A couple weeks ago, my car started making a quiet tapping noise from the engine, i didnt think much of it at first but i checked my oil one day and it was low, so i added some to get it into the operating range, as soon as i did that it turned this tapping noise into a loud banging noise. I cant tell you where under the hood this is coming from but this is what i have observed so far.......

The noise isnt really there when i first start the car up(in the morning, cold weather, 20-30 degrees) once i start driving the baning get worse as the car gets warmer. This made me think it could be a hole in a manifold or y pipe

The noise is only there when i am idleing, once i get on the gas it does away and i cant hear it at all. The noise does coinside with the RPM's if im idling fast or slow the noise gets faster or slower. The made me think it could be a valve tap.

If i am sitting at a light or something idleing, if the noise is bad i can shift it from drive to neutral and the noise will change, sometimes go away or sometimes stay the same, or it can happen the other way around, the noise will be there in neutral but not in drive. This made me think it could be a transmition problem


Because there are so many different things that seem to affect this noise i have no idea what it could be, ive asked around with some friends/mechanics and almost everyone has a different opinion. ANY help at all would be appriciated, thanks

 

this is simmilar to what my new motor is doing except its more of a knock now but goes away w/ more rpm and holds good oil presure. let me know if you figure this out since i have a similar prob

 

torque converter bolts loose?

 

Check the transmission bellhousing bolts.
Don't ask how I know, Please

 

would the tq converter r lose tranny from motor make sound lke that though. ill still check when i get home

 

I thought by flywheel was cracked or the bolts were broken.
Had a bad shake at 70 mph too.
Only noticed it at idle or very slow cruise. Mostly in gear the noise was gone. When it did it it sounded like a rod knock but not as loud as it should have been. Drove me crazy for about two weeks.
Was all ready to have a shop replace the converter and flywheel for $350 when they told me the bolts were all looose. Tightened them up and everything was great. Felt really stupid but he only charged me $10 for fixing it.

 

JP so do you think i would be easy enough for me to tighten it myself or just take it to a shop real quick, to be honest i really dont know what a transmission bellhousing bolt is.

 

was it the three bolts that hold the converter to the flywheel or the 6 that hold the flywheel itself to the motor?

 

Do it yourself and save the embarrasment
Might not be the problem but its worth a quick check anyway.
They are all on the rear of the engine where the trans is connected to the block.
Most can be reached from under very easily. The ones on top near the firewall could try your patience but can be done.
Remove the inspection cover from the flywheel and check the bolts on the converter while your there. There's three of them so you'll need to check one and then turn the motor over (by hand preferably) and do another. Rinse and repeat.

Edit: Check them all since you'll be down there anyway.

 

Did you by anychangce notice that the noise got worse as the engine got warmer?

 

ok im off to atempt this again. if its not could it possibly be oil pump pikup come off and clanging around? but the weird thing is it quits w/ rev? well ikk post my findings

 

i havent let it run that long since im afraid to oyaly screw somethin up

 

yep it was the tq converter one was so lose that i put a wrench on it and let it hang it would turn the bolt but thats all fixed but now i got issues w/ it missing and studdering i think its vaccum. my tranny or converter is slipping too so im gona put some lucas tranny stuff in to see if it will help. but im glad motor isnt knockin now just gotta get the damn thing insured and inspected

 

Cool!
Sometimes its the dumb things that get you chasing ghosts
at least it was something you could reach.

 

yea barely since car was facing uphill and i had to squeze uunder since i had no jack handy. it also rained today but im happy ill just make sure to check it again in a few days/weeks to make sure same prob woulnt happen again