Ticking noise from cam cover - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

dragon240sx · 03-10-2004, 01:28 PM

Well I started my car up today and I heard a "ticking" noise coming from the engine that I've not noticed before. I popped the hood and finally narrowed it down to the front of the cam cover. In fact, I can put my hand on the top front of the cam cover and feel a little "knock" every now and then...is it time for the timing chain to be replaced? What could be making it tick like that...is something loose?

aznpoopy · 03-10-2004, 01:49 PM

could be something as simple as your timing chain guide. what kind of engine do you have? ka24de? if so it could be the chain guide which sits right at the front over the timing chain in front of the two cams. sometimes it gets loose or broken and starts making rattling noise. its a common problem with ka24des. its held in by two screws which in my case had unscrewed themselves after 9 years and were sitting in a rut between the two cams making all kinds of clattery noise. the guide itself was sitting on top of the chain slowly getting eaten away and problem depositing little metal bits in my engine.

anyway, when it just started it was a very faint tack sound every now and then. so just open up the cover and take a look at it.

dragon240sx · 03-10-2004, 02:04 PM

Yeah I have a Ka...the knock is definately at the top center of the cam cover so that could be the problem. Does the cam cover take a gasket or sealent because I don't want to take it off without having everything I need to put it back on...thanks!

aznpoopy · 03-10-2004, 02:35 PM

yes the cam cover has a gasket. when you take out the screws you will invariably strip the gasket. also there are two rubber semi circle stops that sit over the gasket and are attached to the block. i fixed this problem a while ago and didnt replace the gasket... now i have a leaky cam cover. i bought the replacement but i never got around to putting it on. too freakin' cold! maybe this weekend or next i guess. anyway hit up your local nissan dealer. they may have to order the parts... 240's aren't that common after all. if your cam cover screws are in good shape i *think* all you need is the gasket, the 2 stops and maybe some liquid gasket from your local auto store for the rubber stops. u might want to consult a FSM... i think u can download one somewhere in one of these threads.

note if you have the sohc ka24e then its a whole different ballgame.

A17Z · 03-10-2004, 10:45 PM

I have a similar problem. On cold starts, I hear ticking sound for about 3 seconds right when I start my car and it goes away. Do you think it's the same problem?

*Sil-Abc* · 03-11-2004, 01:18 AM

same here. ive been hearing it for months now and never knew what the hell it was. i had all my friends help me figure out what it was but never did find out. WTF IS IT?!?!

s14xman · 03-11-2004, 01:45 AM

i got it too!!

teampro687 · 03-11-2004, 04:04 AM

A17Z...I think it is just a lifter tapping until it gets primed. I heard the loud ticking on my DE and removed the upper guide as well but it was still there. It turns out that it was my lower chain tensioner that wasn't working and was causing all the noise. I bought the timing chain kit and replaced everything. I left out the two chain guides on the upper chain and everything is fine now.

aznpoopy · 03-11-2004, 10:14 AM

if ur car is rattling like bolts in a tin can i would guess its the chain guide. however this rattle happens while you are driving as well. if u hear a noise during start up only then maybe its what teampro said. btw teampro... how difficult was it to do the whole timing chain replacement? doing everything at a dealer costs boatloads of $$$... but i hear a do it youself job is a giant pain in the ass too.

i would think lifters would be a subtler noise coming from deeper in the car. a rattly chain guide is right at the top... very loud and obvious especially when you pop the hood and stand there. it sounds like its coming from the valve cover itself.

crash153 · 03-11-2004, 10:22 AM

funny, i get the same troubles on my single cam. makes an ass load of chain rattle til 3k and then its alright. btw people, make sure that your spark plugs and wires are in securely... i replaced mine a few weeks prior, and apparently the 4th cylinder stopped firing... look under the hood, the plug was loose...bye bye engine knock.

aznpoopy · 03-11-2004, 10:51 AM

i'm not well read on sohc chain rattle but i know its a SERIOUS problem. you should really do some research and fix that asap. this doesn't sound totally like your problem ... but here ya go.

240sx.org FAQ on SOHC rattle :

(Regarding SOHC engines)

Q: 1) is the '89 240SX SE an 'interference' engine (timing belt goes, valves and pistons crash catostrophically) or not?

A: Yes. If your chain breaks (never happens) or starts jumping teeth on the gears (more on this later) it can munch the valves.

> Tony Iannarelli wrote:
> >
> > What are the symptoms of the Timing Chain going bad?
>
> Well, it's not so much that the chain goes bad, but the tensioner
> gets weak and the guides break into little bits. This is a Nissan
> technical service bulletin, which means it's a known problem and
> there are upgraded parts available to correct it, but it's not a
> recall, so you have to pay to have it done.
>
> The usual symptoms are that the engine rattles like hell when you
> first start it (chain flapping around) and lacks power (slack chain
> causing camshaft timing to drift around unpredictably).
>
> It's a 10-12 hour job for your typical do-it-yourselfer, but it's one
> of the more annoying jobs I've done on my car. If you can afford it,
> I would advise you to have a shop do it -- and the independent shops
> do just as good a job as the dealerships, for less money.

