I think something is still making a weird, annoying rattling noise. Now, you can barely here this noise when the bonnet is all closed up, but it's still loud enough to keep me wondering. Long story short, I went into the dealer to have them look into a few of my engine rattles. They ended up replacing a whole mess-load of parts - mainly the transmission itself, clutch, flywheel, timing chain, tensioner, and all of the other associated timing parts. Well, this is what it still sounds like and I would like some opinions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on3APKtiT2k

Apologize for the video quality - first time using my iPhone to try and shoot a video and upload it.

Any words of wisdom welcome

 

sounds like your vacuum pump is, well, being relatively normal. If you want, you can pull off the hard plasitc line from the vacuum pump, and hte noise should get quieter.

That is alot of stuff to replace, what were your concerns?

 

Where exactly is the vacuum pump located on this car? This noise doesn't seem to be coming directly from the timing cover - moreso from the valve cover.

My concerns were straight forward - I told them my timing chain tensioner was rattling (it was) and that the transmission was rattling. The throw out bearing and flywheel were making a lot of noise when in neutral with the clutch out. So, that's what they replaced. Trans feels GREAT, so that's nice, but this nice still makes me wonder.

 

I'm really out in left field because I'm not a mechanic, but have you checked your oil lately?

 

Check my oil regularly - once every two weeks. Once I left it for about a month and it had burned a little less than a half quart. It's never been lower than that.

 

That sounds like typical engine acoustics, however that said, with the oil cap on the engine produces a positive vacuum, and the engine acoustics are suppressed, maybe your microphone is just very sensitive!

However when you listen to mine you may convince yourself that it's quite normal, and a trip back to the dealer for further investigations is not necessary.

Here is a link to a video of my engine at idle from cold, this morning 10/09/2010 showing the difference of engine acoustics, with the oil cap removed and refit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4qKEmJTGXY

 

Czar, thanks for pointing that out.

I've also been reading a little bit about short starts and stops - where the car is only started for 1-2 minutes and then turned off. Apparently that produces a little bit more engine noise too, probably because the oil hasn't had a chance to circulate through the motor all that much.

I'll continue to monitor it. More input welcome

 

turbo Prince mill is just a noisy bugger to begin with. im waiting for mine to implode then get a remanufacture, or trade it off before the warranty expires, which ever comes first

 

I have that same sound and has made it since day 1.

 

The vacuum pump is on the left front part of the cylinder head (in reference to sitting in the drivers seat). it is driven by the exhaust camshaft and bolts on to the head with 3 bolts. Like others have said, there is nothing abnormal that I hear just a vacuum pump. If you feel it isn't right, you can take the car back to them and requst a recheck. They may replace the vacuum pump.

And with the oil comment, I'd venture to say that if repairs as intrusive as a timing chain were performed, the oil should have been checked and topped off.

 

Thanks for the input. I'm glad I posted it up for some peace of mind. I feel as though I'm just being extra cautious at this point. The MINI is the first car I've owned that actually has to go into the shop for more than just an pil change