Death rattle

[brian_H]

Morning everyone.

My wife's MINI, 2019 Cooper Sport (not S), 1.5 litre petrol engine. Last night it suddenly developed a death rattle 1 mile from home. My wife drove it home slowly (I know!!!!). The engine sounds awful.

I left it last night but had to start it to move it this morning so I could get my car out the garage. Terrible noise, but it does idle, and it seems to run relatively smoothly, if you can ignore the racket. No smoke, no sign of oil etc. I am hoping it has not had any valve to piston contact seeing as it still idles ok.

I am presuming it's the timing chain tensioner that has failed but won't know for sure until I get it diagnosed.

What else could it be if it's not the tensioner/chain? The car has only done 38k and has been serviced every year during our ownership.

Also, if it is the tensioner, any idea how much I am looking at for a full Timing Chain kit to be fitted? it is way beyond my capabilities and requires specialist tooling I believe.

We are in the Chester area, so can anyone recommend a garage to do this for us locally?

Thanks for any info.....much appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

[The test driver]

Before going full timing chain, check the crank pulley, the dampers known for breaking up and the 2 halves seperating causing differing symptoms.

[Ry.Clarke]

Wife’s has rattled since new tbh.

If it’s abnormally loud then that’s a different story. In my experience the engines in these are just loud.

[E-bmw]

brian_H said:

We are in the Chester area, so can anyone recommend a garage to do this for us locally?

Thanks for any info.....much appreciated.

Luckily for you there is a user on here (carsorbikes) in the Wirral area who is basically one of the most trusted mini specialists in the area.

Works for himself from a home workshop.

[brian_H]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have sent him an email.

Cheers

[CarsOrBikes]

email replied to

[brian_H]

Thanks very much for the extensive email. Much appreciated. I have checked the crank pully and that looks ok.....listening to the car again I think it could be WORSE than simple cam chain or tensioner failure. I have booked it into a MINI specialist in Chester to get it looked at. I will post back on here when I have a formal diagnosis.

Cheers

Brian