Noise = timing chain or lifters?

[hpmachine]

I bought a s14 with a rebuilt KA24de in it. It only has a around 6000 miles. I'm thinking that the upper guides were left in or perhaps the lifters were not bled/shimmed correctly. It makes a noticable ticking noise especially at start/up idle. The noise is definitely coming from the top of the motor. I think it's too loud to be injectors. Is there a way of determining if the noise is coming from the timing chain guides or lifters without starting to take stuff apart? If you think it would help, I could get a sound clip. Thanks in advance

[Shabbernigdo]

if it sounds like an empty spray paint can with the mixer ball just rattling arround its most likely your timing chain / timing set up.

[soultron]

I have that noise also in mine. The chain noise is just the tensioners right?Is it problem causing?

[hpmachine]

Yeah the timing chain noise is generally the upper tensioner and the two guides at the top. You can replace the tensioner and take the guides out. It could just make noise for a while without doing any damage but it's good to take care of it because eventually it could chew through the guides and start really damaging things. I still haven't figure out my noise yet. I was just wondering if there was a way of determining what it was before I started pulling things apart. Anyone try to hold a screwdriver on the top of the engine and listen through it???

[Razi]

I narrowed down my rattling sound that way when I first got my car.

I removed the guide, and after a year of owning the car, I recently changed the tensioner and it is nice and quiet now.

[j240sxxx]

Take your valve cover off and have a look see.. i had a very similar problem with my 92 kade... when i took it off the top chain guard was just sitting on the top of the chain, snapped off! so it was in there bouncing around making the rattle..

[DaniMike]

Most likely timing chain. BTW as far as I know KADE's do not have lifters, the SOHC engines do.

[hpmachine]

They've got lifters and shims. Checked the FSM

[DaniMike]

KA24de do not have lifters, some may call them lifters but they are not.

Ka's have the valve with the valve spring keeping tension on it, then on top of the valve is an upside bucket aka bucket shim or bucket tappet, then on top off that is a film of oil which the camshaft lobes slide against and the apex of the lobe pushes down on this bucket shim resulting in your valve going down.
Modified by DaniMike at 2:02 AM 11/8/2009

[hpmachine]

Yeah I'm pretty sure my noise is the chain. I'm gonna pull it open soon and see if the guides are still there. I'll replace the upper tensioner. Hopefully that'll solve it. Kinda weird actually, the noise almost disappears after it warms up. Maybe the oil is too heavy and it isn't circulating when when it's cold. Guess I'll figure it out eventually.

[o0Syn]

Mines doing this too and im kinda dreading tearing into it, did you figure your problem out?

[hpmachine]

I have no idea why, but after the rebuild, the dude left the upper guides in. Well I pulled those out and replaced the tensioner. It did not solve the problem. I changed the oil too. Went from 10w40 to 10w30 thinking that the lighter oil would circulate better. Still have the noise. I really am beginning to think that the lifters are just starting to tick. Maybe they need to be re-shimmed??? The noise is most noticable at cold start. After the car warms up, you can barely hear it. Once the engine reaches about 1500rpm the noise goes away completely. Its gotta be loose lifters right?

[o0Syn]

not sure mines a bit different of a motor but the same problem i got the KA24e, my problems come when its cold start 2.5k up to 5k most persistent at 3.5k when its warmed up. But on a warm day it wont do it at all. very frustrating I brought it to my bro in law who helped me with my last truck projects and of course it was warm out and i was towing a scooter so it wasn't doing it.

I feel like i should tear into it before it gets any colder outside and i end up braking something. All the noise seems to be coming from the very top end for me when its at a stand still and i rev it up i cant quite hear it either so its real odd

[hpmachine]

I dunno man. I really think my problems are related to the lifters and shims. I really am not looking forward to tearing in to that because it involves removal of the cams. Ugh. I should realyl take a sound clip and let you guys hear it. Maybe it would help...

[o0Syn]

yeah i was thinking of doing the same. I'm about to put some speakers in so might as well do that too. Yeah yours will definitely be a lot more involved of a project I'm not too familiar with these engines yet but I've been reading my a** off on these forums.