pntball&wheelin Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 I just discovered a kind of rattling noise coming from the valve cover area of my 92 legacy 2.2 non turbo. It sounds like a rattle from a lifter (like in the old chevy V8's). This only happens when under a load, like coming up a steep hill or hard acceleration. Is this common? Could it be from the cheap NE PA gas? Or is it possibly something more? She has 128,000 miles and I purchased her with 125,000 miles. I do not know if it had the timing belts replaced or not. I have not replaced the plugs yet. The old oil was not bad looking when I changed it. Any help will be appreciated. Andy mtrmouth24@yahoo.com Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subie94 Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 how's the oil level? (seeing that you say it sounds like it's coming from the lifters?) you can try running higher octane through it and see if it makes a difference.maybe it's ping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericem Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Try fuel injection cleaner. Always works for me when i hear something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid542 Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Two potential explanations, both common with first gens Legacy's. One, it's the fuel injectors just clacking away. They are noisy and sometimes get exessively. Two, your HLA's need bleeding. Your engine has hydralic valve lash adjusters that will get air in them if your oil got too low at some point. Sometimes they just die. Either way it makes a heck of a racket. Often times replacing the oil will take of them but sometimes you have to take them out and manually 'refill' them. This is a simple process and you can leave the engine in the car. Just take off your valve covers, push on the various valves until you find the loose ones, push hard and if they're dead you'll know it. From there it's 8 bolts to pull off the rocker assembly and then the HLA's will pull out. Have you taken a screwdriver to probe to find the noise? If it's coming from under the valve covers then I'd put my money on the HLA's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Log1call Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Hi guys, if the noise is only when under a load, then surely we can rule out the lifters? I'd check the ignition timing myself. It sounds like pinking/pinging to me. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manarius Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Timing and ignition is all electronic so I don't know exactly what he could do there. I wonder if it it just pinging a little. Although, lifters pick the strangest times to make noises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pntball&wheelin Posted August 6, 2006 Author Share Posted August 6, 2006 Hey guys thanks for the info, I did run fuel injector cleaner with the last 2 out of 3 tanks of gas. This tank is just gas and it seems to be louder. The oil was changed about 2000 miles ago so it is just about due. It is definately not making any noise at idle, just when you pull a steep hill, and it sounds louder on the passenger side. A friend was behind me the other day and said it looks like the car is loading up when shifting into passing gears. We were going up a long hill at a decent rate of speed and I pulled out to pass someone and got on the gas pretty heavy, at that point he said there was black smoke(I believe he said black) out the tailpipe. He thinks it needs new plugs, but this doesn't explain the pinging noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericem Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Thats wierd man, hmm. Seems like a internal problem. I guess u could try new plugs, new oil, new filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid542 Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Have you tried probing yet? Have you pulled off the passenger valve cover (it's three low torque screws)? Is the sound a clacking, like two pieces of metal hitting, or does it sound like a piston is misfiring, much deepr and throatier? Do you notice any excessive engine vibration when it starts makeing this noise? Is your friend sure the smoke was black? Unburnt gas doesn't come out as black smoke. Does your engine hold steady oil levels? New plugs and wires are always going to help on an old engine that hasn't been touched in a while although I still don't think that's going to fix your problem unless the sound is the sound of a missing piston. Changing the oil and filter won't do anything either if your oil levels are correct and you still have the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pntball&wheelin Posted August 7, 2006 Author Share Posted August 7, 2006 I haven't tried probing, I do not have a probe and need to get one. As far as the oil level is fine, has been since the oil was changed. I will have to ask about the smoke again. It does sound like a clacking. I thought it sounded like worn out rocker arms on an old chevy V8. Since I purchased this car the only things I have done is rear brakes, oil change, and installed a cone filter with a home made heat shield. I am gonna put the airbox back on and see if that changes things. The only times I hear the noise is when it shifts into 3rd or 4th gear going up hills. I havent heard it at any other times I can remember. It seems to be when the engine rpm's drop while still in a higher gear, before it down shifts. I went for a ride and the sound is there all the time while driving, but not at an idle. Oil looks good for 2000 miles, it is relatively clean, dark brown and not black. I used castrol gtx 5/30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid542 Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Hmm.... Do you have an 4EAT or 5MT? I'm also assuming no CEL's? Usually putting a cone filter on will increase the intake noise but that doesn't seem to quite match your description. Kinda dumb, your heat shield isn't rattling is it? A cheap probe can be made out of a long screwdriver. Stick the round end in your ear and put the small end on what you want to probe, you can extend it with a piece of rod if need be. Just be careful, my mom told me to never put anything in my ear smaller than my elbow... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pntball&wheelin Posted August 7, 2006 Author Share Posted August 7, 2006 4EAT trans. The heat shild was installed yesterday and the noise has been there for over a week that I noticed. I live in Scranton Pa area and we had a heat wave so i was running the ac with the windows closed and could not hear it. I will try the screwdriver trick and see whats up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnceggleston Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 your mom is smart, and you're good to remember too!!! let's here it for moms!!! my mom told me to never put anything in my ear smaller than my elbow... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericem Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 your mom is smart, and you're good to remember too!!! let's here it for moms!!! HIP HIP HORRAY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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