loud noise coming from can tower!!

[speedracing944]

I heard a sound while driving which sounded like an exhaust leak under the car. I put the car up so I could slip under it to locate the leak but didn't see it. I then popped the hood to look at the motor and I noticed the sound was coming from the cam tower/ head area. It sounds like a loud combination of a tick and a pffftttt and oscillates at a speed which is in sync with engine rpm.

I will have to dig into this and figure out what is going on after exams this week.

Speedy

[Arizona_928]

lifters?

[bholmes]

Had a similar problem. Put you hand on the cam tower and see if you feel any knocking/slapping sensation. It was pretty bad, my tensioner had given out. Check your belt speedy!!!

[bholmes]

remember too that the injectors are noisy. I doubt that's it, you're sharp and I doubt you're being fooled by that....just a reminder.

[speedracing944]

It is not normal noises. This is something else. It doesn't sound like it coming from the belt area of the engine but more around the cam tower.

This is going to have to wait until next weekend due to exams this week. If it is the lifters I am going to be really pissed off especially if it is one of those "new" Porsche lifters I just bought. OMG I would go ape $hit on the parts guy at the dealership if this was the case. I already replaced 2 of these "new" lifters due to mechanical failure. If I dig into the cam tower I may go for a reground performance cam...

Speedy

[legion]

Could it be an exhaust leak? Sometimes the mating surfaces on the flanges on the headers (where they attach to the cylinder head) can warp over time. I had to have mine machined flat last year. Also, the gaskets there can and do fail over time.

For your sake, I hope it's a gasket--those are pretty cheap and easy to replace.

[bholmes]

Noisier? yes. More awsome? yes.

Go with some mechanical lifters and a racing cam. That way you can say "it's supposed to sound like that" In all reality mechanical lifters gave me less problems and less noise than my hyd. cams in my truck. The adjustment thing would suck right nicely though. Good luck w/ exams and let me know how it all pans out. I just got into Pharmacy School, whoo hoo, all those years of hard work...for more years of hard work....

[robm-951]

Check that the cam pulley, front bolt cam haven't worked there way loose. This makes an awful racket.

[speedracing944]

she will get the full look over on Saturday. The noise only happens once it is warmed up and under light load (around town) and at idle.

I have good oil pressure and oil level

I will have to do the dowel to the ear trick to track down where the noise is coming from.

Can a fuel injector make a crap load of noise if it is going bad?

Speedy

[bholmes]

LOL I hope not cuz mine always makes a crap load of noise! haha, I'm really not sure, mine make some noise, but it just sounds similar to a light lifter peck, nothing to noticable, I only notice it when my hood is up.

[Tidybuoy]

I had the same problem a couple of months ago. The noise was a loud clacking coming from the CAM tower. I even had a mechanic look at it (briefly, not at his shop) but we were unable to determine the problem. He told me a compression test and leak down test were in order to rule out internal problems.

I used seafoam hoping to loosen up a possible sticking lifter. I bought a new oil pressure relief valve (ouch...$350 bucks). I removed the cam belt cover and inspected everything but everything looked fine.

After agonizing about a potential $2 grand mechanics bill, I crawled under the car and inspected everything with a flashlight, engine running and I found the problem....a loose exhaust nut on the rear cylinder. It was loose enough to spin with my fingers.

How could this be? the sound was coming directly from the top of the cam tower. But that was all it was...a loose exhaust nut.

You might want to check yours before spending a small fortune like I did.

Vern