Rattling Engine.

[Jamo]

Help! anybody got any ideas over these for me?

Well looks like the honey moon period is over, got some faults on the S2 that are worrying me.

1) My engine sounds like someone has dropped a marble in it!, It really is rattley and quite loud, i'm quite concerned, as i cant see anything externally that would cause this.

2) My voltage is all over the shop!, some times it drops below 12 v (yes with I.C.E turned off), some times it's steady between 13-14 volts, again worrying becasue at the night the lights on the dash and headlights flicker like mad, then some nights are rock steady!

3) I have some external resonance that happens when you gentlely accelerate, sounds like a high but barely audible whistle, might be front brake, i'm trying to work it out.

I'm still trying to find a garage to get all the belts changed as ther are NO S2 specialist in brum that i can find at the moment.

Greg_S mate if your reading this could you drop me a PM on your dad's garage prices?

[Stick Insect]

[QUOTE=Jamo]Help! anybody got any ideas over these for me?

Well looks like the honey moon period is over, got some faults on the S2 that are worrying me.

1) My engine sounds like someone has dropped a marble in it!, It really is rattley and quite loud, i'm quite concerned, as i cant see anything externally that would cause this.

2) My voltage is all over the shop!, some times it drops below 12 v (yes with I.C.E turned off), some times it's steady between 13-14 volts, again worrying becasue at the night the lights on the dash and headlights flicker like mad, then some nights are rock steady!

3) I have some external resonance that happens when you gentlely accelerate, sounds like a high but barely audible whistle, might be front brake, i'm trying to work it out.
QUOTE]


1/ try a different oil in your engine. The noise you mentioned may be your hydraulic tappets rattling. Castrol RS seems to be the oil of choice ( bit thicker)

2/ could be the alternator on the way out or maybe a loose drive belt. Check with your hands ( when the engine is stopped!) there should be no more than 12mm / 1/2 inch of free movement in the belt that drives the alternater.

3/the high pitched noise could be the brakes rubbing or maybe the alternator drive belt slipping! if the noise goes away when you touch the brakes lightly then it is probably your brakes.

HTH

David

[blu_s2]

Along sililar lines to David.....

Items 1&2&3 may be related.

The belts on these cars are generally noisy. Within 5k miles of the auxillary belt changes on mine a 'kindof' rattle develops - this may be the same on yours. Best bet is to compare it to another local S2 if you can track one down, most suffer similar noise, just varies in volume.

I guess if the alt' belt is loose this may make the noise worse and if it is slipping you may be getting a sqealing noise and alternator drops.

So the good news is you may have only one problem...

[APNess]

mine rattles too - belts - they are as tight as need be, just rattle *shrug* when i do em all sometime this year they will still rattle *still shrugging*

[Dr H]

Best way to check for a belt rattle is to pour water onto the moving belt. Did it with mine and the nosie totally disappeared - for about 5 secs and then all the water had been flung off and it came back!

If you have dodgy voltage and a rattle check the alternator, it could also be the cause of the whine.

Good luck.

[Beetie]

Voltage drop could be a bad earth....

[Jamo]

Help! anybody got any ideas over these for me?

Well looks like the honey moon period is over, got some faults on the S2 that are worrying me.

1) My engine sounds like someone has dropped a marble in it!, It really is rattley and quite loud, i'm quite concerned, as i cant see anything externally that would cause this.

2) My voltage is all over the shop!, some times it drops below 12 v (yes with I.C.E turned off), some times it's steady between 13-14 volts, again worrying becasue at the night the lights on the dash and headlights flicker like mad, then some nights are rock steady!

3) I have some external resonance that happens when you gentlely accelerate, sounds like a high but barely audible whistle, might be front brake, i'm trying to work it out.

1/ try a different oil in your engine. The noise you mentioned may be your hydraulic tappets rattling. Castrol RS seems to be the oil of choice ( bit thicker)

2/ could be the alternator on the way out or maybe a loose drive belt. Check with your hands ( when the engine is stopped!) there should be no more than 12mm / 1/2 inch of free movement in the belt that drives the alternater.

3/the high pitched noise could be the brakes rubbing or maybe the alternator drive belt slipping! if the noise goes away when you touch the brakes lightly then it is probably your brakes.

HTH

David

1) I will be changing to Castrol RS 10W60 either this weekend or next. Fumoto valve arrived after 9 days so i will install that at the same time.

2) Your spot on, i've spent an hour looking over the car, and the aux belt looks likle it's slipping whilst the engine is going.

What is noticable is that my volts drop below 12V and when this happens the engine is rattley, when the volts is over 12V the engine doesn't rattle.
I found a post about tightening the belt so i'll do that post with (As spotted by Blu_S2 - cheers!)

3) The noise occurs during driving, particular high speeds, think it's the brakes or wheel bearing - i cant tell so might have to enlist specialist help there.

[Jamo]

Points 1 and 2 have been completed, and to my surprise the engine seems quieter and smoother with the Castorl RS.

The old oil was very thin after 6k miles, on next change i'll have a look at what the Castrol is like.

Fumoto valve is on and i'm glad because we had to kick the breaker bar to get the sump plug off.

Belt has been tighten and noise has gone, voltage is back up! result! (thanks to Martyn for the twist 90 % test)

Point 3 is still there, oh well another day too tackle that.

On a side note, i think Dialynx must be cowboyish as i know Alistair C wouldn't be the culprit. The under tray is held up with cable ties!! and the nuts in the drivers arches are missing!! another thing to add to the growing V.A.G parts order list