Another s14 Sr20 rattle noise, Please help!

[S14Driftr91]

Yesterday my sr started to make this rattling/grinding sound. I pulled off the valve cover and checked the shims, rockers and cams and everything seems to be fine. I also removed the upper timing chain guide. I also have tomei ras installed. I don't believe my vtc gear is shot because this sound is much different from other videos with that issue. Could this sound be caused by a lifter or a timing chain tensioner? I don't see a lifter to be the issue since I've had this motor in the car for two years now without any issues. The noise appears to becoming from the head towards the front. The noise is not always constant it comes and goes.

Heres a video for everyone to hear.

http://youtu.be/qxMpRGeg5v4

[jr_ss]

Does it go away at all?

[S14Driftr91]

Yea as I started it up a few times, it sounded fine, and then all of the sudden it would start making the noise. As the motor is idling the sound isnt really there, give it some gas and it gets louder. the sound comes and goes.

[jr_ss]

It's your VTC gear unless you have signs of metal shavings in your oil.

[S14Driftr91]

You think? I just kinda ruled out the vtc gear because mine didnt sound exactly like this video.

http://youtu.be/95qdoK44zQg

[jr_ss]

If you rev it up and it goes away or start driving and it goes away it's your gear. VTC is enabled right off idle speed until 5k or so.

[S14Driftr91]

Alright this noise seems to get louder as you rev the motor. I was poking around with a stethoscope again and I think my problem may be a bad bearing in the alternator. I had a bad bearing in my last alternator but it wasn't as loud as this. I didn't think about that being a issue since I put a different alt in this past winter. I'm going to swap it out with a good one and let you know if I still have my problem. Thanks for the help!

[S14Driftr91]

Oh yes so the problem was infact a bad alternator bearing. I got a used alternator from a friend and swapped them out. Car started up great with no horrible sound BUT now I have another problem. After I swapped the alternator out I drove to a friends house and parked the car. The battery died. I figured maybe I left a light on. Jumped it, got back home and now I wake up this morning and it's dead again..... I'm guessing this alternator is shot right? Is it possibly for the alternator to drains the battery as the car sits?

[Mikester]

Have the battery checked first... becauseeasier... but yea sounds like the alternator is shot. Great time to get with Codyace for a Quest Alternator upgrade kit. Quest alternators are cheaper than SR new... and put out better power.

[S14Driftr91]

Have the battery checked first... becauseeasier... but yea sounds like the alternator is shot. Great time to get with Codyace for a Quest Alternator upgrade kit. Quest alternators are cheaper than SR new... and put out better power.

Thanks Mike! ill have to look more into that!

[Mikester]

Yup- PM Codyace- real cool dude, knowledgeable & legit honest businessman. I have both his SR AC compressor bracket & Quest alt kit... Perfect fit and as far as installation... If you can read at a kindergarten level, you'll have no trouble with the instructions~