Hi Everyone, I have a rev-up engine coupe which exhibits the same engine noise as this YouTube video between 2-3 k RPM under load. Newer car to me from late last year with almost 100k miles.


Generally this noise doesn't happen when the engine is under cold start, and not when revving in neutral and standstill. I read online that this is either pinging or its the timing chain tensioner and or guide.

Things I have tried: various injector cleaners(royal purple/seafoam) to see if the carbon deposits are the issue.

Does this sound like a pre detonation/pinging issue? Or is this a timing chain issue? I have tried the royal purple octane booster on top of 91 octane and seem to have the issue to an extent with California gas being my only option. I use top tier gas IE Costco/Chevron/Shell.

Any insights and discussions are welcome! Thanks for reading...

 

Sounds like rattling heat shields on the catalytic converters maybe.

 

Leaning towards detonation or pinging. Doesn’t happen on cold start. After getting to temperature and moderate acceleration at low rpms I get the noise.

Have cleaned throttle body, upper and lower plenum. Installed catch can, replaced with colder plugs. Cleaned maf a few times and run seafoam in brake booster plus fuel tank.

Was thinking if it’s a heat shield , the noise would come from under the chassis. The rattle comes from either side of the block, as it’s reproduced by having the engine bay open and doing engine revs under load/incline on ramps. If it were timing chain, wouldn’t the noise be from the front of the engine?

Sounds like it’s a rather common thing, even “normal” as per the manual. But is there nothing I can do.. but to trade in or live with it ..

Any other ideas?

 

@nobodyhere
Did you ever find out the cause of this metal rattling sound? I am getting the same noise in just the way you describe. I just performed the axle cleaning and regreasing procedure for fixing the axle click while I was replacing my rear drivers wheel bearing and it seems like it may have reduced the sound but not by a drastic amount like I had been hoping. I've also ran seafoam through the car to no avail. Please let me know if you have found a cure for this sound or if anyone else has.

 

No resultion yet unfortunately. Still suspecting it’s pinging mainly. Have colder plugs, but not installed yet.

 

Put the car up on ramps or jack stands and bang on the cats with a dead blow hammer. You can usually hear the catalyst rattle if its dislodged inside the cat. Mine definitely were!!!
Does the car make the noise when free-reving the engine (not under load)?
I assume the oil level is good?

 

I have the same exact sound on my 2004 sedan 6mt did you ever find out what it was? I'm hoping it's heat shield and praying it's not timing tensioner mine only occurs around 2-3k only accelerating not in start, isle or neutral revs.

 

The timing tensioner is actually really simple to replace.

 

The extent of my mechanical knowledge is oil/ battery change and simple stuff like that, doesn't timing tensioner require opening the engine? and quotes online say $900-1000+ for labor and parts

 

Depends on if the radiator fans are being removed or not, it can be done with them still in place but it's a tight squeeze. I'm guessing that price would include draining coolant, removing the fans, etc.

 

did you ever figure out what the issue was?

 

did you ever figure out what it was?

 

Has anyone resolved this issue yet?

 

I've seen a few videos on this, and one thing that solved it for some was the variable timing solenoid needed to be cleaned on each side. It's not hard to take off, just a clip to undo and a 10mm bolt to take out. Then open it up and clean the screens. The screens being cleaned cause the pressure to not let the solenoids behave correctly.

Just a thought, and easy to do, and costs nothing but a little time.

 

Any result? I have the same noise around 2500 rpm. It sounds like coming from under the car. Not sure is from the transmission or the exhaust. Initially thought it's transmission grinding. After the transimssion fluid changed, the noise is still there. Only during acceleration, not in P or N. Any thought?