3SGTE rattly on low revs + when cold only ** problem found **

[RobST162]

this is really weirding me out and any thoughts would be very valued

• i've checked my cam clearances (they're perfect) and checked they're getting all oiled ok
• it does sound louder down the bottom and is related to engine speed
• when the car gets warm it goes away
• when you rev the car, it goes away

any ideas people I'm running out of them!

and I have to drive to melbourne next week

[jonathan yee]

well if it wasnt a new problem then i'd have a guess at fordged pistons slapping around a bit, but its not something that youd notice all of a sudden.

one of my ol cars used to have cold piston slap but they werent forged....maybe the bores are getting a bit worn.

[RobST162]

yeah it's pretty loud, there are no symptoms of smoke or the usage therof

not forged pistons either.. just standard issue.. i'm stuffed

[merc-blue]

sound anything like its pinging? recently had similar issue with a 3SGE in a MR2, cleaned injectors.. went away

[RobST162]

oh, I put new spark plugs in it too

it's pretty loud for pinging, more a rattle, I could put a round of cleaner in it though.. see what happens

wouldn't that get worse though as I rev it? or would the rising fuel pressure overcome any problems in the injectors u think?

[warrior]

I would seriously look into your timing Rob, you recently played around with your cams and I would be leaning towand making sure its all lind up and your timing is correct.

good luck mate.

Karl

[Javal]

I would seriously look into your timing Rob, you recently played around with your cams and I would be leaning towand making sure its all lind up and your timing is correct.

good luck mate.

Karl

I'll agree with this, double check your timing and make sure you've installed your belt tensioners / idlers correctly. Although these wouldn't be a cold / low idle only problem.

You gots yourself a toughie man.

[RobST162]

i just can't fault that, though I'd love to think it was something that nice and simple

my cams line up perfectly at the notch together up the top, and my crank pulley lives at zero when they are

putting the timing light on, the timing is about 10 degrees retarded and goes further back on accel

what else is there???

edit: I could just retard the timing some more and just see if the rattle goes away.. twist the dizzy a little and I'd have my answer I guess

btw, when looking to set the timing, i usually look vertically down on the pulley, rather than slightly to the left, over the cams

[RobST162]

hmm if it has been a timing issue, I hope I haven't nailed my big ends... :?

[thechuckster]

you've jumped the TE1 and E1 pins in the diag port and then set the dizzi so #1 is firing at 10 degrees BTDC? (timing should not be retarded at idle)

[sw20r]

big ends are permanent. rattle and get louder the more you rev/

if its only when its cold it might just be because of the pistons. my forgies have alittle rattle from cold start accelerating for the first minute or two then dissapears.

[RobST162]

thanks fellas, hopefully it will all be ok

chuckster, yes, that what I had set it too, but I'll double check it.. might just be off

when setting the timing, the car is supposed to be warm, yet when it's warm it doesn't knock.

I haven't received an error code 52 yet (knock sensor) either

now, when you check timing, do you go 'down' the engine as in position 'a' (illustrated), or position 'b' - vertically above the crank pully

I do the latter but have sometimes wondered...

[thechuckster]

B i think - will have to go out to the car and gawk at it to confirm - but it will be in the TSRM somewhere.

[RobST162]

hey guys i have some audio now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lksjmVNN3ZI

sorry about the mic maxing out.. i held my phone down near the sump to get this

sounds much louder than it is.. but you can hear how it goes away when the revvs build

also, I checked the cam positioning again, crank pulley etc. they all sit pretty with cams up at their top mark and crank pully at -10 before 0 ish give or take a degree or so

i loosened the dizzy and changed timing from about -2 to about -14 with no significant reduction in the noise

any ideas guys?

rob

[oldcorollas]

take off accessory belt and check if aircon and alt spin freely. at 7 or 8 seconds, sound slike something funny with belt maybe?

water pump a possibility?