Hey guys,

I have a 1997 5spd, drives fine. Got some gas today, drove a few miles to the grocery store, came back, and when I was a few blocks from home the noise started. At first I thought it was a jackhammer or something outside (it wasn't super loud yet), but after I stopped at a stop sign it was apparent it was coming from under my hood.

Car continued to drive fine -- I turned it off and on again, then parked it.

Tried starting it a few hours later, and that's when I took this video -- the sound is now louder and more consistent than before. It is loud at idle and appears to get louder(?) when revved in neutral - revving sounds pretty weird actually. I rev a couple of times in the video below.

Video:

http://youtu.be/ofc-eX8FYrI

Oil level looks good.

Any ideas? I thank you for any experience and wisdom you can share, I'd love to get an idea of the nature of the beast I'm dealing with. I tried searching around a bit and found some opinions on other's engine noises, but I was hoping there would be some clue to someone out there in my personal video

Thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate any responses I get.

P.S. I noticed a strange noise that I don't believe I've heard before when turning the power on (but before turning the key fully to crank the engine), I've included that in the video as well in case its relevant (2-3 seconds)

 

any codes?

Have you done ANY under-hood work at all recently?

Video sorta sounds like my wife's Subaru...piston slap. But I'm not sure on that. It's NOT timing chain rattle afaik...so that's good.

 

oh yea, no CEL so I originally didn't pull codes, but I did just now just to make sure and it came back with nothing reported (0505)

and nope, haven't done any work under the hood recently

 

Um, is there oil in it?
Is the oil warning light on, does it even work?

Sounds like its running with no oil pressure and by now that engine is toast.

 

that sounds like your flywheel is coming apart , thats conected to the converter and transmission.I dont think its your motor.

 

get a long screwdriver and listen with your ear on different spots on the block until you find the spot where its loudest. that will give us and you a better idea as to what's going on.

 

1: fly wheel rotates, not back and forth.
2: he doesn't have a torque converter cuz he's 5mt.

 

he claims oil level is fine

 

Car could have oil in the pan but no oil pressure.....either pump went out, screen clogged completely, bearings worn like crazy etc....

 

Cars either have a flywheel and clutch, or a flex plate and converter. Never a flywheel AND torque converter.

OP, you have a bad rod knock due to a spun rod bearing. Any 7,000 RPM shifts earlier that day?

You didnt let TravisCadello drive it did yah?

 

I think any of these problems would result in a higher frequency rattle, this sounds like one rod to me.

 

Thanks for replies

Yes, there is definitely oil in the pan. It's pretty clean too, and not leaking or anything like that. Can't vouch for the pressure since I don't have a way to measure that, but the idiot light is not on and never came on. I would have loved to have some kind of warning

After looking up other people's videos of rod knock on YouTube, I think you're right... I mean I knew it sounded bad and I kinda expected the worst but since nothing actually happened and the engine isn't that old I was giving my car the benefit of the doubt

WTF? Do these things ever spontaneously happen? I shift normally, and I just got back from a small road trip the previous day with zero performance or noise issues, I'm confused.

 

when you turn the car ON (but not start), does teh low oil pressure light in the dash come on and them go off in 3 sec. like it's supposed to? Maybe the bulb is burned out...

 

Yes, it does, and since this happened I double checked to make sure its still working. thanks, I meant to mention that

 

Ok so if your oil pressure switch is working, you should definitely check for oil pressure. For someone that does regular driving, doesn't seem like that should have happened. How many miles on the engine?

 

Just hit 100,000 a couple of weeks ago, of which I've personally put the last 10,000 on (In about 2 years)

 

its hard to identify the problem by the video,but check if its a rattle coming from the timing chains side of the car...if its like a rattle noise, it might be the tensioners not making pressure on the chains.

 

rod knock homie. either that or a serious valvetrain problem.

either way that engine is toast.

 

Atleast if it's blown you had a warning, mine went an didn't even make a noise.

 

what sort of gas did you put in it? sounding like a healthy diesel lol could be VERY bad knocking but it wouldn't sound so loud at idle and wouldn't be so consistent

btw you can see his oil light on the dash when it starts up.

 

Yea, I would say you have problem with your valves. If you rev your engine, is that noise "clicking" faster?

 

Noob Question: Can someone link me to a oil pressure sending unit for a major parts store. I'm having issues finding one

 

Look down at the crank pulley to make sure its not coming from there . if its the crank pulley coming apart you will see it wobbling and the belts will look like they are coming off the other pulleys and not lined up right . yours sounds a lot louder than that but you have the hood half closed and looks like your in a parking garage so might be why its louder . im hoping for you that is what is wrong .

 

belt tensioner?

Surely something with the belts

 

 

Amerikaner remarked that op said oil level was fine....i was merely posing a scenario where the oil level could appear fine but not actually be circulating causing premature bearing wear/failure since it sounds like a spun bearing.....

 

Lol at the tensioner and valve comments. This is a loud and deep knock at a low frequency. Its a rod bearing or broken piston. Time for a 3.5 swap :-)

 

I undersant the point of your comment, I just don't think its the case hear or you would hear more of a rattle than a knock.

 

any chance you know someone that can look at it that actually knows what he's listening to??? i mean, i'm all for saving a few bucks but this sounds bad and is probably shot as others have said but its worth a shot to find out for sure.

 

Thanks for all the posts guys, appreciate every one. I didn't mess with it all today, was in mourning

Next step I definitely want to confirm that it's really toast. I guess I have nothing to worry about turning it on etc. at this point since if the damage is really done it's already too late, so tomorrow I'll try investigating the alternative theories here and try the screwdriver-stethescope trick that was mentioned before throwing in the towel.

Yeah, before pulling into the garage when it started outside it was actually quite a bit quieter so the garage really is amplifying the noise significantly

Not optimistic, but hopeful

unfortunately, no

 

Ok this sounds like a ROD KNOCK. Meaning that you were low on oil or have none at all. Trust I've heard this sound before in another car that I've owned. Its always better to get a new engine cause it will cost you your chest to pay for it

 

Didn't read what everyone rote but my max had the same problem and it was just 1 of the timing tensioner that broke. I just put on a new and was good to go

 

trust me, you were lucky!!!! thats why i say never let your oil get low by even a little bit as it will cause premature engine wear and cause you to do a 3.5 swap!!

 

the tensioner took a dump.....first find out where the noise is coming from if is in the front where the front timing cover is most deff is the timing chain tensioner..

 

Well, that noise sounds a little familiar:


I just bought a new engine for $500 and swapped it.

 

goddamn but people must beat the hell outta their maxes and never check the fluid levels. i'm at 243,000 and i know i got a tenshioner rattle, but i change the oil every 2,500 miles cause i know she leaks out of the timing cover and i get a louder rattle when i'm about a half a quart low. i also add bg moa oil additive to fresh engine oil cause it helps quiet her down and keep viscosity thicker under loads and at startups.