Hey guys,
looking for some help and advice.
I have a 02 cavalier, roughly 150k, the car has had a noisy lifter problem for awhile - much more noticeable when it was time for a oil change or if it was low. At low rpms/idle, not so much of a lifter noisy. Only when you gave it gas.
Well Im not so sure it was a lifter proble or if I just a hit a new problem.
Now when I give it gas, it can get a nasty tapping noise. While under the hood, it feels like its from the timing chain area.
I have not given the car its oil changes like it should so I knew problems were bound to happen. Regulary when I would turn right with the car while driving, the oil light would come on. It would make sense it being the oil pump, to me, based on what I read.
Here is what I learned over the net - the the oil pump on the 2.4 is hydraulic and it depends on the oil pressure is what keeps the tensioner tight? So if you have a bad / weak oil pump, your timing chain can be loose.
On the lighter part, I have read that the 2.4's most common problems are timing tensioner AND oil pump.
How can I determine if the oil pump is the source of my problem? Where is it located?
I don't want to put a timing kit into the car, if its the oil pump.
Q: How do you determine if my oil pump is weak on my 2002 z24?
I can take a video for you guys if needed.
get a video, or audio. I hate to say it is probably a rod knocking.
FU Tuning
John Higgins wrote:get a video, or audio. I hate to say it is probably a rod knocking.
If it is the rod knocking....would I hear it all the time?
The car runs/drives....just hear the tapping noise when you give it gas.
Depends on how bad it is.When i bought mine,it had a lifter tick(I thought),so i gave the car a tune up.It stopped ticking at idle,but at 2 to 3000 rpm it would start ticking.
It would tick under wot on the hwy,and i think on deceleration to,i changed all lifters and it still ticked,then got to searching on here and found the #3 rod bearing like to spin on our motors.So i finally ripped the pan off and started checking rod bearings,and sure enough,at 149000 miles half my #3 bearing was eat up.
If you have metal shaving in your oil,it's a for sure sign a bearing is going out on your motor,start there and see whats up.
Ok....Will go drain the oil and will look for metal shavings. Be back soon.
Blue02zee24, So what did you do with your bearing problem?
Here is what I got when I drained the oil....keep in mind, oil not changed in over 5k.
I cleaned it off and skimmed through the oil, there wasnt any more noticable metal shavings.
What you think?
Q: How do I verify the spun rod bearing? pull the oil pan cover and its right there?
The first pic does not look too bad. I get that some times. Video? I will be able to tell you if it is a rod or not.
FU Tuning
If the tensioner is bad, when do you have the noise? All the time or sometimes?
I only encounter the noise at 2500 RPMs.
1. Where are the rockers on the 2.4?
Could it be a rocker noise?
2. How can I troubleshoot to what is causing the noise?
-Is it I just gotta pull the tensioner off?
1. the 2.4, being DOHC, doenst have rockers, nor pushrods.
2. makeshift stethescope - find the longest thinnest screwdriver you can, and start poking things, holding the handle up to your ear. go in one direction till its louder, when it gets quieter again, go back. then go in another direction till it gets louder. pinpoint the area, and you narrow down parts that can make the noise.
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If the 2.4 doesnt have rockers or pushrods.....the lifters hit the cams directly?
The lifters sit right below the cams.
Honestly I did not hear anything in that video. A rod knock can be a any RPM really. I had a 2.4 that did not knock under reving, or idleing, but only on deceleration. It was a rod.
Usually if it in a tensioner it will be really loud at idle, and as you bring the RPM"s up it will go away.
I would probably pull the timing change cover off and inspect the tensioner, and chain, guides etc..
FU Tuning
Rich Grayo Jr. wrote:1. the 2.4, being DOHC, doenst have rockers, nor pushrods.
2. makeshift stethescope - find the longest thinnest screwdriver you can, and start poking things, holding the handle up to your ear. go in one direction till its louder, when it gets quieter again, go back. then go in another direction till it gets louder. pinpoint the area, and you narrow down parts that can make the noise.
Great Idea, often will do diagnosis trick myself but keep safety in mind.
Long hair? Tie it back or stuff it under a hat
Sweatshirt or any strings on your clothing? Cut them off or stuff them inside your garment.
Remove Jewelry
There are a lot of spinning things, some spin constantly, some will kick on without notice (such as the cooling fans) and if a loose, hanging item comes in contact with one it will pull your body into the engine like a high speed winch!! Not pretty.
Dave
