Adam H Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I collected my car yesterday from Caterham Midlands following a service and a few other bits of minor work. I took it very steady for the 1st drive as I was following my dad home as he drove me over to collect it. Later on, on my way home I gave it a bt of welly and heard a strange chattering sort of rattle coming from the engine bay whenever I took it above 4000 rpm. Below this it sounds normal. Once home I removed the bonnet and had a good look around with my partner giving it some revs but couldn't see anything obviously loose or amiss. Any ideas guys? I can't tell whether it might be vibration-related or something to do with the second cam coming on stream. The car goes ok and temp and oil pressure are as normal. I'm just a bit concerned as I'm booked to go to Oulton Park on Tuesday. Any replies / suggestions greatly appreciated. Adam 1400ss 6sp LSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 If you had the bonnet off and couldn't hear anything - maybe it's something rattling againt the bonnet or maybe the bonnet is loose. An old trick to check for location of strange engine related noises is to use a large/long screwdriver. Press the handle end against your ear and put the blade at various locations on the engine (Not the fan belt ) BRG Brooklands SV 😬 It seems that perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam H Posted June 25, 2006 Author Share Posted June 25, 2006 Sorry, probably wasn't very clear. With the bonnet off the noise was still there but I couldn't physically see anything loose or rattling. It sounded as if it was coming from the front of the engine. A while ago I experinced a similar but slightly different noise but that turned out to be a loose cam cover which was tightened and is now fine. Obvioulsy, I have checked this and both screws are tight. Adam 1400ss 6sp LSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
symo Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I had a similar problem once, turned out to be the spark plug cover plate, as your car has just been serviced theres a good chance this was removed and may not have been properly tightened when it was replaced, worth a check. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normans_Ghost Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 Also have a close look at the exhaust connections. SS wil make the sort of noise you describe Norman Verona, 1989 BDR 220bhp, Reg: B16BDR, Mem No 2166, the full story here You and your seven to The French Blatting Company Limited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I'm with symo. Check the plug cover is properly tightened down. Probably removed during the service and not done up properly afterwards. Steve. Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 25, 2006 Leadership Team Share Posted June 25, 2006 Yep - here also, been there done that! Usually the cover plate Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon67 Posted June 25, 2006 Share Posted June 25, 2006 I have just cured exatly the same problem on my HPC. It was the botton alternator bolt that had worked loose. It's lovely now - I'd had the rattle for 9 months ! Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Pearce Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Another vote for the plug cover. Check carefully as the bolts holding mine were bottoming out, so, although they were tight, the cover still rattled. A couple of washers soon sorted this though. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prs Posted June 26, 2006 Share Posted June 26, 2006 Check the two horns haven't moved, if they are touching it will cause a rattle at revs. Phil S7SVN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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