SR20DET Weird Noise/rattle

[dluevanos01]

So, the other day as I was parking after getting to school, I realized a noise coming from my engine that I hadn't heard before. It was like a rattle/ taping sound. Even my friend who was with me heard it, and she mentioned it when I was trying to figure out what it was. So once I got home I searched everywhere to see what it could be.

I have arrived to the conclusion that it could be a loose timing belt or a rod knock. but I know many of you on here have more experience with engines than I am, so I wanted to know what you guys think it is.

I have a video here of the sound( SR20DET Weird Rattle - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_oQzix0w68) ) It gets louder on the side of the intake plenum.

Thanks in advance.

[AdrenalineS14]

hmmm, possibly your hydraulic lifters are causing the tapping sound... best way to see if its that is to pop off the valve cover and if you don't have rocker arm stoppers press down on each rocker arm(the part that's sitting on top of each of your lifters) feel for movement like a springy feel, if you feel movement then it means air got into it and needs to be bled. Try that and post back if that's the problem.

[zneubauer]

check your oil, could be a lifter tap. even then, do you have an oil pressure guage?

[steve shadows]

This could even be your timing chain hitting the chain guide on top of the timing chain on the top front of your motor under the valve cover. You will need to pull the lower oil pan off either way and make sure than the oil pick up did not break or the saucer didn't fall off into the pan. This could cause low oil pressure and lead to the noise either from the lifters or the timing chain. If the saucer is in good shape in the bottom of the motor than remove the upper timing chain guide that folds over the chain at the top of it's cycle. Nissan released a tech recall to remove it in the mid-late 90s anyways. Good Luck!

[dluevanos01]

thanks for all the replies. I will try AdrenalineS14 method his weekend since I understand what he is talking about. as for the others, I will get to it after my summer job or on weekends after I do some research and get familiar with the parts involved.

and ZNEUBAUER: check the oil as in level and condition? or pressure? and I don't have a pressure gauge.
My brother had been driving the car for about 2 weeks when I was off at school and when I came back I check the oil level and it was slightly below the minimum mark on the dipstick. Could that have cause any of the causes that you guys stated? or any others?

[zneubauer]

thanks for all the replies. I will try AdrenalineS14 method his weekend since I understand what he is talking about. as for the others, I will get to it after my summer job or on weekends after I do some research and get familiar with the parts involved.

and ZNEUBAUER: check the oil as in level and condition? or pressure? and I don't have a pressure gauge.
My brother had been driving the car for about 2 weeks when I was off at school and when I came back I check the oil level and it was slightly below the minimum mark on the dipstick. Could that have cause any of the causes that you guys stated? or any others?

both, I woulda sent you my pressure guage because I have no use for it but I gave it away already. its possible, but not very probably, with the lower level of oil, that your oil pump might have had a moment or two of low or no oil pressure, and this can be catastrophic.

[dluevanos01]

both, I woulda sent you my pressure guage because I have no use for it but I gave it away already. its possible, but not very probably, with the lower level of oil, that your oil pump might have had a moment or two of low or no oil pressure, and this can be catastrophic.

Problem was resolved. This particular occasion was the lifter tap. Then a few months later, one of the oil for the cams was clogged it made a similar noise. And Thanks for offer too, I've been wanting to get one but the car has only been driven like 8 times this year so I been putting it off, but That is next on my list.

The motor will be taken apart and rebuilt this summer too.

[jr_ss]

Holy year later response batman...