valve rattle??????

[donnie89240sx]

ok this is what i have. a 1989 nissan 240sx with the ka24e in it. i got a new head,new camshaft,lifters,timing chain,timing guides. there is a rattleing coming from the top of the motor. not constant just when i ease off of the throttle or at rpms over 3000. tried searching and i checked the lifters to see if they were stuck ,and they arent stuck they go in and out like they are supposed to.i am out of ideas. does anyone have any ideas that i could check or try. i would really appreciate any info or sugestions offered.

[Fahaka]

that sounds like ka death rattle, stay tuned for rod #3 through the block. That's ok though don't worry single cams are pretty much free. or maybe time to twin cam swap or sr...

[donnie89240sx]

what do u mean by death rattle. do u mean rod nock? i garentee this isnt a rod nock. its not coming from the bottom. sohc ka's around here are hard to find and i cant afford to do any kind of motor swap.

[Fahaka]

Quote »there is a rattleing coming from the top of the motor. not constant just when i ease off of the throttle or at rpms over 3000.[/quote]Not constant only above x rpm or full vaccum...sounds like ka death rattle...not rod knock yet but maybe soon.

if you are looking for the answer in the valve train, and you have ruled out all possible valve train issues then...what does your heart tell you? :p

[Camel]

Re-check the timing chain tensioner. It is probably stuck open and the chain is rattling. The death rattle is a timing chain (or guide) thing most of the time, or every time I have heard it.

[donnie89240sx]

well im not looking for the answer in the valve train. i was just stating what i had found so far. i will go check out the timing chain area and i just thought of something. it wouldnt be the ristpin on the piston. i think that would be constant wouldnt it. i hate to have to take it back apart. well im going to take this guy to court for running me off the road and tearing up my car i should get around a grand from him and if i do then i will just to the dohc swap i can get everything needed for like 750. if i do then it then i will either sell all the new parts i put on this motor and make some of my money back or just sell the whole motor like it is. other then that it runs good lots of power for being stock with only around maybe 500 miles on it.

[donnie89240sx]

ok well i just took the valve cover back off and its still clean as a bell haha. ok the tension side of the timing guid is nice and tight like it should and i pushed on it with an extension and it moves like its supposed to. but on the other side there is alot of slack for some reason? cuz i can move it a pretty good bit. i bet thats whats making the noice and both timing guides are still good. they only got around 500 or so miles on them,haha. but could that be whats making the noise and how can i get rid of that slack?

[slyedog240sx]

i am pretty sure the upper guides are obsolete.Nissan no longer requires the upper guides to be installed.Go to tech articles and there is a writeup on the guides.

[donnie89240sx]

my motor dont have upper guides. my motor is the sohc engine.it only has the 2 besides the timing chain.

[Fahaka]

does the sohc have a hydraulic tensioner? I can't remember.

Perhaps that is the culprit.

[donnie89240sx]

umm. i believe it is. i know it has a spring with a cap and the cap goes in and out with the tensioner. but when i pushed on it with a long extension it feels like its working just fine to me. but after it has been sitting a few hours the chain tightens back up???

[donnie89240sx]

bump anyone have any ideas,lol

[albert_ey]

hmm... I'm having the same problem as you, damn I hope someone can help.

I also have a 1989 240SX, w/ stock ka24e. The head has just been rebuilt.

[Josh2222]

yea i'm havin the same problem with my 89'.. i havent tried to search for the problem though. i hope someone finds out what it is before rod #3 gets some knocking and goes for a ride.

[donnie89240sx]

well atleast i know its not my fault if others r having the same problem. i brought my car to a local shop and he told me there is nothing i can do for it. i would need a new motor. but i knew he was going to say something like that so i would have to spend alot of money.if i find out a way to fix it then i will be happy to share the info. im still trying things out. i wonder if the timing could be off just a little to make it want to do that? im going to gget a timing lite and check. and if its off and i fix it and it works then i will let yall know. do yall also have a temperature problem with it running hot enough to bloil the water out the overflow tube ontop the radiator? everytime i drive it i gotta add water to it.

[albert_ey]

No my S13 doesn't over heat at all.

[donnie89240sx]

ok well heres an update for this. i dont know how exactly but the noise im experienceing is my timing chain getting slack in it and its hitting against the timing guide on the driver side. i changed the tensioner and the timing guides just to elimenate them.

[donnie89240sx]

well i got my motor back together but since i tried to start it and its making even more noise. i know it wont start i guess because of the emissions i know i have the timing set right like its supposed to im fixing to just say the hell with it and just sell it.

[albert_ey]

I replaced my oil pump and nothing, i'll try the tensioner next, my guides look fine, but i'll replace them just in case.

[donnie89240sx]

ok well i got it running again finally. but yea its still makeing the noise i guess im going to change the chain next. but imma drive it like this for a while i really dont feel like taking it apart again right now,haha.

[Josh2222]

uh r u sure that the water is boiling out? because if it just losing water u have a blown head gasket and/or a cracked head... somethin i just found out with my car...

[donnie89240sx]

ok well i know i do not have a blown head gasket or a cracked head thats not my problem at all the reason my car was getting hot is because the timing was off making it run hot. plus i have a fked up radiator.

[kamcam]

same problem with my 89 just replaced guides ane tensioner and i get the knock around 3000 rpm and i can't figure it at either. maybe someone will come up with a answer.

[rogoman]

ok this is what i have. a 1989 nissan 240sx with the ka24e in it. i got a new head,new camshaft,lifters,timing chain,timing guides. there is a rattleing coming from the top of the motor. not constant just when i ease off of the throttle or at rpms over 3000. tried searching and i checked the lifters to see if they were stuck ,and they arent stuck they go in and out like they are supposed to.i am out of ideas. does anyone have any ideas that i could check or try. i would really appreciate any info or sugestions offered.

It sounds like you may have low oil pressure which could be caused by several factors. Worn rod/main bearings. Plugged up oil filter. Dirty oil pickup. Most of the time it's the oil pump which may be worn and not producing the proper oil pressure/volume.

You can check the pressure very easily by installing a temporary mechanical oil pressure gauge. You would remove the oil sensor which is located next to the oil filter and install the mechanical oil pressure gauge in it's place; you may need to get an 1/8 BSPT to 1/8 NPT adapter to hook up the gauge. With the engine fully warmed up, the pressure should be as follows:idle - at least 11 psi3000 RPM - 60 to 70 psi

If the oil pump needs to be replaced, it's easy to do so on an '89 as it bolts on externally.

[donnie89240sx]

well at idle i run arou 15 to 20 psi then ar around 3 grand i am turning around 55 to 60 psi roughly. i have an oil pressure gauge i took out the original a long time ago. i had bought a universal oil pressure gauge and installed it when the original engine was still in it. plus when i took the oil pump apart and cleaned it up and everything it looked perfect on the inside.

[donnie89240sx]

ok well i found out what was making all the noist. the rocker/lifters. them and the shaft r pretty scarred up. so if anyone else is hearing some noise on the top end. then try this. take ur valve cover off. unbolt the shafts this the rocker/lifters on it. then take the little clips folding them onto the shaft off. and becareful remember exactly how they go back and take them off of the shaft keeping them in order and inspect them for any scarring or pitting. mine are in terrible shape. hope that helped and have a nice day everyone

[albert_ey]

Did you replace them? If so, where can I buy them?

[albert_ey]

bump--