Hi All,
Bit of a puzzling one. At certain engine speeds, (usually at fast idle) there is a loud clattering noise coming from the area around the distributor cap. I have removed the cap, removed the rotor arm, removed the dust shroud around the cam pulley and checked all the bolts and they seem OK. Refitted them and made sure they are all nice and tight but the problem still persists.
I also removed the rocker cover and checked all rockers, tappets, cam shaft fixings, oiler, etc but everything is nice and tight.
The clattering noise is quite loud when it occurs but as I say it sounds as though something is loose as it disappears again below and above fast idle. It only seems to occur around 1200rpm to 1500rpm or so.
Any ideas from anyone? It's driving me nuts!
Loud clattering noise from near distributor cap 320i
Moderator: martauto
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Paceracing
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Thanks for the reply. The car is a 1997 'E' reg and yes, the distributor cap is mounted at the front of the head.
I changed the cambelt around a year or so ago and it has only done around 7,000 miles since. I think I changed it as a kit including the tensioner but can't recall with 100% certainty.
I don't have a stethoscope so I resorted to the old fashioned engineering solution of using a long handled screwdriver touching various points of the engine with the other end pressed to my ear. The distributor is where the noise is loudest. When it occurs, it sounds like there is a load of gravel spinning around with the rotor arm, but the noise clears above and below fast idle.
Still at a loss as to what it is. I may end up having to tear down the front of the engine and change the cam belt and tensioner again just as a precautionary measure - but I hate not being able to find anything specific!
I changed the cambelt around a year or so ago and it has only done around 7,000 miles since. I think I changed it as a kit including the tensioner but can't recall with 100% certainty.
I don't have a stethoscope so I resorted to the old fashioned engineering solution of using a long handled screwdriver touching various points of the engine with the other end pressed to my ear. The distributor is where the noise is loudest. When it occurs, it sounds like there is a load of gravel spinning around with the rotor arm, but the noise clears above and below fast idle.
Still at a loss as to what it is. I may end up having to tear down the front of the engine and change the cam belt and tensioner again just as a precautionary measure - but I hate not being able to find anything specific!