Ever since i got my mini a few weeks ago i had a ticking noise coming from topend of engine

over the last 250 miles it seems to of got alot worse

tomorrow is my day off so im going to take the rocker cover off and see what i can see

from what i can see on the forum people say the timing chain tensioner could be worn

is they any way i can test when the rocker cover is off will the chain be slack?

this mini is not starting to be the bargain i thought i had

View My Video

 

Most likely Timing chain tensioner. I've never had one go out completely, but I would imagine the chain would be slack if you tried to pu pressure on it. My other thought would be a stuck lifter somewhere.

MINIs are rarely a bargain

 

ok thanks for that, if a lifter is stuck could it be taken out and reseated or is it a big job?

 

It's not really a big job on a justa cooper at all once you take off the valve cover. I would recommend just replacing the side of lifters where the problem is since each lifter is about $35 from rockauto

 

better get to the shop within the next 250 miles

 

You mean the rockers? An overhead cam engine doesn't have lifters.

 

My very first MINI (an '05 R50) developed a ticking noise not altogether dissimilar to yours with about 60K miles on the clock. The severity of the noise seemed to vary a bit with engine temperature. As with you, I suspected something in the valve train and took it into the shop to see what was up.

As it turns out, my ticking was caused by a worn universal belt. A few teeth on the belt were missing in one particular spot causing it to slap and make the ticking sound.

Your noise seems a bit louder in the video clip, but with any luck maybe all you'll need is a belt replacement.

 

I hope you get it figured out. Keep us posted.

 

Well this morning i took a trip to my local bmw dealer to get a chain tensioner

fitted it and still the same


now from where im from in the uk we call them tappets but you say rockers so im guesssing its going to need them replacing next?


is this a hard job will the camshaft move at all when taking the rocker arms off to replace them?

is the tappets the bullet shaped thing with the orange bit on the top?

page 13 here

http://www.werkinmini.com/R50-R53%20...stallation.pdf

 

Maybe want to try adjusting them before replacing them. Appears they are hydraulic so it is possible that you have one or more that have collapsed.

The yellow capped things are your tappets or rockers. It looks like you can remove the rails without disturbing the cam so replacement looks pretty straight forward. Be careful to get all of the valve lash adjustments right before you button it all up.

 

if you don't have any loose rocker arms you might want to check the timing chain itself and the guides. I had a similar noise; replaced the tensioner - it really was shot, but didn't fix it. found two loose rocker arms, fixed that, but the noise was still there. chain was old and stretched / loose, guides worn. changed both of them, silent running again.

 

I didnt know they could be adjusted , any info on how to do this?

also to check for loose rocker arms i did see the rocker on 3rd piston had slight play in but wasnt sure if the valve was open or closed

 

No, I mean lifters. The lifters are the small parts in the end of the rocker arms which push on the valve stems.

You are thinking of pushrods which overhead cam engines do not have.

 

I'm not sure that they can be adjusted. If they can there will be an adjustment screw on the top of the lifter where it contacts the valve. You'll want the cylinder you're working on at top dead center on the compression stroke. Both valves closed.

 

Hydraulic lifters do not have adjustments.

 

Here's a good writeup on diagnosing lifters:
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Arti..._problems.aspx

The lifters depend on oil to function properly. What weight oil are you using and how many miles since it was changed? You haven't mentioned it, but have you checked the oil level?

 

Any way you can link this? I was looking and can't find, I'm buying a 03 cooper that needs lifters and am am having trouble finding them