weird tappet/knocking noise infiniti j30

[vaibhav_garg]

hello all

I was loosing a lot of coolant in my 1995 J30. While trying to find the source, I noticed it was from the small piece of hose that is just after the intake/outlet aluminum piece to which radiator hose is connected. This hose and another one are the one which take in the coolant circulate around the engine and bring it back. I think the aluminum part is called is the top aluminum circulation hoses. What I replaced were the rubber coolant circulation hoses just after that.

I did not touch the timing belt or its settings at all. Only thing was that I was not able to open the left timing belt cover properly and broke it. But I got all the pieces out. Just to make sure I just cranked the engine (with all hoses disconnected) once or twice and saw no pieces in the pulley assembly of the timing belt. The crank angle sensor was disconnected at that time. I did not start the car.

I put back all connecter and hose properly. Now the problem is that when I give gas my car sounds like a truck or as a deisel engine. It does not happen when its idle or when I dont give gas. I can hear the tappet or knocking like sound when I shift from neutral to drive. The car drives fine, its does not misfire, accelartes fine just that there is this annoying noise. It seems that some how the timing is off. I am a novice, so I am not very good at describing the noise.

Can someone tell me what I would have done wrong. I am supposed to go for a long trip after one day. Please can someone give some pointers.

Thanks

Vaibhav
Modified by vaibhav_garg at 3:46 AM 4/30/2009

[yodawill2000]

If it runs and accelerates just fine the timing should be good .It sounds like it might be the Valve solenoid tapping .A half bottle of synthetic oil as helped a few peeps in the past.

[vaibhav_garg]

thanks I will try that.. what perplexes me is that this noise was not there, before I changed the hoses. I am wondering what could have done to cause this noise. Can you tell me where the valve solenoid is, in case I messed with it by accident?

[yodawill2000]

its at the rear of the enginedon't think you were near it

[vaibhav_garg]

thanks... I will go and check the valve solenoid. There are no infiniti specialist in my area. I had a very busy mechanic look at it and according to him, a cylinder in the second bank (4,5,6) has a timing issue. He is thinking that I messed up the crank angle sensor connector, which we have to remove to open the driver side upper timing belt cover. If that is not making good contact, can it cause this ?

any ideas? really need some help as I got to leave tomorrow for a job.

[yodawill2000]

I would think it would ..That's weird though.When I replaced my Timing belt I had to remove the belt covers and never touched the crank angle sensor ??I would check its connection and see if its set to specs.

[GerryO]

Check/set the timing to spec by adjusting the CAS and add 1/2 a quart of/convert to 20-50 synthetic blend oil.

[vaibhav_garg]

I thought that I may have somehow changed the timing by cranking the car with the CAS not connected. However, I cannot find a way to set/reset or adjust the timing using Crank angle sensor (CAS)

Any idea how I do that. Thank you all for replying.. I hope I can fix this today so that I can leave and join my new job.

Also is the crank angle sensor and camshaft position sensor the same thing. from the FSM I think its called the camshaft position sensor or CMPS

Regards,

Vaibhav
Modified by vaibhav_garg at 11:55 AM 4/30/2009

[GerryO]

We're talking about this part, the CPS, right?



You'll need a timing light to check and adjust the timing with the engine fully warmed up, when following the FSM instructions.

[vaibhav_garg]

Hi GerryO

Thanks for the great pic. Though I have not taken the part out, but it looks that is it! But I have the FSM. I can't find instructions to time it. I have finally figured that its a timing issue. I have advanced timing which causes my car to sound like a diesel truck when it warms up and only when I give gas.

I still have some time to leave for my job, any help can get me there with my beloved J30!

-Vaibhav

[yodawill2000]

You can see from the pic that the whole assemby can be slightly rotated .. notice the mounting arae is a slot instead of a hole.

FYI mine is set at 15 before TDC when warm and runs fine.

[vaibhav_garg]

Thanks... I seem to be getting somewhere.. I am a newbie so I don't understand some technical language...Let me clarify a few things.

I know that I can take it out and rotate it with hand.. Can you explain what it means to be set at 15 before TDC? what is TDC.. if you can explain a bit, it will help me set it.. what do you mean by 15.. is there a mark on it or some reading i should take.

I think I cranked the car, with Crankshaft position sensor harness not connected and it got out adjustment or something like that.. because I did not touch anything at all!!!

Please help....thank you all.. if I can get this right, I might get my car going..
Modified by vaibhav_garg at 5:59 AM 5/1/2009

[yodawill2000]

Down on the crank pulley there are timing marks.You will need to SLIGHTLY loosen the camshaft sensor so you can rotate it with some resistance.Then using a Timing light set the timing. When you get it where you want it tighten the Cam sensor assy.

TDC is Top Dead Center in gearhead speak.You will see a ZERO mark on the timing marks.Thats TDC.

[vaibhav_garg]

hello all (Gerry) yodawill2000

I must apologize not updating you all of my problem. It was rude of me not let you know what was the end result. I was almost able to solve my problem and drive to Dallas Tx safely !

On the last suggestion in the post, I tried messing with the crankshaft position sensor. I did not have a timing light nor the knowledge to set the position exactly, but I fiddled with and turned it one direction and the noise went away! the car still grunts and knock initially once I start, but after a gain a little speed it goes away. After that I put in some fuel line cleaner.

What perplexes me is that I never touched the sensor, apart from pulling its harness connector out. Only thing was that I cranked the engine without it being connected.

I wanted to thank you all for helping me at the last minute. Now I am looking to a good mechanic or someone in Dallas TX area who can help me get the timing right and fix some other issues with my J30. Can you guys suggest one. I am gonna put another post for that.

thanks

vaibhav
Modified by vaibhav_garg at 3:58 PM 5/17/2009

[Skapunk4everr]

After my water pump fiasco, I finally got the j running a few months back. I am experiencing the exact same problem , and drive the J very little till i fix the problem.

Thanks everyone for your input, I think the CPS adjustment is exactly my problem. I am going to adjust it tomorrow to see if it fixes the clanking.

[Skapunk4everr]

Well, its not my camshaft sensor. Just tried adjusting it. I have a feeling its my valve solenoid tapping, but just a question. are these hard to replace?

[GerryO]

Clanking or ticking?

I think so (the two gizmos with white sheathed cables connected to them in the photo below) and haven't heard much about them failing.



I'm the synthetic oil advocate when it comes to a possible noisy lifter, and engine timing (adjusted using the CPS) is obviously important too.

[Skapunk4everr]

Thanks, I have actually tried the synthetic oil with no luck. The reason I suspect the valve is because the sound is only there when in low RPM's while driving.

[Skapunk4everr]

Thanks, I have actually tried the synthetic oil with no luck. The reason I suspect the valve is because the sound is only there when in low RPM's while driving.

[GerryO]

Thanks, I have actually tried the synthetic oil with no luck. The reason I suspect the valve is because the sound is only there when in low RPM's while driving.

The tapping noise that sythetic oil addressed in my case was obvious when the engine was idling and not in gear. It got worse after the car sat for a couple of months.

Your's sounds like an engine timing under load/when accelerating issue? What octane gas do you run?

[Skapunk4everr]

Yeah its much more apparent when im accelerating in low speeds. I am using 91 octane, the highest offered here in az.