S15 Silvia with a bad rattle - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

nasx · 06-10-2009, 09:23 PM

I just took delivery of a black 2000 S15 Qs (SR20DE) with full oem aero kit.
Darn it is a sweet looking car. Never saw one in person before.

But it has issues.
When cold it rattles VERY loudly at startup then the rattling all but goes away. When operating temp is reached, the rattling returns intermittently but not as loud as at startup. When revved, the noises seem to diminish unlike spun bearings that get louder when revved.

The stock oil pressure gauge is all over the place (jumpy needle movements and all) reading from normal at startup to zero when warmed up en then back up again, so I'm not sure it's working correctly.

My guess is thus the timing chain and/or tensioner, do the symptoms sound like the timing chain and/or tensioner to you, or should I still be thinking bearings?

If it's the tensioner, can the tensioner be changed without pulling the motor?
What about oil pump replacement can it also be done without pulling the motor? Thinking I might want to replace it just to be safe.

MannylovesLian · 06-10-2009, 09:54 PM

the noise is a bad intake cam gear!
You need to buy a new one.
I had the same problem.

SoguRacing · 06-10-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MannylovesLian

the noise is a bad intake cam gear!
You need to buy a new one.
I had the same problem.

you couldn't possibly state that as a fact. It's only a possibility. My guess is that is that it's a spun bearing or a bearing that's about to spin. If i were you I would check your oil pan for dents. if dents are found then replace. if rattling still occurs then check your rod bearings. As rod bearing wear you will see a decrease in oil pressure as more oil is slipping by the bearing. More than likely I would suspect rod bearings. It can also be piston slap....due to tapering of the cylinder walls. get it checked out. pull the valve cover off first and see if everything looks ok up top first.

WoolyS14DET · 06-10-2009, 10:08 PM

Take a vid and post on youtube and insert the link and let us listen

nasx · 06-10-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MannylovesLian

the noise is a bad intake cam gear!
You need to buy a new one.
I had the same problem.

How can I test or inspect this? Is this a common/known problem with S15's

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoguRacing

you couldn't possibly state that as a fact. It's only a possibility. My guess is that is that it's a spun bearing or a bearing that's about to spin. If i were you I would check your oil pan for dents. if dents are found then replace. if rattling still occurs then check your rod bearings. As rod bearing wear you will see a decrease in oil pressure as more oil is slipping by the bearing. More than likely I would suspect rod bearings. It can also be piston slap....due to tapering of the cylinder walls. get it checked out. pull the valve cover off first and see if everything looks ok up top first.

No dents on the oil pan it's in great shape. I will pull the VC over the wekend. The car only has 45k miles and otherwise mint. Seems like the previous owner took good car of the car, so i'm hoping it's not the rods.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoolyS14DET

Take a vid and post on youtube and insert the link and let us listen

Will do that tomorrow

SoguRacing · 06-10-2009, 10:24 PM

also check for timing chain slack. it could be hitting the guide up top.

Smurf_240SX · 06-10-2009, 10:29 PM

Happend to my SR also turns out it was my Alternator Pulley bearing seized up. Noise would come and go. So that could be a possibility. Dont know about the jumpy oil pressure needle tho you might wanna check whats up with that first.

nasx · 06-10-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smurf_240SX

Happend to my SR also turns out it was my Alternator Pulley bearing seized up. Noise would come and go. So that could be a possibility. Dont know about the jumpy oil pressure needle tho you might wanna check whats up with that first.

Definitely not the pulley. but I'll try to get a mechanical oil pressure gauge hooked up to check the oil pressure.

This suck I only have the car less than 24hrs

SoguRacing · 06-10-2009, 10:32 PM

perhaps the oil pick-up/sump is loose.

