strange tapping noise

[redmk1]

got an anoying tapping from around the engine bay(not affecting the engine)
took it to limey today and even he cant find it....any ideas??

[redmk1]

it could be the exhaust but is there ant other ideas?

[cartledge_uk]

is it on idle or only under load or both?

moving or stationary?

[redmk1]

omly when you accelerate

[monkeymax]

When the car is moving on the road, or sat still?
And does the tapping increase in speed with the increase in acceleration?

[redmk1]

yes,yes and yes

[monkeymax]

Thinking out loud here... but Alternator?

[LimeyMk1]

Sounds a lot like an electrical arc, rev dependant but not motion dependant. If you're VERY gentle with the throttle you can avoid it but any flex in the engine and it'll start, i.e if you very slowly raise the revs you can get it a long way up the rev range without it 'tapping' but if you rev it hard the 'tapping' kicks off immediately.

I have a feeling there may be a loosening of 1 or 2 of the exhaust manifold bolts but I'm not sure if that could cause this kind of noise.

[crazylegs]

chris i doubt its exhaust as this would not be so rev dependant. you say its arcing could it be a ht problem ? i have known them to arc out at the coil. its quite pretty at night ! another thought, cam belt split and hitting the cover ? what happens with the clutch in ?
just my musings you will find it.

[SuperRedMR2]

Not anything to do with the gearbox idler shaft is it?

[LimeyMk1]

Pass, any idea how we check that?

IIRC Kev the rattle's there with the clutch in or out.

[cartledge_uk]

I take it when it was in the old car it didnt rattle?

Which means if the above is correct then it is unlikely that it is anyything internal gearbox or engine as we didnt touch them.

[Tony jinxy froude]

Ive got the same sort of tapping noise, its either Injector tap or just a tappety head ( is that a word ?? ) Definately not gearbox related..... ive had all sorts of noises from all sorts of gearboxes & they definately dont tap , Jinxy

[kevin..in]

Ive got the same sort of tapping noise, its either Injector tap or just a tappety head ( is that a word ?? )

its a word but not one related to the 4AGE engine
valve train noise/rattle maybe
no tappets here though, buckets and shims

[Tony jinxy froude]

no tappets here though, buckets and shims

I knew that Kevin its just that "Buckety" & "shimmety" sounded worse than Tappety , Jinxy

[kevin..in]

no tappets here though, buckets and shims

I knew that Kevin its just that "Buckety" & "shimmety" sounded worse than Tappety , Jinxy

nowt wrong with valve rattle or top end noise
but tappets no sorry

[MisterMK1]

bottom end?

[Tony jinxy froude]

Oh dont start him off again Leon !! . Jinxy

[redmk1]

if its bottom end that bloody mk1 is going in the nearest bloody lake after all the $hit we had on it but i doubt its that.

[LimeyMk1]

I'm pretty damn sure it's not internals of any kind, doesn't have the right kind of resonance IMO. That and you can make it disappear if you're light on the throttle at most revs.

Oh and seems to eminate from somewhere between the exhaust manifold and cam belt area.