weatherman

Recently I've noticed a distinct ticking sound on my MY01 Classic PPP Turbo, 57k. From inside the car it is only audible at low revs at standstill, though with the bonnet up you can hear it rising with the revs, it is at the front, maybe slightly towards the nearside.

It sometimes disappears, mainly at cold start, but then I first noticed it after a cold start! I wondered if it might be a sticking valve/tappet, but when I let a dealer hear it, he thought it might be a cam belt tensioner or even a big end.

I have checked the oil, all present and correct and looking fine. The car runs fine, no power loss. The ticking is at a lower rate than indicated revs, i.e. at an 800rpm idle, I hear 5 ticks per second i.e. around 300tpm. Any ideas? Would a cam belt tensioner make a noise at a lower repetition frequency than the engine revs?

rgv_stu

tappets i would guess

Rich_B

iTrader: (6)

Your 'measured' tick rate of 300tpm is quite close to 400, which would be half the rpm. As a four-stroke engine's valve gear operates once every 2 revs, then this maybe indicates the noise is valve-gear related.

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

cambelt tensioner?

weatherman

Thanks for your ideas, getting it checked out properly on Monday.

dowser

Phase 2 classics had a common problem with cambelt tensioner doing this from cold only.

EddScott

I thought they were all a bit rattly at the top? Mine has always ticked and its regularly serviced etc. Mate has an MY98 and his is the same.

Got me worried now

Tim W

iTrader: (1)

If it's an MY98 it's more than likely piston slap, there was a known problem with that particular model year, worse than the MY97, because of a fix they brought in with the '98 to 'cure' the '97 slap issues

Cambelt tensioner is the the most likely culprit.

Slap next, possibly a ticking injector or cracked heat shield on the exhaust manifold

Tappets very unlikely unless the car has seen a lot of miles. They're solid shims and buckets unless it's an early 93/4 car that had Hydraulic followers

weatherman

Could be the infamous boost solenoid - though this can keep ticking a second or two after the engine has stopped running. Piston slap is most noticeable from cold - my pervious MY97 had its short motor replaced by the previous owner under warranty - but the replacement block developed the identical problem under my ownership!

Tim W

iTrader: (1)

Could be the boost solenoid, easy enough to clean it out...if you do a search on here you'll find guidance...

Scoobyslammed

Headers blowing?

weatherman

Not sure if these answers are for Eddscott or me!! Mine is not the Boost solenoid, my previous car had the pleasure of the boost solenoid competing with the piston slap for my attention, the slap losing out once the engine was warm. Eddscott have you worked out exactly when the noise is being heard, i.e. all the time, warm only, cold only, varies with revs etc?

weatherman

Mine was the Cam belt tensioner. When my dealer opened it up, he showed me the cam belt. The Subaru dealer I bought it from, who said they had changed it, hadn't. (They also hadn't processed a load of Proven warranties but taken the dosh before shutting down)

smiff99

Had the same problem with mine both when cold and warm, turned out to be the cam belt tensioner.

DJ_Jon

iTrader: (7)

sounds like the problem I've got & the reciept in my SH regarding the cambelt says "Timingbelt tensioner slightly damp, may be required at a later date"