Strange noise - clutch?

[RIC172]

Hi i had the engine swapped on my 172 cup recently and it drives perfectly, although it now makes a metallic 'ticking' noise.

I've noticed it makes the noise when in any gear at between 2000rpm and 3000rpm on a light throttle or if I'm at biting point.

It doesn't do it when I'm not in gear so I think I can rule out a dephaser.

The only thing that's changed is the engine swap. The clutch and gearbox had no issues before so these were connected to the new engine.

Any ideas what it could be?

Thanks

 

[RIC172]

 

[RIC172]

Could this be causing it? Doesn’t look like the exhaust manifold to cat has been connected properly?

 

[bozothenutter]

there is a thing called cat to manifold whistle....
ticking could be resonance have a peep at the heatshields.
that right cap/plug/washer thingy is not seated properly aswell

 

[RIC172]

there is a thing called cat to manifold whistle....
ticking could be resonance have a peep at the heatshields.
that right cap/plug/washer thingy is not seated properly aswell

Thanks for the tips mate - I will take a look under the car and see if any of the heatshields are touching. I'd say it's more of a rattle than a whistle but if it's not been seated properly, this could be my issue.

 

[flebay]

Dose not even look as the cat pipe is fitted over the manifold gasket is it a cheepie cat?

 

[RIC172]

Dose not even look as the cat pipe is fitted over the manifold gasket is it a cheepie cat?

It is a cheapie cat (well decat pipe) but it was fine until I got the engine swapped. Hopefully I can get to those bolts and tighten them up a bit

 

[JamesBryan]

One of those cup washers isn't sat in the manifold cutout squarely.

 

[RIC172]

update; I managed to reseat the cup shaped washer in the exhaust manifold. Tested, and the noise didn't go away.

I also tried a few more things, which make me think it's still something to do with the clutch, gearbox or driveshaft since I had my engine swapped over.

This is what I've checked so far:

-checked exhaust hangers, clamps, heatshields
-checked dogbone mount
-checked engine mounts (a bolt on top of the gearbox was hanging out but I tightened that up)
-checked engine and gearbox oil (correct level and fresh oil)
-unplugged the dephaser solenoid temporarily
-unplugged the carbon canister temporarily

What's weird is there's no metallic rattling sound for the first 5 minutes, then it stays loud the rest of my journey (in any gear and anything over 2k rpm). If I push the clutch pedal down the noise goes...

The clutch and gearbox movement all feel fine and the car drives great. I just can't work out where this rattle is coming from. So annoying!

 

[JamesBryan]

If it stops when you press the clutch pedal it's probably the clutch release bearing.

 

[RIC172]

If it stops when you press the clutch pedal it's probably the clutch release bearing.

I thought that too at first, although I thought a faulty clutch release bearing made a noise when the clutch pedal wasn't pressed?

What confuses me more is that it didn't used to make this rattling noise until I got my engine swapped over. Could it have been misaligned during fitting do you think?

 

[JamesBryan]

Yeah they make a noise when the pedal isn't pressed.

 

[JamesBryan]

Does it make a noise when parked up and you rev it?

 

[RIC172]

Yeah they make a noise when the pedal isn't pressed.

Ah this is sounding the most likely cause then. I'm guessing it's a big and expensive job to fix as the gearbox needs to come off?

 

[RIC172]

Does it make a noise when parked up and you rev it?

No it doesn't actually. Only does it when in gear

 

[JamesBryan]

No it doesn't actually. Only does it when in gear

Odd one, you'd expect it to make a noise any time the clutch pedal isn't pressed.

 

[RIC172]

Odd one, you'd expect it to make a noise any time the clutch pedal isn't pressed.

Yeah tell me about it. It could be that it needs some load on the gearbox before it generates the rattle.

I'll take the Clio to work tomorrow and double check it doesn't make the noise when parked and revving

 

[JamesBryan]

Whatever it is seems clutch/gearbox related anyway. So i suspect it's going to need to come off either way if it is to be fixed.

 

[JamesBryan]

Looking at around £200 for someone to remove and refit a box ?

 

[RIC172]

Looking at around £200 for someone to remove and refit a box ?

Yeah I know it won’t be cheap but it needs fixing as it’s driving me nuts on an otherwise perfect car. I don’t want to take it back to the same garage that fitted the engine so I’ll take it to a local specialist

 

[JamesBryan]

Yeah I know it won’t be cheap but it needs fixing as it’s driving me nuts on an otherwise perfect car. I don’t want to take it back to the same garage that fitted the engine so I’ll take it to a local specialist

Where are you again?

 

[RIC172]

Where are you again?

I’m in Leighton Buzzard

 

[JamesBryan]

I’m in Leighton Buzzard

Ahh, you have one of the best specialists near you.

Beaniesport in Newport Pagnell, Chris will look after you.

 

[RIC172]

I can get to MK in 15 minutes so I will get in touch with them cheers for your help mate