03-10-2004, 01:28 PM	#1
dragon240sx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hickory, NC Age: 44 Posts: 111 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ticking noise from cam cover Well I started my car up today and I heard a "ticking" noise coming from the engine that I've not noticed before. I popped the hood and finally narrowed it down to the front of the cam cover. In fact, I can put my hand on the top front of the cam cover and feel a little "knock" every now and then...is it time for the timing chain to be replaced? What could be making it tick like that...is something loose? __________________ Derek V. 1996 Nissan 240sx "Never say it's not worth the pain because sometimes it is"

03-10-2004, 02:04 PM	#3
dragon240sx Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Hickory, NC Age: 44 Posts: 111 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah I have a Ka...the knock is definately at the top center of the cam cover so that could be the problem. Does the cam cover take a gasket or sealent because I don't want to take it off without having everything I need to put it back on...thanks! __________________ Derek V. 1996 Nissan 240sx "Never say it's not worth the pain because sometimes it is"

03-11-2004, 01:18 AM	#6
Sil-Abc Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Downtown LA Age: 39 Posts: 2,549 Trader Rating: (13) Rides Gallery: Sil-Abc Feedback Score: 13 reviews	same here. ive been hearing it for months now and never knew what the hell it was. i had all my friends help me figure out what it was but never did find out. WTF IS IT?!?! __________________ IM JON WAYNE ESQ.... bitch

03-11-2004, 01:45 AM	#7
s14xman Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: washington Age: 41 Posts: 1,022 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i got it too!! __________________ FRontline (marinating since 02)

03-10-2004, 01:49 PM	#2
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	could be something as simple as your timing chain guide. what kind of engine do you have? ka24de? if so it could be the chain guide which sits right at the front over the timing chain in front of the two cams. sometimes it gets loose or broken and starts making rattling noise. its a common problem with ka24des. its held in by two screws which in my case had unscrewed themselves after 9 years and were sitting in a rut between the two cams making all kinds of clattery noise. the guide itself was sitting on top of the chain slowly getting eaten away and problem depositing little metal bits in my engine. anyway, when it just started it was a very faint tack sound every now and then. so just open up the cover and take a look at it.

03-10-2004, 02:35 PM	#4
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	yes the cam cover has a gasket. when you take out the screws you will invariably strip the gasket. also there are two rubber semi circle stops that sit over the gasket and are attached to the block. i fixed this problem a while ago and didnt replace the gasket... now i have a leaky cam cover. i bought the replacement but i never got around to putting it on. too freakin' cold! maybe this weekend or next i guess. anyway hit up your local nissan dealer. they may have to order the parts... 240's aren't that common after all. if your cam cover screws are in good shape i think all you need is the gasket, the 2 stops and maybe some liquid gasket from your local auto store for the rubber stops. u might want to consult a FSM... i think u can download one somewhere in one of these threads. note if you have the sohc ka24e then its a whole different ballgame.

03-10-2004, 10:45 PM	#5
A17Z Leaky Injector Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: LA, CA Posts: 142 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have a similar problem. On cold starts, I hear ticking sound for about 3 seconds right when I start my car and it goes away. Do you think it's the same problem?

03-11-2004, 04:04 AM	#8
teampro687 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Age: 53 Posts: 24 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	A17Z...I think it is just a lifter tapping until it gets primed. I heard the loud ticking on my DE and removed the upper guide as well but it was still there. It turns out that it was my lower chain tensioner that wasn't working and was causing all the noise. I bought the timing chain kit and replaced everything. I left out the two chain guides on the upper chain and everything is fine now.

03-11-2004, 10:14 AM	#9
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	if ur car is rattling like bolts in a tin can i would guess its the chain guide. however this rattle happens while you are driving as well. if u hear a noise during start up only then maybe its what teampro said. btw teampro... how difficult was it to do the whole timing chain replacement? doing everything at a dealer costs boatloads of $$$... but i hear a do it youself job is a giant pain in the ass too. i would think lifters would be a subtler noise coming from deeper in the car. a rattly chain guide is right at the top... very loud and obvious especially when you pop the hood and stand there. it sounds like its coming from the valve cover itself.

03-11-2004, 10:22 AM	#10
crash153 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: stone mountain, Ga, USA Age: 41 Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	funny, i get the same troubles on my single cam. makes an ass load of chain rattle til 3k and then its alright. btw people, make sure that your spark plugs and wires are in securely... i replaced mine a few weeks prior, and apparently the 4th cylinder stopped firing... look under the hood, the plug was loose...bye bye engine knock.

03-11-2004, 10:51 AM	#11
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	i'm not well read on sohc chain rattle but i know its a SERIOUS problem. you should really do some research and fix that asap. this doesn't sound totally like your problem ... but here ya go. 240sx.org FAQ on SOHC rattle : (Regarding SOHC engines) Q: 1) is the '89 240SX SE an 'interference' engine (timing belt goes, valves and pistons crash catostrophically) or not? A: Yes. If your chain breaks (never happens) or starts jumping teeth on the gears (more on this later) it can munch the valves. > Tony Iannarelli wrote: > > > > What are the symptoms of the Timing Chain going bad? > > Well, it's not so much that the chain goes bad, but the tensioner > gets weak and the guides break into little bits. This is a Nissan > technical service bulletin, which means it's a known problem and > there are upgraded parts available to correct it, but it's not a > recall, so you have to pay to have it done. > > The usual symptoms are that the engine rattles like hell when you > first start it (chain flapping around) and lacks power (slack chain > causing camshaft timing to drift around unpredictably). > > It's a 10-12 hour job for your typical do-it-yourselfer, but it's one > of the more annoying jobs I've done on my car. If you can afford it, > I would advise you to have a shop do it -- and the independent shops > do just as good a job as the dealerships, for less money.