Timing Chain, or? (Tapping Sounds)

[Katapl]

Since my SR20 S13 is being garaged for 3 months, I decided to take it out into the driveway and let it run for 20 or so minutes. As I came back to check on it, I heard a 'tapping' type of sound. It wasn't making this noise when it was started, as far as I can remember.

I gave it a bit of throttle and the noise stopped, but as soon as it went back to idle, the noise came back. Even if it was only getting a tiny bit of gas, the noise wasn't there. Whenever I let it idle, it was. As far as I know, noisy lifters are even heard when it's revving... which doesn't seem to be the case here.

Ideas?

[180fan]

Bleed the HLA's.

[lbrowne]

It can still be the lifters - my second and current 240 which sat untouched for over a year before i bought it had a sticky lifter. When you give the car gas you're increasing oil pressure, and its probably forcing the lifter to comply and then it goes back to being noisey when the pressure isn't there.

Luckily mine worked itself free within the first 1/2 hour it was running.

[Bronze MFP]

check everything mounted to the engine as well, I thought my timing chain was going bad on my KA way back when, turns out the nut that secures the long bolt that the alternator is mounted to came off. So the alternator and such were rattling around making a horrific noise.

[180fan]

The SR uses Hydraulic Lash Adjusters. It's a common problem, bleed them.