.........and no, I'm not talking about the old Nintendo game, but the sound my car makes for about 5 min. during warmup.
It sounds like marbles under my hood banging around for about 5-6 min after the car sits for more than 4 hours. Then after it warms up, everything is fine (meaning no noise). My guess is that my timing chain is shot. Any suggestions?

 

VTCs

thats kinda how i would descibe mine

can you tell where the noise is comming from

 

no no, VTC's are grounded. This isn't a clattering noise, but more like,.....well......marbles under the hood.

 

water pump?

 

My 1991 was doing that . Especially when i was starting it after a long rest . I though it was some oil relative problem , or plugs or wires . My 94 did it once , but my wires are almost deads , maybe some humidity ? dunno

 

I just replaced it 6K miles ago. Could a water pump make that kind of noise warming up? The noise does seem to be coming from that side of the motor.

 

change the oil, and add an additive that's supposed to quiet noisy lifters and see what you get.

 

could also be lifter tick... "marbles" is a very vague description....
lifter tick is common on these cars after a while because of the stupid hydraulic lash adjusters....

next time you change your oil, use a quality engine flush treatment, and then use a premium filter and oil (OEM or better filter, Gastrol GTX or Mobil 1 oil). see what happens.

 

would you rather solid lifters

 

mine are to but it makes the sound no matter what and i dont think its the chain

you could remove all your accessory belts and start the engine for a few seconds and if it still there you would rule out all those ie water pump

 

wtf?

 

hydraulic lifters = automatic lash adjustment from hydraulic pressure inside the liefter = hydraulic lash adjusters.. same thing butthead.

 

mine does the same exact thing....it does SEEM to happen more when it's cold (the weather or the engine)
it goes away either when the engine is warm OR when i push the clutch in and give the accelerator a little tap.

i can't say intelligently but i don't think it's a timing chain issue (symptoms seem a bit too benign) - i'm beginning to think it my be a lifter issue. this makes sense that the noise goes away by revving = more oil pressure - but i can't explain why i have to push the clutch in as well.

so now how does one resolve a lifter issue? is the wear on the cam, the lifters, the rockers?
and the prices for these parts from internetautomar are......
are there performance replacements for these?

 

if you have a 90 max you dont have a timing chain

if the noise comes back as soon as you let the clutch out in nutreul it could be you input shaft bearing in the transmission

 

power steering pump?
check you power steering fluid level.

 

no.........a power steering pump does not sound like marbles when it's going bad. It will make that tired whining noise evrytime you turn the steering wheel. Power steering fluid is ok though. I'm guessing lifters now with all the imput being offered to me.

 

i've heard the power steering pump sound marbly when it doesn't have enough fluid. it only whines when you're turning the wheel. if the car is just idling it's marbly.
none the less, the ps pump isn't the culprit.
good luck with this man...

 

I'd be interested in knowing if you get anywhere with this. My 92 SE does the same thing. The clutch may be a different issue, which I have as well, but my car definately taps when it's first started cold. The issue I have with noise relative to the clutch is there always. If I let the clutch out, with the car out of gear (hot or cold) I get some noise out of the trany, which I've been told is the syncronizers. I never have identified the source of the tap when cold though.

 

I'd be willing to bet that despite the grounding this is still the VTC's making that noise.

 

wow who ever told its the sycros dont know what there talking about

bad sycros will cause grinding when shifting into gear, thats what the do they sycronize the speed changes when going from one gear to another and they do absolutly nothing when in nutral standing still

trust me on this its your input bearing, extremely common 3 of the 4 trans ive had in my max have done it as well as many others

engine taping when cold could be lifters or maybe lite piston slap

 

i agree mine still make lots of niose when grounded and i know im grounding the right wire because the idle changes and every once in a while they will quiet

 

interesting. I unground them this morning due to that statement and the noise is pretty much the same when they are grounded. mmmmmm. maybe we're on to something here.