does it only do it when AC is on, then it's possible that you AC compressor might be loose (the bolts that hold it believe there are 3 or 4 of them). Also you AC electric clutch on compressor might be messed up. Also you idler pulley might be messed up. I would check for play in all of them, start the engine up and take a look at them (don't touch). Also you might have ratling heatshield. You could have a ratling timing chain tensioner uncommon on 97s. The worst case scenerio you got a spun rod bearing or piston slap but I never heard of this happening to VQ, did you run on low oil lately?

If nothing check out of the above test for spun rod bearing, or piston slap by unplugging coil packs from each cylinder, if the noise goes away then you are in some serios trouble.

 

Thank you very much with your detailed input. Apparently the compressor is secured, both heat sheild are intact , so I am hoping that it is not the others that you have mentioned. I pray that this is not as bad as it may be........
Thank you again for your reply . I now have confidence that elimination should lead to a solution.

 

It's most likely the belt tensioner pulley bearing...I changed the bearing on both our cars after getting the same kind of noise. Try to shake the pulley while it is on the car...if it shakes then the bearing is bad...should be pretty cheap.

 

Sounds like me.

 

 

hey guys, 3 days ago i recorded my car doing a crazy rattling noise on video. hours later it went away has been back since. if you dont mind please watch the video and listen to the sound and tell me if it is the rattle noise that is typically related to timing tensioner/chain.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...20982898103745


thanks

 

Why did you bump a 5 year old thread for this?

If you rev it up, does the noise stay constant, rise with RPM, go quiet for a second while it drops back to idle?

 

I didn't start a new thread to try to save the .org guys some storage space.

I didn't try to rev up at the time because it sounded like some belt will come flying out of engine area if I put any more pressure and now the sound is gone and (I guess) fortunately I can't replicate it.

 

...which is why the newbie thread is there.

So it's no longer rattling at all?

 

I see. Thanks for the tip. No longer rattling but sure has scared the living crap when it did. I was also low on oil which could have been the reason. I will watch it closely from now on and see if the sound returns. Car has 160K plus so it eats and slowly leaks oil.

 

Man, that almost sounds like an exhaust leak from the exhaust manifold or in the downpipe? Maybe a bad fuel injector? I personally wouldn't characterize it as a rattle...more like a pressure leak from a cylinder, head gasket, or missing/broken spark plug?