Engine noise/knocking when warm...

[Cakes]

I replaced my timing chain(went from double roller w/tensioner to stock style steel gear link belt w/tensioner) hoping to get rid of my knocking when warm. My symptoms are as follows: when fully hot, oil pressure around 15 psi at idle and I rev the engine from approximately 1500-2500 I get a knocking/tapping noise from upper part of the engine, definately from front and seems to be louder on the passenger side of the car. It is not a lifter tick but rather a non-rhymthic "knock-on-wood" kind of sound. When starting the car you can hear it and then it goes away. At the very top of each gear under light load you can hear it with windows rolled up. People have suggested bearings but I have been driving this car for over 7000 miles with 3 track trips and hard on the street and it is my belief if it were bearings I would have blown it up a long while ago. I checked the thrust on the crank and it is very little. I am looking for suggestions on where to look next. I was thinking of taking valve covers off to take a peak but I am not 100% sure what I am looking for. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Jimn8or]

Put the blade of a large screwdriver on the top of the cam sensor while the engine is running...now stick your ear on the end of the screwdriver's handle...Louder now I bet. These things wear out and have to be one of the top 2 causes of "bearing failure/engine knock" on these cars. Replace the entire assembly, not just the cap. Some people can shim these things to make the noise go away, at least for a little while, but replacing it will do the trick too and quicker, but more $$$.
HTH
Jim

 

[Cakes]

Jimn8or, I thought that cam sensors tended to make noise only when cold but as they heated up the noise would slowly go away. I seem to have an opposite symptom. (no noise when cold but noise when warm) I will look into it again though!

 

[TClassic]

ticking noise at idle, Not under load, when warm usually = Piston pin.

 

[scottyb]

I had a similar sound that seemed to come from the front. It was not always there, also was not making the sound on every revolution. After replacing the tranny pump and rear tranny mount that was virtually noexistant, no more knocking sound. I'm not certain if the sound was a failing tranny pump or the mount, but now that I think back, the inconsistancy of the noise points to the mount. Again, I was certain the noise was from the front of the motor.

justa thought.