ticking from engine bay

[lazyfcker]

so i replaced my valve cover gasket and sealed it all back up, rebolted it down, started up the motor after letting the seal settle and it ran fine, and started with no problem, well.......now i hear a ticking noise:( , or something like a clicking noise coming from near the valve cover or around it. Now the motor has 173,xxx on it, and it stills "goes" when i hit the accelator, exempt for the exhaust i got last night and now having to repair tomorrow morning. Please list what you guys think the problem is. or if is ok to do that being the motor is so old, also if the same thing happens to you.....thanks

[Bio_Hazard]

i'd say timing chain guides

[lazyfcker]

would you happen to know how i can fix that? like buy a new valve cover? or what

[Bio_Hazard]

what year is it

[2the40]

would you happen to know how i can fix that? like buy a new valve cover? or what

If your car is like mine (1991), all I did was take off the valve cover and lift out the broken part. The timming chain guide is just an L shaped piece of metal. If it is indeed broken, it should just be rattling around above the timming chain. I was lucky and nothing needed to be replaced.

This is a common problem with some 240sx's.

[lazyfcker]

yes its the 91, but when i took off the valve cover today, i noticed no piece of metal.....anyone have a picture of one?

[2the40]

It might not be the timming chain guide. I know my motor "clicks" even after removing the guide.

I think it is just because they are getting older. I know when the motor was lower on oil, it was much louder and noticable.

[lazyfcker]

well i do remember when looking into the cams and all that good stuff that there wast to much oil in there, but there was what looked like enough to run. i just got an oil change about 2 weeks ago lol. ill go pick some motor oil up.

[lazyfcker]

i know this is dumb, but just to be 100% positive #1 cylinder is one farther away from the firewall, and #4 is the one closet to the firewall in a s13 correct?

[eddiec]

yes from front goes 1,2,3,4.

[highkck]

The reason the KA motor makes the clicking noise after the top guide is removed is after so long the timing chain stretches causing it to rub (click) the timing cover. If you take and put your hand on your timing cover (front of the motor) you can actually feel the vibration get stronger as you get near the place its rubbing. If you have over 100,000 miles that noise will be there. To get rid of it put in a new timing chain set (New chains, new tensioners) Its costly but if you do cams do it then. I have a s14 that I took the top guide off and it quited down, but that clicking is still there only at certain RPMs (idle). Its the stretched chain. Later hope this helps you guys.

[highkck]

This is my ride http://members.cardomain.com/silvia240

[SMoKeM240]

a timing chain makes a rattle noise, valves/lifters make the ticking noise your hearing, and thats either cause one is stuck or not enough oil... they have some stuff u can put in the oil and it helps alot and just keep your oil full... u people dont know **** on here, and make him fix something that isn't wrong

[SimpleEnigma]

You know that ticking noise could just be injector noise. The sound of the injectors solenoids operating

[benemorius]

Has this issue been resolved yet, lazy? If you describe the noise as a ticking, and you say you're low on oil, there's a good chance you're hearing your valve lifters tap due to not getting enough oil.

[lazyfcker]

sorry about not updating yall whats going on....well i checked oil and it was low so i added some oil and a stop leak/ burning oil treatment, just to see if it works (doubt it will) so after that it still makes the noise as of now so far, but i got real close to the injectors and think that it is the sound of the solenoids operating because when moved to the other side of the valve cover i didnt hear the sound as loud, but when i shut the hood the sound supreses and you can barely hear it.

[benemorius]

Well then...is it likely that the noise is no different than it was before you replaced the valve cover gasket? I won't be the last to tell you that ka's are pretty noisy engines. Hearing the injectors is nothing unusual. I would suggest that if the noise is all but gone with the hood closed, it's perfectly normal. It's up to you to decide whether the noise is truly any louder than it was before all this.

[Nissanutt]

yes its the 91, but when i took off the valve cover today, i noticed no piece of metal.....anyone have a picture of one?

Here is where the metal piece goes, its gone and it still taps my valve cover, mostly at idle, sounds like popcorn under there right? And the valve cover is worn thin from wear, maybe from the guide popping around maybe from the chain, I just hope it doesn't blow while my head is down there listening where the noise comes from!!!

I just bought the car 1995 240sx from someone who still had the original windshield wipers on the car and the car came with no service history because it didn't have one apparently. Live and Learn.

[Xero]

You know that ticking noise could just be injector noise. The sound of the injectors solenoids operating

correct, unless you KNOW the sound is coming from the valve cover, I'm willing to bet it's the injectors. I can hear mine from a mile away, that's just the sound they make, I kinda like it