Hey guys, so a bit ago I bought a 2006 r53 for 2300 bucks (was listed for 3k but haggled it down). The headgasket was blown and the cylinder head had a small amount of warpage that could be resurfaced (around 2/1000ths of an inch).

Shortly after, my starter died. I installed a new one by going through the top of the car and not removing the exhaust manifold. I slid the intake manifold heat shield down the exhaust piping and had no problems there. I bent the other heat shield that protects the wiring etc under the intake manifold heat shield. Now, I had a lot more trouble putting the heat shield back where it was originally. There's this one hole in the shield that goes over a metal peg on the starter so it's firmly in place. I managed to get it over it and bam I was done.

Ever since (it's been 1500 miles) I replaced this component and bent the fairly malleable heat shield, I hear a metallic clicking sound when under acceleration. I normally don't hear it unless I'm driving in a tunnel or past something that will reflect the sound (concrete, cars, etc).

I do notice that when I start my car, and when it idles, the engine vibrates a fair amount. What's the likely hood that the clicking would just be the engine tapping the heat shield when it vibrates? My car is throwing no codes, and it can't be a valve tick since these engines are non-interference (right?). When acceleration at around 40 mph in 30rd, the bpm of the click is around 500 to estimate.

Any ideas? My car runs perfectly fine, it's just really bothering me.

 

How are your engine mounts? Could just be some harmless vibration.

 

I have yet to check, im out of town currently. Ill check and get back tomorrow. Ive gone through service records for its entire life and havent seen any mention of engine mounts. And because the engine vibrates quite a bit when it starts, then slightly less when it idles, id assume theyre bad.

How do the engine mounts make that ticking aound then?

 

If the noise started after you worked on a certain area of the car recheck your work, chances are that is going to lead you to the noise.

 

I have this same sound (2003 R53), and have for 30k miles, but haven't been able to track it down. I heard someone guess that it might be alternator bearings.

 

Do you still have the original damped crank pulley?

 

I do, but the last time I had it open (a month or two ago to look at the A/C compressor), it looked fine. Should it be obvious on sight if it's bad?