Watch this video and tell me what is wrong with the engine...

Clicking noise that becomes more prominent with RPMs...

at 3,000 RPM or so what sounds like a detonation in a cylinder or a lifter/rocker hitting the valve cover (this sound is not heard easily on the video)

any ideas people?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrC4T...ature=youtu.be

 

Sounds like a lifter or loose rocker. 99% sure it's something in the valve train. Probably easily fixable.

 

Could this cause the motor to idle extremely low? All of a sudden it happened on the way home from work one night, and it coincided with a blown header collector gasket....

 

and the car runs like absolute dog ****...

 

Eh it does actually sound like an exhaust tick possibly. Are you sure you fixed that completely and it didn't blow again?

Yeah a lifter that's sticking or a loose rocker arm could cause your car to run poorly. Basically if a lifter is sticking your valves aren't opening and closing at the right times which will definitely cause problems.

 

exhuast tick is gone... sounds way better than before (before you could hear the tick loud and clear pouring out from the passenger front wheel well)

Man I am just hesitant to bring it to a shop because I know step one (just to find the problem) is to take out/apart the engine and that's so much in labor right there. And yet I am not bold enough/or have the right tools to attempt myself...

 

Just pull off the pass side valve cover, it's only a couple bolts.

Rotate the motor and look for any rocker arms that appear to lift and stay lifted, or that are barely moving.

That's what they'll do at the shop.. just pull the valve cover and inspect for damage.

 

how do I rotate the engine with the valve covers off?

 

Grab a breaker bar and appropriate sized socket (i forget what stock is) and put it on the bolt holding in the pulley on the crankshaft. Turn it to the right so you don't accidentally loosen the bolt.

 

sweet.... weekend project...

 

just to clarify... the horrible loss of power and low RPMs at idle, and the noise you can hear in the video... that wouldn't be anything more serious like a bent pushrod or spun bearing?

 

ok took the passenger side valve cover off and one of the rocker arms was really loose, with a lot of play laterally. So I tightened it while car was running until the clicking went away. I still can't figure out the surging/choppy idle and that the car often dies at idle, especially when I come to a quick stop. Definitely a loss of power as well. I have had a code 42 forever now, so I am going to put the original ignition control module back in and see if that helps. Also going to put the factory chip back in.

 

urbanhunter how right you were... the valves weren't opening or closing on one of the cylinders... due to a broken valve spring.