jimm Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 Hi all...just joined this site! Here is the thing...I'm considering getting my sisters 93 Justy GL 5door 5spd 4wd...it has 244000 hwy kilometers on it but in really pretty good shape considering...except the engine...she parked it a few years ago due to the noise it makes. I'm pretty sure a connecting rod is knocking...the noise it makes is a regular pronounced knocking that corresponds to rpm...when driving the car the noise will go away when decelerating above 2k rpm...fairly consistently there on acceleration...when reving engine in neutral the noise can go away around 2-3k rpm but then also can become very irregular around there sounding more like a loud rattle which led me think maybe it could be a loose rocker or something so I removed the valve cover but everything looks ok there... the confusing part is I tried the remove the spark plug wire trick to find the cylinder that is the culprit but that didn't make much difference... What does everyone think...rod? or could it be by some miracle something much easier...and cheaper (saw the prices for parts for this car!!) here it is btw... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mortimc Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 I had a simmilar noise with my justy a couple years ago, I didnt do anythin about it and the engine blew. Picked up a used engine for 100 bucks at a junkyard, ran good. Seems to me it would be a coonecting rod problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[HTi]Johnson Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 I'd check the timing belt tensioner. My friend had the same symptoms with his RX...he thought a rod was going....everything you described...it did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimm Posted January 9, 2006 Author Share Posted January 9, 2006 Hadn't thought of the tensioner...I know it had the timing belt replaced not too long ago but doubt they changed the tensioner. Can't imagine it would make that much noise but I'll see if I can check it out...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodaka Rider Posted January 9, 2006 Share Posted January 9, 2006 I believe the Justy had some main bearing issues? Not positive, but I'm pretty sure that's what the local dealer told me a few years back. Is that one of the Justys that's been in the buysell or autotrader? From the coast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimm Posted January 9, 2006 Author Share Posted January 9, 2006 I believe the Justy had some main bearing issues? Not positive, but I'm pretty sure that's what the local dealer told me a few years back.Is that one of the Justys that's been in the buysell or autotrader? From the coast? Well I'm pretty impressed actually that it went basically 10yrs/244k km...not too bad really. I am expecting bad bearings...wonder if I could repair it cheaply enough to use for awhile... No, it's in the Okanagan. It is my sisters and has been parked for two or three years and hasn't been advertised anywhere. If I decide not to do anything with it we'd probably be interested in selling it although I know there is one other person that was already asking about it that we'd give the option to first. Anyone know of a decent used engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 If its a fairly tinny sounding noise it could be the chain that runs the balancer shaft and oil pump in the bottom-front of the motor. If it breaks the oil pump would stop working which would kill the motor. Mine was making a racket but it was too light sounding to be a connecting rod. Connecting rod noise isnt usually constant, it only happens at a short moment when the throttle is lifted. At first mine would only happen at a certain rpm with no throttle but soon it started happening constantly at idle. I have the motor apart now and the chain is really loose. There is no tensioner to take up the slack as the chain wears out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimm Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 If its a fairly tinny sounding noise it could be the chain that runs the balancer shaft and oil pump in the bottom-front of the motor. If it breaks the oil pump would stop working which would kill the motor. Mine was making a racket but it was too light sounding to be a connecting rod. Connecting rod noise isnt usually constant, it only happens at a short moment when the throttle is lifted. At first mine would only happen at a certain rpm with no throttle but soon it started happening constantly at idle. I have the motor apart now and the chain is really loose. There is no tensioner to take up the slack as the chain wears out. I woudn't describe it as tinny...I wish! but it is pretty constant even at idle and acceleration not so much deceleration I actually found an engine in Texas...just waiting for the price...I'm sure it will be too high though...sigh Also went to the local u-pull...but they only have one Justy in the entire place and it is an 89. I do almost want to tear this engine down just for fun if nothing else to see what really is wrong with it...and maybe fix it if I can get away with doing it minimally. good luck with your balancer chain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru Jim Maple Ridge Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 There is a member in Penticton who deals with Justys. He would be the one to ask, and probably the best one to get parts from should you need any. I'll try to find his name and let you know his site if i can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushbasher Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I woudn't describe it as tinny...I wish! but it is pretty constant even at idle and acceleration not so much deceleration I actually found an engine in Texas...just waiting for the price...I'm sure it will be too high though...sigh Also went to the local u-pull...but they only have one Justy in the entire place and it is an 89. I do almost want to tear this engine down just for fun if nothing else to see what really is wrong with it...and maybe fix it if I can get away with doing it minimally. good luck with your balancer chain! If your car has equal length front halfshafts, any block from a justy with equal length halfshafts will work. That 89 may be a good donor if it has equal length halfshafts. Early justys (88 for sure) had unequal length shafts, and so didnt have the right bosses in the side of the block. The switch was made in 89 or 90, Im not sure. I should add that I still believe it could be a rod knock, since that is a common problem. And if it has a rod knock, chances are the oil pump is bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimm Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 There is a member in Penticton who deals with Justys. He would be the one to ask, and probably the best one to get parts from should you need any. I'll try to find his name and let you know his site if i can. Just down the road from me! You must be talking about member PictureChaser...I've just been reading of his recent Justy exploits... If your car has equal length front halfshafts, any block from a justy with equal length halfshafts will work. That 89 may be a good donor if it has equal length halfshafts. Early justys (88 for sure) had unequal length shafts, and so didnt have the right bosses in the side of the block. The switch was made in 89 or 90, Im not sure. I should add that I still believe it could be a rod knock, since that is a common problem. And if it has a rod knock, chances are the oil pump is bad. I'm pretty sure that 89 is the earlier type with unequal length halfshafts...looks quite different. Found out the engine in Texas is $795usd...a little more than I think I want to spend on this..then there would be shipping etc on top of that. Yes...I bet it is rod knock...lots of them listed at wreckers have rod knock too...and I have been reading about the oil pump being a weak point...I do know the pump still works somewhat when I ran it without the valve cover checking out the rockers etc but that probably doesn't mean much as far as good pressure goes... Still mulling this over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenaissanceMan Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 garunteed its all your rod bearings. Its truly inevitable with these engines at that milage. Unfortunately there is no cheap rebuild, as if there are any grooves on the oil pump journal in the timing cover, then a bushing needs to be installed or something, and a new oil pump shaft & impeller as well. Crank will have to be turned and use undersized bearings. If you dont fix the oil pump and just replace the bearings, youll probably be getting the same sound in 1000k miles or less. -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimm Posted January 11, 2006 Author Share Posted January 11, 2006 garunteed its all your rod bearings. Its truly inevitable with these engines at that milage. Unfortunately there is no cheap rebuild, as if there are any grooves on the oil pump journal in the timing cover, then a bushing needs to be installed or something, and a new oil pump shaft & impeller as well. Crank will have to be turned and use undersized bearings. If you dont fix the oil pump and just replace the bearings, youll probably be getting the same sound in 1000k miles or less. -Mike Thanks for the assertion and advice Mike. I still might want to tear it down for fun if I get ambitious enough. Too bad as it is a really neat car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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