Tapping from engine?!

[h3avy.t]

Hi Guys,


This is a weird one, so my car has developed a tapping noise when just (tiny) a light amount of throttle is being applied - not enough to have any load.

Once you press it a millimeter more(i.e there is even a tiny load on the engine), the tapping goes away?

Can someone point me in the right direction please?? What is going on?

[tuzzio]

Asks about what his engine is doing.
Doesn't state what engine he owns.

Is Sydney the Florida of AUS?

[duballstar37]

Is Sydney the Florida of AUS?

HA! I'll try to help just because of your awesome comment.


Judging by the topic prefix icon, he has a SR.

Does the sound still occur after the car is warmed up?

How many miles are on the engine? Does it sound like its coming from the head or block?

[jedi03]

get a stethoscope and listen around to see what it could be

[collegekid]

Turn the engine off so the tapping stops. BOOM. /Solved

If you are a capable human being with some common sense not to stick your hand near moving parts, I would say this.
It seems like something is working it's way loose. I don't mean your camshafts are about to ejecto-seato or anything like that, I am pointing to smaller pieces like heat shields and plastics vibrating.

Some examples below

One of my cars has the alarm horn mounted only by on bolt on the intake. If that was coming loose and rotated, it made a noise similar to knocking.

Another has the air filter assembly mounted together with 4 bolts. PO of the car or whoever changed the air filter last, broke every last bolt head so that the two halves just sit together on the threaded part of the bolt that was sticking out. It vibrates at idle, goes away with RPM.

I would have someone else sit in the car, let it idle and rev it slightly to help you locate exactly where it's coming from.

Cheers