Tensor187x · 06-10-2009, 10:36 PM

I'm gonna go with dents in the oil pan.
Starving that engine of oil.

jackal264 · 06-10-2009, 10:39 PM

rofl spun bearings...

here are my 2 guesses. i'm leaning towards #2

you said your having oil pressure problems, your just getting air in the lifters and thats causing the rattle until the motor gets oil through the head.

secondly like s14 sr20's you have vvt. the vvt units tend to make noise when they get old. the unit engages at 1000 rpm. so once warm your idle will fall back to 850 and you will not hear it but every time you rev you should hear a click at the throttle body then the knock. you can also try inpluging the vvt. thats the easiest way to eliminate it as the issue.

my vvt makes noise from 1000-1300 rpm and at idle it is quite loud but it works just fine.

edit: intake cam gear as mentioned above is the same thing i am talking about b/c on an vvt motor the cam gear is the vvt unit. so like the very first post says replace it to et rid of the noise.

nasx · 06-10-2009, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tensor187x

I'm gonna go with dents in the oil pan.
Starving that engine of oil.

Like I said above the oil pan is flawless. Thanks

nasx · 06-10-2009, 10:43 PM

. .

nasx · 06-10-2009, 10:49 PM

. .

MannylovesLian · 06-11-2009, 10:10 AM

Trust me man. it is the VCT gear/intake cam gear. i had the very same problem, knock on warm up, oil pressure flux, come and go once warm.
I took apart my whole block and replaced everything! EVERYTHING but that intake cam gear. i thought it was an oil pick up problem or oil starvation whatever. but then my mechanic told me to change the intake cam because that was all that was left to change. Well What Do You Know! That Was IT.

you can buy a used one for cheap, but you wont know if that one is bad. just buy a new one to save you the hassle. or you can just delete it and buy cam gears, but that would defeat the purpose of the gear and you will just have a S13 motor.

nasx · 06-11-2009, 06:40 PM

Tried getting a video of the rattling, but it all went away for several cold starts just light rattling once warmed up. Then when I did not have the camera it rattle like an angry diesel truck. A few cold starts later nothing again. removing the solenoid plug does not seem to do anything about the light rattling (sounds like a playing card running over bicycle spokes) once warmed up.

I'm looking into getting a cam gear? How much does a new one cost?

*fliprayzin240sx* · 06-11-2009, 10:32 PM

Either the VVT gear is fucked or the chain is tapping the retainer on top.

nasx · 07-04-2009, 07:28 AM

finally the video
YouTube - rattle sr20de

nasx · 07-19-2009, 06:45 PM

Replaced the cam gear, with a used low mileage one, (fingers crossed) and cleaned the tensioner with carb cleaner and WD40.
Rattle gone. I'm happy Thanks guys.

06-10-2009, 09:23 PM	#1
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	S15 Silvia with a bad rattle I just took delivery of a black 2000 S15 Qs (SR20DE) with full oem aero kit. Darn it is a sweet looking car. Never saw one in person before. But it has issues. When cold it rattles VERY loudly at startup then the rattling all but goes away. When operating temp is reached, the rattling returns intermittently but not as loud as at startup. When revved, the noises seem to diminish unlike spun bearings that get louder when revved. The stock oil pressure gauge is all over the place (jumpy needle movements and all) reading from normal at startup to zero when warmed up en then back up again, so I'm not sure it's working correctly. My guess is thus the timing chain and/or tensioner, do the symptoms sound like the timing chain and/or tensioner to you, or should I still be thinking bearings? If it's the tensioner, can the tensioner be changed without pulling the motor? What about oil pump replacement can it also be done without pulling the motor? Thinking I might want to replace it just to be safe.

06-10-2009, 10:24 PM	#6
SoguRacing Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: (714) Age: 39 Posts: 2,967 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: SoguRacing Feedback Score: 23 reviews	also check for timing chain slack. it could be hitting the guide up top. __________________ Pre Tune Checkup! Compression,LeakDown,Vacuum Test $80. Cams Install: $180

06-10-2009, 10:32 PM	#9
SoguRacing Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: (714) Age: 39 Posts: 2,967 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: SoguRacing Feedback Score: 23 reviews	perhaps the oil pick-up/sump is loose. __________________ Pre Tune Checkup! Compression,LeakDown,Vacuum Test $80. Cams Install: $180

06-10-2009, 10:43 PM	#13
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	. . Last edited by nasx; 06-11-2009 at 08:48 AM.. Reason: re-read post already got the answer

06-10-2009, 10:49 PM	#14
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	. . Last edited by nasx; 06-11-2009 at 08:35 AM.. Reason: reread post already got the answer

06-10-2009, 09:54 PM	#2
MannylovesLian Banned from the Marketplace Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: LA County Age: 40 Posts: 304 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	the noise is a bad intake cam gear! You need to buy a new one. I had the same problem.

