I have an 87 Gl Turbo coupe. Everything else is normal, oil, oil pressure, coolant level. The problem is, the engine makes a clacking noise that seems to be coming from inside the block.

My dad seems to think that a rod is going to go, and the girl that owned the car before me put a rod through the block. It seems to be coming from around the same area that the hole used to be in, which is between the front 2 pistons.

 

I read some of the other posts about the noise, and my dad changed the timing belts.

 

Any help is welcome, thanks

I have an 87 Gl Turbo coupe. Everything else is normal, oil, oil pressure, coolant level. The problem is, the engine makes a clacking noise that seems to be coming from inside the block.

My dad seems to think that a rod is going to go, and the girl that owned the car before me put a rod through the block. It seems to be coming from around the same area that the hole used to be in, which is between the front 2 pistons.

 

I read some of the other posts about the noise, and my dad changed the timing belts.

 

Any help is welcome, thanks

 

Easy test. With the car running, using insulated pliers (that entire zappy thing can be disturbing), remove one plug wire and listen to see if the noise goes away. Put the fire back on and repeat. If the moise goes away its a connecting rod bearing, if it doesnt it is something else.

 

nipper

I think that it is something else. My dad did that for all 4 cylinders, and it did not seem to get any better. But thank you anyways for your help.

well then that is good news. Could be a lazy lifter then. As long as its not in the bottom end of the engine thats a good thing. Take a long screwdriver and use ot as a stethescop, resting your ear on the handle and see if you can isolate the noise.

 

 

nipper

"Tick of death" ??? noisy lifters could be the culprit of the clacking you are hearing. They could be gummed up and stuck or not covered in oil when cold starting, should go away after the engine warms and gets the oil circulated. Or the oil pump is not pumping at full capacity. Just throwing some out there for ya.

I dont think its a lifter, it is a very loud clack.....think diesel engine

 

My neighbor actually asked me if it was one, b/c my last car was.

 

it doesnt go away when it's warm....it happens when it idles, accelerates, and basically every other time...but not when i lift off the throttle after accelerating....im stumped, and i dont want to be out driving when it is broken down......help!!!

I vote for a rod going. My engine has at least one bent rod, and it makes a loud clacking/rapping like you describe. Clacks at idle, accell, and when at neutral power. But when I let off on the gas and use engine breaking to slow down, it gets way quieter. I know that my rods are bent because I hydrolocked the engine at 4,000 rpms.

OUCH! and it still runs?

 

damn these little engines can take a beating..

 

nipper

Could also be piston slap. That won't necessarily go away when you remove the plug wire.

Maybe it is a bent rod....it does the exact same thing.....

 

what is piston slap?

 

sorry, im a longtime subaru fan, but a noob when it comes to working on cars

do a search on piston slap ..lots and lots of topics, but the older engines don't do. The newer generation of engines do it.

 

Pistons used to have skirts on them. In order to kake the engines heat up faster for emissions, rev a bit quicker, piston skirts have been done away with in newer engines. Piston slap is a rattling under the hood when the car first starts up, and goes away as the engine wwarms up and the pistons expand. A lot of engines suffer from this, and most subaru engines run well over 200-300 miles with this condition, It is basically harless but annoying. I think its an issue after 91.

 

nipper

Id just like to say thanks guys, and i appriciate you helping me out.

 

Now all i have to do is find the time and convince my dad to help me change the rod out, because i have the old engine that was originally in the car.

 

Thanks a bunch!

Bad news everyone.......im gonna need a new engine

 

The problem was one of the piston skirts on the front left piston broke off somehow and was wreaking havoc inside the crank case..........damn it, back to the old vw jetta diesel...

 

Anyone know where i can get a EA82T?

That's a pretty good definition of piston slap. It's anytime the piston skirt goes out of round, and slaps against the cylinder wall. Breaking off a skirt would definitely do it.

Doesnt happen often, a cracked piston skirt, but yes, thats it

 

 

nipper

 

 

This pretty much sucks, especially cuz im a commuting college student.....