Ae91 Engine Rattling

[Rockerrock]

My 1992 AE91 bodystyle Corolla has a engine rattle noise. It sounds like if you were to put a loose nut on top of the engine while it was running, or kind of like a very bad wheel bearing but this occurs even when the car is in park at low to mid rev. My belt tensioner's bolt was bent and the pulley was eating into my timing belt cover so I took it apart, bent the bolt back, and installed a modified brass plumbing fitting as a spacer and to only make contact with the bearing. The engine made this sound before and after I repaired the pulley and the bearings are good. Any ideas?

Rock

[Twincam.GTi]

Sounds to me that you have got to replace the tensioner.

And in view of what you have said I am supprised this tensioner hasn't already wrecked the belt ...and more!

I'm also beginning to wonder if you have damage to the water pump?

[RedNeck 92 Gti-16]

Thats what i thought. Time to get the old mechanic's ear trumpet, or stethoscope!

Sounds just like bearings!

That tensioner may have knacked the water pump bearings, or it could be some other. The power steering or alternator.

Have you noticed any sign of damage, i.e. Higher water temperature, stiffer steering or lower output from the alternator?

My money is on the water pump... Although.

I was worried about a top end rattle, only to find out it was a result of running too much advance, whilst the mixture was too weak.

Obviously, you cant tune these things by ear, but i was bored. Ok, i couldnt be ubikd to dig out the gas analyser. Or the timing gun!!

Couldnt get it right!! Eventually, dug out the gun and gas sniffer. Crikey! I was so far out it was embarrasing. My ears are no good... I had about 35 Btdc and Co of under 0.5.

Pinking!! It was a right clatter..

[Rockerrock]

I decided to take the AC belt off until I can repair it and some guy said it'll give 5-6 more HP because of less rotating mass. Runs like a charm and I can hit my AC button and it makes my RPM idle higher.

Anyways the rattling is a dough nut seal in the exhaust. It's leaking and robbing my back pressure making low to mid RPM suck. I'm thinking of going ahead and replacing the whole exhaust with headers, glass pack (cherry bomb?), high flow cat, and a tip. I also need new piston rings. Original engine with 169K miles and still running like a charm, just uses pint of oil every 200-300 miles. Oh and when I changed my transmission (3 speed) oil and filter (it had the original filter) the filter was like new and there was minimal buildup on the magnets. I was very impressed since my 98 GMC Jimmy has been through 2 engines and now it's 4th transmission @ 203K miles (its a piece of crap and we just paid it off). I can clearly see why people like cars NOT made in America.

[EireCelica]

I decided to take the AC belt off until I can repair it and some guy said it'll give 5-6 more HP because of less rotating mass. Runs like a charm and I can hit my AC button and it makes my RPM idle higher.

When your car is idling put on your headlights on full beam, amazing isn't it !! Whoopidedoda

[Twincam.GTi]

Hi Rockerrock

Thanks for info on your corolla and yes A/C disconected will give around 5-8hp increase but out in your part of the world can you live with out it!

However-

Rockerrock Posted Nov 17 2007, 09:22 PM

... I can clearly see why people like cars NOT made in America.

WHOA There - American cars in the past have been THE most desirable in the past. Over here in Great Britain we like your Mustangs, Chevy Bel Air, WW2 Willys Jeeps etc. Me I want a 1978 Black Trans-am 6.6 with 'screaming chicken' on the bonnet.

Also after world war two in the late 40's and early 50's I hear many a tale of the amount of prewar packards, studebakers and oldsmobiles (brought over by American forces stationed in Britain) that were just so durable and were able to keep going for thousands of miles more than our equivalent Morris's, Austins and Standards etc.

So don't knock yourself bud you guys sure influenced the rest of the world as to car styling and design.

[Rockerrock]

Sorry 'bout that :P . It just seems like the last 5 cars/trucks we have owned have had major problems, starting out with a Mercury Cougar when I was 6. Our last 2 Ford Taurus, EGR system went out in one (63K miles, $2k to fix) transmission going out in the other (new transmission 36K miles ago), a 1989 Chevy Surburban (rebuilt engine, went out 26K miles), and last but not least our 1998 GMC Jimmy which has had 3 engines and is now sitting out back with a blown transmission 206K miles but now on its 4th transmission. I've had a chance to work on all four and I'm repairing the transmission myself this time around and it's the little things like the fuel/brake lines being attached to the torque converter on top where you can't reach it and the top end of the engine needing to come apart to reach some of the bolts that angers me. The last but major POS was my 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with the GM 3300 V6 which was bought with 93K miles. Brake lines were all bad and rusted through, I hit a train, repaired front end. At 103K miles the rear stabilization bar snapped on the highway throwing me into a ditch and I junked it.

I'm just very impressed that 169K miles my Toyota Corolla I bought only needed a rear strut and the transmission was pristine, the filter was like new, and the engine was very strong even though the previous owner didn't take care of it very well. Everything is right in view and reachable to replace and it just makes common sense where everything is located. :D

[Twincam.GTi]

^

GMC Jimmy … …is that the one (on the V6 engine) that has a very awkward No3 Sparkplug access, so much so that you basically need the offset socket made by snap-on!

When you say ‘GMC Jimmy’ to me I tend to think of the WW2 6X6 Truck – and that was a brilliant vehicle (Red ball express etc.)

Agreed the Japanese despite all their high tech image do make a lot of things easy to get at/service.

[Rockerrock]

Yes, trying to get to anything on the engine requires partial disassembly including the air filter! You might as well forget trying to change the plugs yourself. The only thing which is easyish to do is to replace the oil filter and they made a flap on the undercarriage.