Two weeks ago, I went to the dealer for a weephole-leaking water pump replacement, and figured with 223k miles on my 2.4, I might as well have the timing chain replaced along with replacement of all of the guides / boots, tensioners, and thermostat. Since I've had the car back, it has been running very well, and no more coolant all over the front axle. However, I have also noticed that now the car has a much louder ticking sound at idle, almost sounding like a small diesel engine in say a jetta TDI. I had the dealer take another look at it this past weekend, wondering if perhaps there was an exhaust manifold leak and they told me none had been detected. The sound is almost nonexistent when the engine is cool, but after driving it a good 20 minutes, the ticking sound is more pronounced. Any ideas on what that could be? (Especially if the engine was not making the sound prior to the timing chain / water pump / thermostat replacement). The dealer service center indicated they only heard the injectors, but said not to worry, it's normal. Having time only for a visual inspection, I cannot determine exactly where the sound is coming from, but my fluid levels are all fine. Thanks!

Hmm, have you physically tried to tighten the manifold bolts yourself just in case the dealer just 'looked' over it. Do that just to rule out the exhaust leak.

Does it sound like the chain is loose or smacking something?










~2014 New Z under the knife, same heart different body~
______________________
WHITECAVY no more
2012 numbers - 4SPD AUTOMATIC!!
328 HP
306 TQ

It doesn't sound like the chain is smacking into anything or is loose. It's sounds like it normally does, but just louder, and it's only when it is warmed up. I will probably be able to give it a closer look this coming weekend and will try to tighten down the exhaust manifold like you said, just to verify that is not the case, change the oil / filter, change the fuel filter, and the plugs / coil housing, and see if there is any difference in quieting the engine down. I could probably post a video on youtube later this evening and see what you think. The dealer did say that all they heard was the injectors and it was nothing of concern. Thanks for the input!

Sounds good, I was leaning towards the exhaust leak because you said its only loud when the car warms up.










~2014 New Z under the knife, same heart different body~
______________________
WHITECAVY no more
2012 numbers - 4SPD AUTOMATIC!!
328 HP
306 TQ

they HEAR the injectors???? can anyone else HEAR your injectors???? cus i never have.........injectors arnt usually loud enough to hear.

haha I told the service center that the sound only came about after the timing chain replacement. He then proceeded to tell me that if i still thought there was a noise that they couldn't hear, then I should come back and we'll listen to it together. True story. Like I said, I plan on working on her this weekend and see if I cannot deduce the problem, but until then, any other suggestions? Shall I post a video on youtube?

Try getting a mechanics stethoscope. That may help you pinpoint where the problem is.

Autozone Stethoscope

MiniTransAm/02WS6TA wrote:Try getting a mechanics stethoscope. That may help you pinpoint where the problem is.

Autozone Stethoscope

or a big screwdriver held up to your ear does the same job.

post the video if we can hear it..im sure we can help you.

Mine did that after all those got replaced too. I could really hear it say just cruising at 40 and then punch it, you could hear the chain. After a week noise went away.

I know I'm the new guy on here but my thought was that after the engine gets warm then metal begins to expand so it makes sense if you notice a change in some kind of sound after driving for awhile. I did my timing chain and tensioner due to it being stock after 170K miles on original block and tranny. The car sounded like a diesel and was horrible. I would as to do a ride along with the shop mechanic so you can point out when the sound is happening. If they stand by their work then that shouldn't be a problem, on the other hand if they get all bent out of shape I would say find another shop. If you're in AZ then I would check it out for free. Good luck man.

Thanks for the input everyone. I will post a video up after work today (5:30 EST). This will be right after I get home so the car will be running at normal operating temperature, so the sound should be pretty audible. I'll then wait about an hour or so and let it cool down to take a subsequent video of when the engine is cooler (so it will sound how it did before everything was changed out). CrazyZ24, I was hoping that was the case, but instead it's going on two weeks now and seems be getting slightly louder. Russ, I'm in the same boat as you were it seems. I'm curious as to what ended up happening in your case? Although it doesn't make much of a difference at idle from stock, I have an AEM RAM intake system, Eastern Catalytic High Flow Cat (of the "direct fit" variety), and 2.25 in Borla Cat Back system. Everything else is pretty much stock.

