Oh dear!! Loud Clicking from Engine!!

[Wildfire]

Just as I am about to go on Holiday I drove the Griff last night. Not very hard, just a 10 mile journey, no big blasts. Now there is a very audible clicking form the left of the engine! :(

It sounds like a loose tappet, a very loose tappet. Have I become a victim of the dreaded cam wear??

I checked the oil and it is good. Anything else or am I looking at a big bill in 2 weeks when I get back?

[seasider]

Exhaust manifold gasket....

You will hear/locate it with a bit of hose pipe or similar, used like stethoscope


Just dont melt it all over your manifolds

[groucho]

Could be a leaky exhaust manifold, they click when they're leaking.

[Wildfire]

Hmmmm... I'll have to have alook, but it sounds mechanical.

[seasider]

So did mine & Tegriffic's..

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=9&h=&t=149712

>> Edited by seasider on Thursday 11th August 11:36

[Dutchone]

Wildfire,
This sounds silly, but I posted recently about a ticking from the engine (not noticeably left or right)and found I had picked up a very small stone in one of the 'V' grooves in the 'fan' belt which was tapping as it passd over a pulley. I have assumed without checking that you have a serp engine. Ignore this if you have a pre-serp.

Paul

[seasider]

I hope it is Exhaust Gasket related & not engine...

& someone better hope it's not a hole in the manifold

[heightswitch]

Hello.

Stick your head in the engine bay down by the exhaust manifolds. If it is cam it will sound from middle of top of engine underneathe the inlet valley or from inside a rocker cover.

Exhaust is common and does sound a lot like a tappet but you will hear the ticking from down by one of the manifolds.

Buy your replacement gaskets from Peninsular. They use a better more reliable material.

Don't use stainless ones since they don't have enogh compliance and can cause failure if the mating surfaces aren't anything other than purfect.

I am 80% sure its a gasket. Mine went a month ago and what tends to hapen is that the thin bottom piece between the manifold bolts blows out of the bottom of the car leaving you with a loud ticking.

cams don't usually fail as dramatically on an old rover, they wear over time and get steadilly more cammy.

A sure sign is to rev your engine under the hood and listen for the followers pumping up and closing down the clearances.

Neil.

[groucho]

heightswitch said:

Stick your head in the engine bay down by the exhaust manifolds.

[Wildfire]

seasider said:

I hope it is Exhaust Gasket related & not engine... & someone better hope it's not a hole in the manifold

At leats I know it's not a rusty manifold as I have the ACT SS ones on the car. Probably a leaky gasket, from what I hear on PH. Oh well more time off the road! At leats the inurance has run out and it will give me more time to save some money.

Well it's going to be out with the rubber tube when I'm back from holiday. I am much practicesd with this from my mini.

>> Edited by Wildfire on Thursday 11th August 15:56

[seasider]

Not difficult to do just a bit bloody on the knuckles if its a rear

[funinthesun]

had something similar sounding in my Chim 500, turned out the cam had SNAPPED!!!!!, no real damage to anything else appartt form a couple of new valves( and a new cam obviously), just a bit of an odd rattle noise on acceleration and a little down on power...

[eddie123]

I have exactly the same problem on my Griff 500. A single tappet sounding noise from the front nearside rocker cover. It is not the exhaust blowing in my case, but I have been advised it may be the steel insert of the alloy rocker arm having become loose, it may the rocker shaft/rocker arm fit excessive due to wear or rocker preload on shaft causing the clicking. On the over run after blipping the throttle I get a different sort of quieter whirring noise which may be caused by the hydraulic cam follower not working, finally last and most unlikely it may be a worn cam lobe.

[Wildfire]

Had a look and a listen this weekend after my return from holiday. As well as no insurance I also have a leaking manifold gasket. Got four new ones and it should be ok as I only have to take on manifold off and I don't even have to drop the exhaust! Reckon I may be on the road in a month or so. Although I may take the car off the road until mid next year, when I will be eligible for sensible insurance. Many thanks to all who gave advice.

[Purple Helmut]

I have exactly the same problem with my Griff 500, it started on the saturday morning of the growl weekend :-( (i still went along in the car, just did'nt run it whilst people were looking at the car.

Anyway, I spoke to the guys at Penninsula today as suggested by 'heightswitch' earlier in this thread, they wanted to sell me individual gaskets at £5.00 each ( 4 per side / 8 in total required), the current gaskets that are on are not like this so i gave V8 Developments a call.

The chap at V8 developments recommended competition gaskets for the griff 500 which come in pairs at £2.50 each (2 pairs per side / 4 in total), he also recommended putting high temperature sealer on both sides of the gasket and putting spring washers on the bolts. (mine has no spring washers on currently.

This sounds positive to me, i'm going with this rather than the penninsula gaskets.

would be interested to hear if anyone has any comments about this

[simon.b]

Eddie123, I had that problem on mine after 19,000 miles, it turned out half the tappet inserts and hydraulic elements were damaged, not sure why though it was suggested that a recent engine overheat may have cased the elements to fail damaging the tappets. I had the lot replaced, the cam was OK though.

Cheers,

Simon.

[shadowfax]

Well, dunno what to make of those replies ..... Just came on sudden after being parked up after a run to Formby beach and a walk in the sand; half hour later restarted and clickety click, from rear manifold of driver's side - is that off or near? Can never remember. Got home and, well, it is a bit tight in there aint it? Loose bolt at top and although tightened, noise is still present. Guess the lower one will have to be reached from below. Maybe the ATS lads will check it out tomorrow.

I gather from thread that tightening the bolts wont sort it though, ey? Are these gaskets easy to fit without removal of the manifold; through loosening it off, maybe?
Is it a diy with a short 9/16th and a couple of band aids? Trip to Ian's means a half day gone at least .... even if the job only lasts an hour

EDIT: This, btw, was 3 miles after I had just put a tankful of Tesco 99 octane in. First time I'd used it ... you have been warned

Edited by shadowfax on Thursday 8th June 23:07

[Hoover.]

Nowt wrong with the Tesco stuff IMHO..... sounds like it raeched the end of its life n needs replacing

[Wildfire]

Ok, just did it again this weekend. Without removing the manifold?? Not really it's best take it off. I can do them without taking the exhaust off. To get to the NS offside rear lower bolt you need to thread your arm in from the wheel arch. It's a 14mm or 9/16th. Slightly different for me as I have the ACT manifolds. If you need some advice drop me a line.

Chris

[shadowfax]

Hoover. said:

Nowt wrong with the Tesco stuff IMHO.....

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