06-10-2009, 10:08 PM	#4
WoolyS14DET Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 46 Posts: 1,310 Trader Rating: (18) Feedback Score: 18 reviews	Take a vid and post on youtube and insert the link and let us listen

06-10-2009, 10:29 PM	#7
Smurf_240SX Zilvia Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: So Cal- I.E Age: 36 Posts: 880 Trader Rating: (9) Feedback Score: 9 reviews	Happend to my SR also turns out it was my Alternator Pulley bearing seized up. Noise would come and go. So that could be a possibility. Dont know about the jumpy oil pressure needle tho you might wanna check whats up with that first.

06-10-2009, 10:36 PM	#10
Tensor187x BANNED Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OC Age: 38 Posts: 179 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I'm gonna go with dents in the oil pan. Starving that engine of oil.

06-10-2009, 10:39 PM	#11
jackal264 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: vancouver, canada Age: 39 Posts: 360 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	rofl spun bearings... here are my 2 guesses. i'm leaning towards #2 you said your having oil pressure problems, your just getting air in the lifters and thats causing the rattle until the motor gets oil through the head. secondly like s14 sr20's you have vvt. the vvt units tend to make noise when they get old. the unit engages at 1000 rpm. so once warm your idle will fall back to 850 and you will not hear it but every time you rev you should hear a click at the throttle body then the knock. you can also try inpluging the vvt. thats the easiest way to eliminate it as the issue. my vvt makes noise from 1000-1300 rpm and at idle it is quite loud but it works just fine. edit: intake cam gear as mentioned above is the same thing i am talking about b/c on an vvt motor the cam gear is the vvt unit. so like the very first post says replace it to et rid of the noise.

06-11-2009, 10:10 AM	#15
MannylovesLian Banned from the Marketplace Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: LA County Age: 40 Posts: 304 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Trust me man. it is the VCT gear/intake cam gear. i had the very same problem, knock on warm up, oil pressure flux, come and go once warm. I took apart my whole block and replaced everything! EVERYTHING but that intake cam gear. i thought it was an oil pick up problem or oil starvation whatever. but then my mechanic told me to change the intake cam because that was all that was left to change. Well What Do You Know! That Was IT. you can buy a used one for cheap, but you wont know if that one is bad. just buy a new one to save you the hassle. or you can just delete it and buy cam gears, but that would defeat the purpose of the gear and you will just have a S13 motor.

06-11-2009, 06:40 PM	#16
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Tried getting a video of the rattling, but it all went away for several cold starts just light rattling once warmed up. Then when I did not have the camera it rattle like an angry diesel truck. A few cold starts later nothing again. removing the solenoid plug does not seem to do anything about the light rattling (sounds like a playing card running over bicycle spokes) once warmed up. I'm looking into getting a cam gear? How much does a new one cost? Last edited by nasx; 06-11-2009 at 07:53 PM..

06-11-2009, 10:32 PM	#17
fliprayzin240sx Man w/ CTSV & a Car Seat Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 17,998 Trader Rating: (19) Rides Gallery: fliprayzin240sx Feedback Score: 19 reviews	Either the VVT gear is fucked or the chain is tapping the retainer on top. __________________ If you think Zilvia has too many assholes... CLICK HERE!!!

07-04-2009, 07:28 AM	#18
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	finally the video YouTube - rattle sr20de

07-19-2009, 06:45 PM	#19
nasx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FL Posts: 103 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Replaced the cam gear, with a used low mileage one, (fingers crossed) and cleaned the tensioner with carb cleaner and WD40. Rattle gone. I'm happy Thanks guys.