Hello all... so out of nowhere today I was driving and I noticed a rattling sound coming from the passenger side of the motor... It is definitely metal on metal, and sounds sort of like a loose nut/washer rattling together. Problem is, I can't seem to pinpoint the location of the sound. I was kind of hoping that someone else has experienced this before and that they could point me in the right direction...

... i know, i know... could be a gajillion things, but I am hoping someone could give me a good starting point. The car runs fine other than the annoying rattle sound!

 

Cold start noise...it's not just for cold mornings anymore!

 

It actually sounds like a loose rocker... can these cars run with a loose rocker with no other symptoms? Obviously I need to fix it ASAP if this is the case, but I don't even have an CES light. Car still runs strong as an ox too.

 

Since he's posting in a 1st gen forum, I don't think he's having the cold start issue like the 2nd gen cars are.

So it's a distinct tapping sound in rythm with the engine rpms? Does it change with load? It's pretty easy to get the rocker cover off to have a look at the clearances...........I don't think I'd keep driving it tho without checking it out. How about a little more info about your car?

 

Oh that doesn't sound good.

My '03 engine had a similar sound - it ran okay but made really bad rattle/metal noises. Take a check of the oil level - hopefully there is still some in there. For some reason on mine it was dry and there was no indication of any oil burnoff or loss and no warning lights. Ultimately my engine was replaced under warranty as it was some type of a busted valve which had impacted a piston, hence the noises. I'd get it checked out asap! Good luck!

 

Were there any SES lights? Did the car run ok?

 

These cars will run very low before throwing an oil light. The pump has to be basically seeing no pressure for the light to go off.

 

No lights at all! And yes it would run okay but make a really bad rattling/metallic noise. There wasn't much oil for some reason and never saw any leaks. Again, good luck but it doesn't sound good. T.

 

Possibly a blown motor mount?

 

Check your serpentine belt tensioner. That's what mine sounded like when a bolt holding one end of the damper failed.


Jim

 

I'm with this guy......although the OP wasn't very clear about when it was occurring, my motor mount made a metal to metal knock every time I'd engage the clutch. I finally had my girlfriend get in the car and with the hood up and going from a stop, I watched the motor mount rock back and forth everytime she lifted her foot up on the clutch pedal. Plus the yummy hydraulic fluid all over the frame rail was also a give away

Steve

 

Any update?

Mine has a slight rattling sound upon cold start which I've thought to be valves.

 

This was the problem... i started another thread a few days back asking how to fix it and i ended up purchasing the bushing from outmotoring