odd sound under timing belt cover or something worse?

[Nismo Moose]

Messing with my intake today and I started to hear a odd sound as if something was smacking into the cover that hides the timing belt, or maybe you guys can understand better, I've attached a video link for those to judge.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rMb7dX6izg[/youtube]
I know this next video is upside down, stupid iPhone positioning :/
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kREEHyiNIw[/youtube]

How does she sound btw?

Friend which had no time to pay attention said maybe misfire, but I have no MIL and I have had a misfire before and I can definitely remember the loss of power but this time I feel like she runs great, minus the sounds and I also need to have a way to test all my vacuum lines because the lines behind my throttle body that I tried to disconnect for sea-foaming doesn't even pull or push any air.

I am quite sure I can use a new radiator fan as this one barely spins like 1/4 the way when I turn it with my hand and car off.

Any help or tips for a semi-new Z driver is appreciated!

[es.biggs]

Resistance when you spin the fan is good - it means your fan clutch is doing it's job. No worries there.

I'd try unplugging your VTC solenoids to see if it changes anything. Sounds like a VTC issue - check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSbdnfT2OXA

There are two of them. Try unplugging to see if that changes anything

PS - she sounds good man. I used to have hair like yours - it's falling out now hahah

[Nismo Moose]

haha thanks, I will check in the morning does sound different after I cleaned my air filter now I hear mostly this.

[vg1134]

Sounds like the vtc solenoids for sure.

[Nismo Moose]

it's a NA do I have them?? I didn't see the wires like shown and now it sounds alot worse up in the engine bay :/

[es.biggs]

Yeah you have them. They are on the back of each intake cam - they sit between the valve cover and the head. You might be able to see them with the intake manifold on. Try to spot the wires coming from them and follow them up to the connectors.

Oh wait - you have a 96....those are a little different. I'm not so sure you have them now...I'll do some research and update.

OK sorry for sending you down the wrong road, Nissan dropped the VTC for the 96 models. If you are 100% positive it's coming from in the timing covers, you might want to just open it up and look things over. With that much noise you can probably see something that will be physically worn from rubbing.

Just make sure it's not the fan, belts, or any other rotating parts on the front of the engine. All of that has to be removed anyways to get the timing covers off. Maybe take the fan shroud off and start the car to see if the noise goes away, then remove fan, belts and do the same thing, etc.