God awful engine noise metal on metal rubbing/clanking - sohc ka24e

[onosqv]

Ok, so everything was working peachy. Replaced the starter on Saturday. Went up to the mountains for some late night cruising. Everything went well until I started up the car for the drive home - heard something weird, like if someone opened up the valve cap, threw a bolt or something in and let it loose in the engine.

Pulled over a couple miles down, checked all fluids, checked for leaks, damage. Everything was kosher, just the noise - which is a constant random clanking and rubbing from somewhere in the engine block, I couldn't narrow down the sound.

I drove it home anyway - about halfway down the freeway, I hit one of those uneven bumps in the road, and the sound disappears! Fine the rest of the way home...

Start up the car Monday morning, and EEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRR clanking rubbing metal sounds coming in louder than ever.

Just parked her on the driveway and took the other car for the day.

Came back tonight to peep through the oil cap, things "seem" normal - timing chain was still there, didn't look loose - don't have time to open up the valve cap or drop the oil pan to see what's wrong til at least this weekend.

Crank the car, and even when cranking you can hear a loud metal rubbing sound - so I stop and don't let the car start.

I'm guessing it can only be 1 of 3 things - something connected to the camshaft, crankshaft, timing chain... I'm just really at a lost as to where I should start. I have bigger car projects going on soon, and I just don't want to deal w/ an engine blowing up .

History:

January 2006 - put in a rebuilt head, new timing chain kit, new gaskets/head studs, 240z oil pump, new water pump, everything. Everything done to FSM spec as close as I could. Timing set to aproximately 15 degrees.

May 13th 2006 - put in replacement starter from Autozone to replace the bad one from autozone that lasted 2 years... everything ran fine, started up nice and fast until incident above.

Thanks in advance for any help/pointers.

[180fan]

is the noise coming from the bottom end or top of the engine? One of my other local buds just blew apart his sohc at the bearings.

[onosqv]

sounds more from the top, but I can't verify for now because my car is loud and don't usually get home til late...

Will blowing the bearings still allow you to drive the car like normal otherwise?

[180fan]

if it's comin from the top it could be the lifters

if it's comin from the front it could be a snapped chain guide

if it's comin from the bottom its probably a good time to start lookin for a new engine. you can still roll with it, but the clacking sound will eventually drive you nuts and eventually you'll have a hole in the side of your block once the rod throws in the towel.

[onosqv]

thanks a lot for the input.

Soooo, I'm gonna try to check the top part (and hopefully I can see the chain guides fine w/ just the valve cover off) tonight.

W/ the valve cover off, would it be obvious that a lifter is bad... i.e. it is lower than all the other guys.

I'm planning on taking off the valve cover and manually turning the crank and seeing if things look normal. Sound good?

[onosqv]

Was doing some searching, and it doesn't sound like a collapsed lifter (had lifter tap before w/ the old head after hard runs or was a little on the low side w/ oil)...

So that leaves the other 2... , which would mean a lot more work, dammit!

O yea, this horrible loud grinding/rubbing/clanking noise also occurs while turning/starting the engine - not sure if I mentioned that - was testing it last nite... so I just stopped for the nite til I have time to at least pull the cover (was late).

[le_ryan]

i had a van lose a fly wheel bolt and it sounded like that.....not sure if that helps you.

[onosqv]

O, forgot to mention - automatic transmission

[steve s14]

where in socal are you located? i might be able to go down there and hopefully help you out with that.

[le_ryan]

mabey put it in neutral, and turn the engine by wrench and see if you can hear it still, you might be able to pin point it better

[onosqv]

where in socal are you located? i might be able to go down there and hopefully help you out with that.

Car's currently in fountain valley. I'm on aim right now - agentsonic02, would have emailed you but ur email is hidden. Thanks for the offer, any and all help is much appreciated!

mabey put it in neutral, and turn the engine by wrench and see if you can hear it still, you might be able to pin point it better

I'll try that tonite after work. Thanks.

[onosqv]

Ok, update:

Engine doesn't even start now, just a huge nasty wiirr, constant noise when starting the car - seems like starter is not engaging transmission? I'm concluding this because ^^^^steves14 was saying it could be the starter hitting the flex plate... I just replaced the starter saturday... and then these problems - so possible?

Popped the valve cover and everything looked normal - just cylinder 2's intake lifters are positioned lower than the other ones - exhaust side slightly higher - that's normal right?





Timing chain is tight, both guides & tensioners still look like they do when I put them in during January.

Guess either way, I'm gonna have to tow this somewhere because I don't have the equipment to deal w/ this @ my house .

[le_ryan]

hope you find the culprit, id go with the starter idea....SLIGHTLY OFF TOPIC:you must have a really colorfull engine bay.......

[onosqv]

very.

I hope hope hope hope hope it's just the starter and not the transmission... Hope nothing from the starter fell into the transmission... damn, i'm starting to get pissed @ myself for getting an autozone starter if that is it...

[le_ryan]

wouldnt there been some kind of liability issue there

[onosqv]

meh, they can always say "not installed professionally" - and I would have to prove they actually gave me a part that destroyed something else.

It's all speculation rite now... I'm just hoping for my "best case" scenarios where it's something I can fix w/in a day.

[onosqv]

Found the problem...



Don't trust **** from autozone.

Final diagnosis - from my friend who thought it would be the starter:

starter gear pops out and cranks, doesn't disengage fully - hence the totally messed up noises. Hit bump in the road, starter gear disengages.

pieces get torn off and lodged into transmission housing next start up .

[180fan]

Yeah that sounds about right. Sucks about the starter though. I'd get someone fired for the shotty part. As a matter of fact, I think I did get a manager at a local Kragens fired for not honoring the lifetime warranties on my brake pads (even from wear) because he didn't want to take a hit from his numbers. If all esle fails, they've got a corporate complaint line where they'll probably direct you to a district manager first. Good luck on reaming em a new one

[onosqv]

Just got back from 24hr autozone. 3rd starter is in. Lifetime warranty is effective.

Hopefully, tmrw the car will start w/o a hitch and those starter bits are in an area that won't make any noise or affect anything.

If there is odd noise or transmission blow up, I'm definately giving corporate a call. Other than that, don't think there would be a valid complaint.

Thanks for all the help you guys - special thanks to steves14 also for helping me via aim giving me suggestions and a couple other buddies.

Disaster avoided... for now.

[steve s14]

sorry to hear that but glad you found the problem.i know nissan starters are expensive but well worth the money in the long run. i have hear too many horror stories with aftermarket starters and alternators to ever trust them.

[drifterz73]

i have a similar problem i hope someone can help asap... 89 sohc ...driving last night and starting to hear horrible sound and smell.. ahhhhhh, i thought...ticking maybe something broke not sure... then car almost died... too late to look after i got home... started car this morning same noise..took valve cover off to see if anything was missing broke or loose.. nothing at first.. then noticed possible driver side timing guide possibly missing no flashlight.. put valve cover back on started back up smell still kinda there..but what can i do... took off about 10 min later noise is gone no more ticking that i can notice... head back home and bearly hear it again...oh and i have a backfire miss or pop never really had before last nites noise... please help... my only transportation....