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General >> Problems >> Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
(Message started by: Irish_Gitts on Apr 4th, 2008, 6:49pm)

Title: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Irish_Gitts on Apr 4th, 2008, 6:49pm
Hi guys, we're back again!

Thanx to all who gave us advice re: the wiring loom ( http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=Problems;action=display;num=1201332883 ) which has now been done, along with a new wiper motor, spark plugs and fuel pump!
Yes we've had quite a few problems with this monster we bought!

Ok, fuel pump, went earlier this week, RAC got us to garage and I got a replacement from Jack @ http://www.jackscarparts.co.uk/index.php who has been extremely helpful, but when I picked up the car from the garage who fitted it, they informed me the timing chain was rattling and needed replacing ASAP. They were very surprised I hadn't heard it!

Well I did when I started her up - NEVER had that noise before!

Now here's the confusing bit.............................

My husband came home from work, took 3 attempts to start her up and NO NOISE!!!!! :-X :-[ :-X :-[ :-X

What's going on?
I was all set to phone the scrap yard this afternoon.
Now I'm one confused bunny!

Your advice please.........again!

Thank you.

Helen.

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by sector-9 on Apr 4th, 2008, 9:24pm
Could be hydraulic tappets making the noise rather than the chain, but you need to get it checked as noisy tappets won't wreck the engine, but chain failure will...

Darren

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Pegasus on Apr 4th, 2008, 9:39pm
What engine is it?
How long does the rattle last for?

Can expect a short rattle on start up as oil has drained - hence after those 3 attempts to start, the oil has been sloshed over the chains so should be smooth.

If its a persistent rattle could be a number of causes with a range of outcomes (the worse being the chain snapping - hence the garage's concern).

Check here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/timingchain29cos.htm) and this (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm)for lots more info.

There is a method for ensuring oil reaches all parts of engine before starting but you need strong sphingters to attempt it  ;) - I'll let  those who use this method give advice.

BTW, I get a short (less than 1 sec) rattle on mine in about 1 in 10 startups so not worried.

HTH

Paul

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Irish_Gitts on Apr 5th, 2008, 5:54am

on 04/04/08 at 21:39:08, Pegasus wrote:
What engine is it?
How long does the rattle last for?

Can expect a short rattle on start up as oil has drained - hence after those 3 attempts to start, the oil has been sloshed over the chains so should be smooth.

If its a persistent rattle could be a number of causes with a range of outcomes (the worse being the chain snapping - hence the garage's concern).

Check here (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/timingchain29cos.htm) and this (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/faultfinds.htm)for lots more info.

There is a method for ensuring oil reaches all parts of engine before starting but you need strong sphingters to attempt it  ;) - I'll let  those who use this method give advice.

BTW, I get a short (less than 1 sec) rattle on mine in about 1 in 10 startups so not worried.

HTH

Paul


Hi Paul,

I've got the 2.3 Ultima.

It's not a rattle. It's metal grinding on plastic! The most awful grinding sound, didn't think the car would make it home!

A bit like the sound of a kid on a push bike, where the chain is grinding againgst the chain guard - only ten times worse!

The noise lasted from when I started her up at the garage, til I got her home, half mile away. It's not a rattle and it didn't stop as I started to drive, it was continuous.

Then the hubby comes homes, took 3 attempts to start and now purring like a kitten!

She hasn't had an oil/filter change since we had her so going to get that done, but I'm just so baffled that such an awful noise has, well, suddenly stopped.

Was it the chain?
Was it dirt in the oil ? (which has been suggested hence the oil/filter change ASAP)
Is it going to be trouble again?
What else could it be?
Do I really want to know?!!! lol

I'm just very confused.

She really is purring like a kitten now! No noise, no rumble, rattle or grind.
Starts first time, no complaints - for now.

>:( Grrrrrrrr, if only I married a mechanic!!!  :P
Didn't mean that darling, honest!!  :-*

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by gozz on Apr 5th, 2008, 10:50am
Irish Gitts.Now the noise has gone it will be tricky to trace,your description sounds more like a bearing in the belt tensioner,alternator or water pump.The Cosworth engine is most prone to chain problems by virtue of it's complexity,your engine is not noted for chain noise,not to say it's impossible.
                                   GOZZ

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Apr 5th, 2008, 10:53am
Check there isn't anything in the engine compartment that doesn't belong in there - something could have been rubbing against the drivebelt or pulleys ???


Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Irish_Gitts on Apr 5th, 2008, 12:38pm

on 04/05/08 at 10:50:31, gozz wrote:
Irish Gitts.Now the noise has gone it will be tricky to trace,your description sounds more like a bearing in the belt tensioner,alternator or water pump.The Cosworth engine is most prone to chain problems by virtue of it's complexity,your engine is not noted for chain noise,not to say it's impossible.
                                   GOZZ


The guys at the garage assure me it was the timing chain and are also baffled by the disappearance of the noise!!


on 04/05/08 at 10:53:58, Scorpio_Mike wrote:
Check there isn't anything in the engine compartment that doesn't belong in there - something could have been rubbing against the drivebelt or pulleys ???


Can't see anything - maybe the cat got out?!!

I really am confused. They had it in the garage for 4 hours, the noise was there the whole time they had it, so they say. Now it's gone.

Question now is this.............................

Do I keep it or sell it?

Have been quoted nearly £700 to replace the chain etc. and I really can't afford to spend money like this.   :-[


Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 5th, 2008, 12:48pm
hi there

you might have hit the nail on the head with the CAT! ;D

i've not heard of any 16v engine needing the chain changed in 5 years here.

to me, more likely the cat breaking up or something in the engine bay that shouldn't be there, as said earlier. get an emission check done.

how long have you been using this garage? if you want to look at the chain, just take the rocker cover off, but i still don't think it's the chain.

hth

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Irish_Gitts on Apr 5th, 2008, 1:10pm

on 04/05/08 at 12:48:29, scorpio_man wrote:
hi there

you might have hit the nail on the head with the CAT! ;D

i've not heard of any 16v engine needing the chain changed in 5 years here.

to me, more likely the cat breaking up or something in the engine bay that shouldn't be there, as said earlier. get an emission check done.

how long have you been using this garage? if you want to look at the chain, just take the rocker cover off, but i still don't think it's the chain.

hth


"just take the rocker cover off"  he says like it's as easy as taking a hairdryer apart!!  :P

How about popping down to sunny Torquay and doing it for me?
PPPPPPPlease?!!!! :-*

What will an emission check do - no, I'm not blonde just not very mechanical minded!  :D

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by scorpio_man on Apr 5th, 2008, 1:29pm
hi there

the check will show if the cat is failing (breaking up).

you could take the car up to powercraft (the owner, bill, is a member here). they would give it the once over and let you know if anything is a miss.

hth

http://www.powercraftengineering.com/

Title: Re: Noisey Timing Chain - advice needed please
Post by Irish_Gitts on Apr 5th, 2008, 1:54pm
Thank you scorpio_man. Will give Bill a call next week. ;D

By the way - I did have a blonde moment there - I didn't twig with the CAT thing.  :-/
You meant the catalytic converter thingy didn't you?

Ok, ok, I'll go away now - thanx again!  :P



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