

[laurence k]

I think i've got the same problem, it sounds like a diesel on idle but goes after about 2.5k revs and also goes when the oil is hot. Ive put an engine flush in before changing the oil and this solves the problem but then it returns with the new oil (shell helix ultra 10/40w) I've just cleaned the spray bars and no luck and also used a stephiscope and the noise sounds more apparent at the front (which makes me think vvt) but is also louder at the rear of the cam cover on the intake side. Any help would be appreciated.

[pornstar_pete]

Diesel sound usually suggests VVT, do a search on here and thats what you'll mainly hear related with this symptom