Hello,
We have a not-very-loud "tinkle" noise coming from the engine. It's on the left side as I look into the engine bay from standing in front of the car. I've used a stethoscope and can't track it down too precisely.
I'm wondering if it's timing chain related, but it is much much quieter than what I've hear on you-tube clips of tensioner failure, so if it's a timing chain problem it may be early-stage.

Of course, it may be something completely different...

It is loud enough to hear while driving if you are familiar with the sound of the car. The car has 42k miles.

Any suggestions?
Thanks very much.
Doug

 

Welcome to the forum! Can you post a video?

 

Not until tonight, at the earliest...

 

Is there a tensioner stop on the belt tensioner? If you're not the original owner, the previous owner might have added one because they're cheap insurance in case the tensioner fails. These are often thin pieces of metal that start to rattle over time.

 

Don't know about the belt tensioner, but I doubt the PO did anything in the way of modification to the car.
A "tinkling rattle" rather than a deeper "knocking rattle" is how I would describe it.

Are there any clever Mini-guru tricks for getting a good look at the belt and tensioner area?

 

No tricks other than opening the hood and looking at the tensioner next to frame rail. If there's a stop on it you'll see a rectangular loop of metal or a thin cable mounted over the tensioner strut. You can pics of the two types here:

https://www.waymotorworks.com/tensioner-stop.html

https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-tensioner-stop.html

These are lightweight so it would be more of the tinkling sound you describe if they are making noise.

 

It's on the passenger side of the engine. Just follow the belt. It will be to the rear.

 

Be sure the heat shield under the coolant blowoff tank is not in contact with the exhaust header box out. You will get a tinkle rattle from this.

 

Here's a video that might give an idea of the sound. It doesn't come across as clearly in the video as it does in real life, to my ears anyway.

I can hear it quite clearly, with the hood closed both outside and inside the car.

It isn't the heatshield on the exhaust header. Thx for the suggestion.

Doug