How worried should I be?

[WazzaL]

The other day I took a friend out for a quick spin.

Allowed the car to get well into operational temperatures and started to give it some beans down a few roads..

After a few miles of a few beans I pulled up and to my horror there was a very loud tapping noise from the engine itself. - No other symptoms.

So I stopped (engine temp was about 75) turned her off, raised the bonnet and allowed her to cool off a little more naturally.

After about 10 mins I dared start her again expecting nothing to happen, and away we went as if nothing had happened..

Any ideas what this means? What I should check, etc..

[spend]

That the bonnet stay is properly secured ?

Dave

ETA: very worried if you keep pushing before it warms up...... Unless you have deeeeep pockets

Edited by spend on Wednesday 9th May 14:17

[kailear]

My Chim 450 exhibited exactly the symptoms you describe after about two hours of driving. I phoned my TVR dealer who listened to it. Checked the oil level which was above the minimum mark but had evidently used rather more than I had expected while driving in London. Filled it to the max and the noise disappeared and has never returned since. Seemes a sticking hydraulic lifter is likely to have been the cause; also changed to a thicker grade of oil.

[whiplash]

Take a look at replacing the exhaust gaskets (It’s a sod of a job) as I had exactly the same problem. If I had a little right foot fun I had a scary tapping noise come from the engine.

After checking everything it turned out that a bad exhaust gasket was the culprit. I know it sounds stupid because the tapping sounds like metal to metal but it worked for me.

3 hours later lots of swearing and a less then £20.00 the job was done.

[WazzaL]

spend said:

That the bonnet stay is properly secured ?

Dave

ETA: very worried if you keep pushing before it warms up...... Unless you have deeeeep pockets

Edited by spend on Wednesday 9th May 14:17

Err. Car was warmed up and the bonnet stay was definately secured! - 2 things I always ensure. But thanks anyway.



Oil and exhaust gasket.. Both worth a go. By the sounds of it it is nothing too drastic at the moment. May even be the excuse I've been looking for to remove the pre-cats..

Anything else I should check whilst I have my head under the bonnet?

[chrispitman]

Worth checking the pay on the auto belt tensioner, I had a tapping from the engine when hot was due to wrong belt fitted it was a bit cooked and when hot streched enough so that the tensioner hit it's stop, hence the tapping.