strange tapping noise

[redmk1]

so chris,do you think its worth putting my spare alternator in?

[LimeyMk1]

Possibly, if you put your finger on the alternator and rev the car to cause the tick you should feel it pretty strongly.

[monkeymax]

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

From what Chris has said here, doesn't sound like alternator... though the description of the sound seems to me as though it is... (from experience, though this was from a smaller alternator and it didn't last very long at all after starting to make that noise)

What did you change when you changed the engines over, and as Tim asked, did it make the noise in the old car?

[monkeymax]

Possibly, if you put your finger on the alternator and rev the car to cause the tick you should feel it pretty strongly.

Do you really want to do this if you think it's arcing?!

[redmk1]

i'll give it a go but i might die

[MisterMK1]

sorry mate just an idea lol hope its something small what is the sound like?

[redmk1]

tinny clicking tapping bloody annoying its probably just my luck.

[monkeymax]

What did you change when you changed the engines over, and as Tim asked, did it make the noise in the old car?

[redmk1]

it was fine in the old car but i think its the original alternator off the 1A but i got a spare from the 1B and we didnt really touch anything else,but i just had a thought.....Chris-remember when we checked the cam belt and there was that pointy bolt thinggy with dodgy thread,could that be a cause???

[SuperRedMR2]

I now remember taking my car to a garage and asking about the same kind of noise, coming from the exhaust manfold/cam belt area.

It made it in neutal though. I was told the noise was normal.

Water pump related?

[LimeyMk1]

Chris-remember when we checked the cam belt and there was that pointy bolt thinggy with dodgy thread,could that be a cause???

I don't think so, if it was loose the tensioner would move under load and the timing would go out.

Do you really want to do this if you think it's arcing?

He'll live.

If you're worried about it put the point of a screwdriver against it and hold the insulated handle.

Alternator was from the B not the A IIRC.

Richard check the water pump pulley and the bolt on the crankshaft pulley, I know I did them up but it's worth checking.

[Tiamat]

Richard bring it down on the Saturday and we'll have a quick look at it.

Chris you got my text?

[LimeyMk1]

Richard bring it down on the Saturday and we'll have a quick look at it.

Chris you got my text?

Yup, picked it up this morning, was busy stripping last night (paint) so left my mobile downstairs.

I'm at the Festival of Speed on Saturday but will scarper early for BBQ & bearding.

[Tony jinxy froude]

Why not just take the belt off of the alternator & see if it still makes the noise,? far better than actually taking it out only to find its not the alternator after all . Jinxy

[LimeyMk1]

Why not just take the belt off of the alternator & see if it still makes the noise,? far better than actually taking it out only to find its not the alternator after all . Jinxy

Indeed.

It's loud enough that it should be easily 'felt' tho IYSWIM.

[Lunarmatic]

Mention of arcing noises and the region of the exhaust/cam cover would perhaps point to the distributor? Maybe something in the cap or the rotor or one of the ignition lead pins inside the cap has a sharp bit of metal sticking out that's catching or causing some arcing?

[monkeymax]

Arcing within the dizzy cap is unlikely to be that audible though I suppose it is another possibility worth trying and another easy one. Richard, pull off your dizzy cap and inspect the contacts and the rotor arm. Clean off any unusual pitting or protrusions with a small file and then try again. If either look worn, consider replacing anyway - unless if you know they're different. At £20 for both from MrT it's something that's definitely worth replacing if you don't know the age of the old one anyway IMO.

[LimeyMk1]

Checked, no 'feeling' of anything playing silly buggers in there. I've replaced the dizzy for one that actually fit. Blueprint really suck at times.

[monkeymax]

Blueprint really suck at times.

Yes, they really do. My starting problems last December were down to the dizzy cap. Although I replaced it with a new Mr T part I was confused as the contacts on dizzy cap and rotor arm were fine.
Further investigation a couple of months back; Blueprint items made in Italy (there you go then!) and the dizzy cap wasn't even fully circular! Contact between rotor arms and dizzy cap contacts was nigh on appalling. Not worth saving a few quid if that's the quality you get.

[Tony jinxy froude]

From experience, if the leads are arcing out it will only be from where the HT lead plugs into the coil & this will show up by the car missing, if its running well then its unlikely to be arcing. Jinxy
Out of curiosity have you checked to make sure that the alternator belt isnt split & slapping against the timing cover ? could also be the timing belt slapping against the inside of the cover ive seen this happen on a few occasions too , Jinxy