Poorly Chim - tapping noise from engine

[bga]

Hi All,

Yesterday evening I was pootling around West Sussex & a metallic tapping noise started from the front of the car. It appears to come from the top of the engine block, but I couldn't pin it down to any side. Luckily I was a minute from the inlaws so I popped in there. Oil pressure/level & engine temp were all healthy & apart from the noise, all seemed fine.

What I could tell was that the frequency of the tapping (quite a metallic noise) increased with revs & there was no discernable change in performance.

Luckily Austec is round the corner from the inlaws so I dropped it in earlier this afternoon but it may be a day or so until they have time to look at it before doing a 12k service that it's also booked in for.

Does anyone have any ideas about what sort of thing this could be? I'm slowly learning about engines & this is beyond me.

Any input gratefully received!

[rev-erend]

Could be the exhaust gaskets next to the head .. so don't panic yet.

[bga]

I had thought about gaskets from scanning previous posts, to be honest it sounded more "mechanical" than that.

Either way I'm sure I'll know what's going on soonish, I'm glad I managed to get a few hundred quid off the insurance renewal to put in the kitty

[Tunnelmeister]

Exhaust gaskets are normally higher up the rev range, another symptom *could* be cam wear

Usual disclaimers apply, Paul and team at Austec are the best around so its in safe hands

Edited by Tunnelmeister on Monday 7th August 17:45

[IM]

Manifold Gasket perhaps?

[GreenV8S]

A blowing exhaust can sound very mechanical. It's possible you've had a sudden mechanical failure such as a lost rocker pad as Quinny suggested, but I think a blowing exhaust is far more likely. Anyway, you'll find out soon enough.

[bga]

thanks for all the input guys, will let you know what the verdict is when I get the info

[TVRTimH]

Mie seems to be going the same way, local garage suggests not the gaskets, maybe something else??? Booked in later in the week (being a mechanical novice) for further checks. Any guidance appreciated!!
Thanks.

[hut49]

TVRTimH said:

Mie seems to be going the same way, local garage suggests not the gaskets, maybe something else??? Booked in later in the week (being a mechanical novice) for further checks. Any guidance appreciated!!
Thanks.

98/99 cars are prone to noise from soft rockers - bad batch(es) allegedly - replacement made a profound difference on mine - I did one bank first thinking it was just a one-sided problem. But once that was done it unmasked a similar though slightly less intense tapping on the other side, so had the other set of rockers changed. Perfect....then I started hearing another important noise coming from the exhaust and no it wasn't the manifold leaking. I decided to concentrate on the perfectly tuned exhaust and stop listening for misc noises that were the easiest way to empty my pockets of hard-earned!

[jimothy]

Check the belt pullies. I had a ticking noise caused by the bearings on my idle pulley being a bit knackered. It eneded up with the belts being shredded on a regular basis.

[V8 Kieran]

I was sure mine was exhaust manifold gasket, as did a certain TVR garage. When it wasn't, all sorts of horror stories were offered/advised. In the end, it was the L/H manifold - a hole/split inside where the 4 pipes join, and impossible to see.

Solution - new ACT s/s pre-catless manifolds - pair cost no more than one side OE

[bga]

The verdict is in & Tunnelmeister was closest

The noise was a faulty tappet & the cam needs replacing too. They are also going to looking at a couple of other bits & bobs while they are at it.

Looks like I will have to delay that front-end respray

[TVRTimH]

Alex, have they given an idea of costs yet?

I am getting Frustrated, I have had 2 mechanics/garages tell me not to worry!? Am now confused, either paranoia has set in already (7 weeks into TVR ownership) or I need someone with a clue to have a look / listen to the beast. Local TVRCC is meeting (I think) next wednesday so will wait 'til then to have a listen to other Chims.

Edited by TVRTimH on Wednesday 9th August 20:29

[Tunnelmeister]

bga said:

The verdict is in & Tunnelmeister was closest

:frown: i hate being right...

[bga]

TVRTimH said:

Alex, have they given an idea of costs yet?

I am getting Frustrated, I have had 2 mechanics/garages tell me not to worry!? Am now confused, either paranoia has set in already (7 weeks into TVR ownership) or I need someone with a clue to have a look / listen to the beast. Local TVRCC is meeting (I think) next wednesday so will wait 'til then to have a listen to other Chims.

Edited by TVRTimH on Wednesday 9th August 20:29

I'm having a few things done & can't remember the breakdown off the top of my head. I've got them at work so will PM them to you tomorrow if that's OK.

[bga]

Tunnelmeister said:

bga said:

The verdict is in & Tunnelmeister was closest

:frown: i hate being right...

These things happen, I'm glad I had a contingency stashed away "just in case". Hopefully when this is done it won't need changing for another 50k miles

[hut49]

bga said:

The verdict is in & Tunnelmeister was closest

The noise was a faulty tappet & the cam needs replacing too. They are also going to looking at a couple of other bits & bobs while they are at it.

Hey, slow down a bit - how many miles on the present cam? What engine performance characteristics suggest a worn cam? I'd get a second opinion before shelling out a grand to change the cam while fixing a tappety noise coming from one tappet. Maybe that front end respray isn't a dead duck after all?

[TVRobin]

Cam wear is a common problem with the Rover V8 (I've had 2 SD1's a P5B and a P6B) but it should not cost a grand!How many miles has it done?

[bga]

The cam is on 46k miles now, & there is some other stuff which was on the to-do list which it makes sense to do now. From the noise it was making I'm not sure I would like to drive it any further! I'm pleased I had stashed away a fund for this very job

[TVRobin]

BTW, what size are the wheels and tyres on your car? I looks nice.