Rebuilt KA24E sounds like a diesel

[Bainsy]

Okay, so I JUST rebuilt my ka24e. I've replaced everything that needed replacing and even a few things that were probably still good, but my engine sounds like diesel and it vibrates a ridiculous amount.

I've been looking everywhere and I have found several suggestions, but replacing the rocker arms (9 of 12 were bad) didn't fix it. The exhaust manifold has all the bolts, studs, and gaskets it should, and all timing components were installed at TDC, even setting the timing properly didnt quiet it down.

If I'm just doomed to sound like UPS truck forever, thats cool, I guess, but any suggestions or even decent mechanic recommendations, that wont jack up prices on females, in the SoCal/southbay area would be greatly appreciated.

[hellraiser]

The ka24e is a half counter-weighted motor so it will vibrate quite a bit. If it is ridiculous is it possible that something happened to the crankshaft? Did the motor throw a rod or anything to make you decide to rebuild? The pistons and rings were replaced? Any chance your cat is clogged and causing performance issues?

[brndck]

Double check firing order on the spark plug wires too.

[Rustys14]

I'm assuming that you still have lifter tick since you say it sounds like diesel. Follow the fsm guidelines for bleeding the air out of them (iirc you run idle the car at a stedy 1500-2000 rpm for 15- 20 minutes but I would still check the manual). Also check to make sure that you have adequate oil pressure since these motors get really noisy if the oil pressure is low. Did you remember to prime the pump before the first startup?

As for the vibration, I would need more info on exactly what its doing. Does the engine sound like it has a miss? If its misfiring on a cylinder the engine will shake a lot. The motor will also be louder then usual and shake if the timing is off, are you 100% sure that its correct and have you verified it with a timing light?

[Bainsy]

The ka24e is a half counter-weighted motor so it will vibrate quite a bit. If it is ridiculous is it possible that something happened to the crankshaft? Did the motor throw a rod or anything to make you decide to rebuild? The pistons and rings were replaced? Any chance your cat is clogged and causing performance issues?

I decided to rebuild because the diesel sound started and there were vaccum leaks everywhere. Pistons and rings were replaced and the cylinders were bored. I dont think anything happened to the crank, it was fine during installation. I havent checked the cat, wasnt thinking that far south of the engine, but I'll look into it.

Double check firing order on the spark plug wires too.

I thought it might be the firing order, and I did try every other combination to make sure, but it only runs in the original order.

[Bainsy]

I'm assuming that you still have lifter tick since you say it sounds like diesel. Follow the fsm guidelines for bleeding the air out of them (iirc you run idle the car at a stedy 1500-2000 rpm for 15- 20 minutes but I would still check the manual). Also check to make sure that you have adequate oil pressure since these motors get really noisy if the oil pressure is low. Did you remember to prime the pump before the first startup?

As for the vibration, I would need more info on exactly what its doing. Does the engine sound like it has a miss? If its misfiring on a cylinder the engine will shake a lot. The motor will also be louder then usual and shake if the timing is off, are you 100% sure that its correct and have you verified it with a timing light?


I've tried the ticking lifter fix a couple times. As for verifying with a timing light, yes, the sound and vibrations were still there. I'll probably check both again though, just to be obnoxiously thorough. Definitely not a misfiring cylinder though.

[S14DB]

I decided to rebuild because the diesel sound started and there were vaccum leaks everywhere. Pistons and rings were replaced and the cylinders were bored. I dont think anything happened to the crank, it was fine during installation. I havent checked the cat, wasnt thinking that far south of the engine, but I'll look into it.



I thought it might be the firing order, and I did try every other combination to make sure, but it only runs in the original order.

http://repairguide.autozone.com/znetrgs/repair_guide_content/en_us/images/0900c152/80/18/ce/ec/medium/0900c1528018ceec.gif

Get the carb cleaner out and start checking for vacuum leaks.

[Bainsy]

Okay, I checked and rechecked everything, no vacuum leaks and the timing is fine, but apparently 4 of the rocker arms I was sent were bad and I've got a pretty fun exhaust leak. Anyways, those were returned and replaced and I'm gonna be looking at getting a new exhaust system soon, but for now shes running well enough.

Thanks for the suggestions guys :)