Ok, so im driving back home on the high way cruising around 75-84 mph probably a consistant 2,750 rpm, and i turn off the blasting music and notice this horrible horrible metal clanking noise.... yeah ...real scary...(small metal bits in a metal can being nocked around in a consistant "pinging"). Now it was to the right side of the engine compartment from sitting in the driver seat(the side with the belts and washer fluid). Now i drove to work today and it only does it when at a higher consistant rpm of 2 grand or more, not around town for ex. under 50 mph even though it may be a consistant rpm, not accelarating not idoling, not decellarating, so it only occurs when ur at a greater than 2.5 k rpm range. I hope its just a small amount of looseness of one of my belts. Let me know what yall think. Appreaciate any advice.

 

Check your plugs for metal bits or white marks (detonation). Compression test it (really easy) and look for loose things.

It could be lots of stuff from minor to a dead engine, just do some testing. Hows the power feel? Lower then normal or? State of the tuneup? Last oil change? What timing are you running and what oct gas?

~Alex

 

Ummm...First....STOP DRIVING THE CAR!

Second..you need to pop your hood and look around under there on that side for obvious signs on a broken part/belt/etc...

You may have slowly disintegrating timing belt and or tensioner...to check this you will have to remove the timing belt cover..[not likely your problem due to it only making the noise above 2500 rpm]..


But seriously,stop driving the car until this issue is found and fixed..

 

Just got 2 new injectors and cleaned the remaining in the fall time. Power is strong for its age and has not been noticably any different. Last oil is less than 3k and i usually run Reg Oct, no prem, i will use a premium tank fill up every 3 mnths to clean it out. Its got a good head, and drives with nothing is else being heard at consitant rpms. My timing belt /water was changed for assurance reasons last fall too. Now late last summer i started hearing a loud noise in the belts while idoling, and my main mech said thats what it was and he could just tighten it up, so i got used to it but now , im hearing this crap while flying so i hope that could be one answer. I will definately check the plugs and let you know if i can seee any detonation. Much appreciated alex.

 

Edit- Hmm strange. check the plugs...

Does your engine sound like a diesel at idle? That would be collapsed lifters and could sound better or worse at speed. Might also be a wheel bearing but I doubt it, thats a inconsistent rubbing noise thats speed dependant.

~Alex

 

Hopefully you can see what i stated above... thanks alex and green max
Much appreciation. I have another prob too but thats a lil less minor to me than this scary as ticking time bomb noise

 

Ok i will let you know. Thank you man I know its time to let go of this thing i just want one more freaking summer out of this thing GOD. im at 196400

 

Not at all , just an annoying lil belt noise at idol that sounds normal its been so long.

 

So GUES WHAT IT WAS !!!
In the wheel well there are plastic covers that cover the engine compartment and there was the bottom bolt was missing and the side bolt was only holding a broken piece, so the cover was flapping in the wind. So this is why the faster i went the more it woudl hit my wheel and it is essentially what i heard only at faster speeds, Thank god thats all it was so i am fortunate !!

 

....

 

IT WAS NOTHING "INTERNAL" JUST A WEATHER COVER ON THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL, SORRY BOUT CAPS I WORK W/ AUTOCAD.

 

You were lucky this was all it was,if it had been something mechanical,or if that cover happened to get caught up in your belts,you would have been looking at possibly some expensive repairs because you continued to drive the car....

IMO.It's just not very smart to continue to drive a vehicle with it making "a horrible horrible metal clanking noise" as you stated in your original post,unless you have already found the source of the noise and found it to be not something serious...


But hey...Just one more season,right..

 

yeah man i just wanna rock this hot *** whip one more season cuz its 16 yrs old and hotter than many 91s on the road, the thing looks better than it ever has but ironically its gettin that time to let her go . I dont want too trust me, its like letting a first love go. i am currently at 196421, its been through +$7,000 of mechincal repairs over 4 years to keep it running..and this thing....is not worth it no more not at all .... manifold studs,.....2X rebuild on original trans even from a nieghbor friend dirt cheap $500, every piece of exhast except cat and header even a "rare one that dosent go" sigh, new timing belt,90% of leaks are repaired (only one left is valve covers, did a few when i did the timing) new steering column that was a *****, 2 new fuel injectors (*****), alternator, obviously i did routine tune ups belts plugs filters etc but still, struts, bunch of random things i dont care to remember and before inspection this year the rear wheel wells were rotting out, i was getting water straight into my back seat and a tad in the trunk !!, so we cleaned that up to get it passed, This thing has been through so much, and im ready to get an grey02-03 and start low miles and do it right inside out to the T and maintain the ***** so i dont get $7,000 of repairs again. and or sell the damn thing b4 it gets to 150k miles,

haha well thanks for the help everyone, belive it or not i have another question on this thing but i'll wait to see if it happens again
"i almost got stranded at my girls college on sunday"