hello i am new the j-body world i just picked up a 97 cavelier 2.4L dohc 88,000 miles. heres my problem when cold its theres not a singe noise coming from the engine once it warms up theres a noise it sounds like the worse valve train noise ive ever heard but i dont think its coming from the valve train. it goes away when you raise the rpms by even 1 rpm and if you turn the steering wheel even a little bit it also goes away and you can feel the wheel pulsing and its a little stiff. so i changed the power steering pump thinking that was where the noise was coming from but its still doing the same exact thing any clues on what this could be im stumped on this one if it was the valve train it would 1) get louder when reving the engine 2) not go away with a turn of the steering wheel and 3) would be worse when cold not the other way around also i have tried to find it with a stethoscope but no luck where should i start

Can you describe the noise a bit better, tick, rattle or hum... etc. It's been my experience that the Twin Cam's can make a bit of extra engine noise-typically when they're cold though.

In what kind of condition is your engine oil?

Assuming the power steering fluid is again full and since you've replaced the power steering pump already, have to think the two issues you describe might be unrelated.


I'm a 6ft. tall, 250+ lb., man, and I proudly drive the Sunfire. My wife drives the half-ton 4x4...

lol im 6'1" 310 lbs and i have been using my camaro as a daily driver while my wife has been driving my 93 f250. any way its a tick a pretty loud tick but it has me baffled because in most cases a valve train tick is worse on start up this tick only starts after its warmed up and only at idle also after it warms up and this tick starts my steering gets a little stiff. now heres the part that has me baffled if i turn the wheel just enough to get pressure thru the power steering pump it goes away. today i removed the power steering pump and started it up to weed out the pump and the tick got even louder. now i like to think of myself as mechanically incline ive done motor swaps, head gaskets and tons of other projects most people wont even think about but these over head cam motors i have delt with is it possible theres to much play on the cam because its coming from where the pump and cam meet up is there a bearing or something there

well it looks like it is the timing belt gonna be a nice weekend project

Have fun with the timing chain cause I know I didn't it was a bi*** make sure u replace the tensioner as well and if your water pump was never done it won't hurt to do that too since u will have most of it apart...

I've done some research on it doesn't look too bad if you want I will let work on my 97 z28 Camaro it deff will give you a whole new perspective about working on you jbody lol

Well if u ever do the water pump in it I kno u will be swearing at it lol it was a pain....

I bought the car last week the guy claims he just changed the water pump I'm thinking he didn't put the tensioner in correctly or he broke the stupid little clips on that shoe looking thing the tensioner pushes against if I need to change the water pump I will just use it like a stunt car at my job intill it blows up then scrap it lol

Ok it was the timing belt the p/o did change the water pump and made an atempt to change the timing chain but he put it in wrong he did not have all the slack by the tensioner it was sagging between the two cams and I believe the tensioner was bad I was able to colaps it between my two fingers it took me about two hours start to finish and the noise is gone

Well that's good news and glad u fixed it instead of blowing it up and scrapping it

Thanks im not going to lie tho getting tge chain on corectly was the worse part. it's a nice little car for my girl friend I just love when people try to scam on others this guy sold me the car thinking it was a valve train noise so he let it go for 900 bucks add another 200 in parts 100 for the timing chain kit 30 for a fel-pro gasket and 70 bucks for wear and tear parts rear brake shoes, spark plugs, oil change I'm into this car for 1100 and it's pretty clean