As promised, here is the link to the first video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqsNwNO091g

This video was filmed when the engine was at operating temperature. I did stop and ask my usual mechanic to take a look at it and he said that it looks as though the harmonic balancer is slightly off and that it could throw those noises. To further back his theory, my serp belt will squeal under heavier throttle load or higher rpms. Let me know what you guys think and I will post a subsequent video when the engine is cooler and sounds much more like it should. Thanks!

My eco is has the same noise...was told by several people that it is normal.....chain it taught, guides are in place and ok....i have no issues when driving so i'm thinking its fine...may just be a noisy chain




2003 Cavalier
Stock 2.2 Liter, 5 speed
" Leave the rice to Uncle Ben's and the wings to KFC..
Go clean or go home. "

scott (section8cav) wrote:they HEAR the injectors???? can anyone else HEAR your injectors???? cus i never have.........injectors arnt usually loud enough to hear.

Yes.


Sounds like the chain is slapping, maybe a loose, or bad tensioner. does it go away with a rev, but come back when it idles?



FU Tuning

I had a similar problem with my cavalier last fall. I had the head gasket replaced and the tensioner for the chain. After I got my car back it made a sound just like the one you posted in your video. I figured with 145,000 on it the chain needed replacement, so when the guys that changed my chain said the tensioner sleeve had broke. After a new chain and sleeve that noise was gone. With my car it was most noticeable at idle and startup. My engine still seems a little noisier than it used to but after having the sleeve replaced its much quieter.

And here is the second video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vleDKuK7tAg

You will notice the sound is almost entirely absent when the engine is cooler. I think it's just going to have to come to me sitting in the dealer service bay and going over the whole situation with them step by step and running the engine cool and then once its warmed up. This video evidence doesn't hurt

ScreamingforMercy: I will have to get back to you about the noise going away upon throttle load. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks!

To me it almost sounds like the chain is actually dragging across something.

Update: As ScreamingforMercy predicted, the sound indeed lessens upon load. Thanks everyone for the input! I'm going to take her back to the dealer and we'll go from there.

Good luck with it and i'd definitly take it back to where you had it worked on.

There is such a thing as over torquing the timing tensioner. I've done it. If so it won't release it all the way against the tensioner shoe.

Then again who knows. Maybe a chain guide broke with having the new parts.

It's just frustrating that I chose a Chevy Dealer to do the work thinking that the familiarity with the car and engine would be worth the extra money, and I could be assured the job would be done right the first time versus my local state inspection / alignment mechanic. Especially since she's at 223k miles and still is running so nice. Come to think of it though, I did only have one of the two guides replaced (it had a nice worn-in chain groove and replacement was recommended). Oh well, everybody makes mistakes, even dealerships... I'll update the thread when I know more!

I'm beating the issue is the 2 piece tensioner. It uses oil pressure to keep tension. I have had issues with these style tensioners even when brand new. The 1 piece design in my opinion is much better, and I now refuse to work on a LD9 timing chain without installing one, or it already having one. They reset easy and will not loosen without being reset.

When you rev it you are increasing oil pressure, and getting more tension.



FU Tuning

Hey man just to let you know the guides fell off into many little parts when I did mine. My buddy that I got the car from got to drive it lately and told me how quiet it sounded now. The only noise I hear now is the lifters and that will be fixed soon with a new engine. I'm thinking of going with the ssei 3.8 supercharged engine since I know how to weld and do the harness. Good luck and hope things go well for you bro.

damn that sounds horrible....definetly chain slap....i know that sound anywhere..cant believe a dealership told you that was injectors noise lol , dont know if i would want to take my car back to a place like that, if it was me id take it to a different gm dealer and have them back charge the other dealer for the repair, dont let them tell you they cant, its done every day.

Take it to a junk yard bro.