HELP!!!!!...my car has started sounding like a diesal

[BlueEyes240]

Help me please...it sounds so awful.  It just recently started doing it and now it is getting bad.  My engine sounds like a diesal, it has that that sound.....you guys know what Im talking about.  This sound is at idle and increasing with rpms.  It sounds so bad, my boyfriend is probably going to dive into it this weekend, but I would like to know what Im looking at here so I can give him some advice he would never ask for.
He's worked on plenty of Mustangs and Hondas but he's never dove into a Nissan.  So advice would be greatly appreciated

[chickenmanq]

What exactly do you mean sounds like a diesel? &nbsp;And please, let's spell it right, in honor of Rudolph Diesel. &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;If you just mean it's loud, I'd check your exhaust for leaks. &nbsp;Perhaps your manifold is loose? &nbsp;The exhaust pipe attached to the manifold had 3 bolts on my 76 Courier, and it lost all but one once. &nbsp;Sounded really loud. &nbsp;Didja knock a hole in the muffler? &nbsp;If it just started doing it, you should be able to see the cause, or listen and find it. &nbsp;Really, we need more description on the sound. &nbsp;Be exceptionally specific. &nbsp;Like ping, whack, foomph, etc. &nbsp;9 times out of 10, a problem can be easily fixed if a mechanic can hear the noise.

Valve noise can sound sorta like a diesel. &nbsp;You're getting oil pressure right? &nbsp;Are we talking about oilless bearings? &nbsp;I hope not. &nbsp;I'll bet your boyfriend can figure it out if he's worked on cars before. &nbsp;If not, you can call me, but then I'd have to be your knight in shining armor. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[BlueEyes240]

Well my knight, I assume I have oil pressure because the car seems to be running O.K. &nbsp; The sound, however is definately coming from the engine bay, but I guess it could possibly be an exhaust leak at the ex. manifold but boyfriend thinks it is coming from the valvetrain. But you let me know what you think. By the way to best describe the sound....I guess maybe a clanking, but not a high pitch clank. It sounds like a diesEl. But maybe its the ex. manifold

(Edited by BlueEyes240 at 9:25 pm on Nov. 14, 2001)

[nguyen]

if your car is a early s13 then there was a recalled for their timming chain. it should be free of charge at the dealers. it doesn't sound like you have an exhaust leak. best thing to do is get a long screw driver put your ear on one end and the other on the front of the engine and listen, if you hear rattling sound then it the chain.

[BlueEyes240]

Yeah, we used the &quot;mechanic's stethoscope&quot; and the rattling was coming from the front of the engine. &nbsp;However, my car is an S14. &nbsp;How bad is this on my car and how much am I looking at for a new timing chain.
By the way, thank you nguyen

[chickenmanq]

I'd second that timing chain opinion. &nbsp;If it's getting louder, it's worse than bad. &nbsp;I don't know if your engine has overhead clearance, but I suspect it doesn't. &nbsp;If you timing chain goes, it throws the pistons into the valves in non-clearance engines. &nbsp;Not good. &nbsp;Get it checked asap.

[S13Grl]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from chickenmanq on 1:11 am on Nov. 15, 2001
I'd second that timing chain opinion. If it's getting louder, it's worse than bad. I don't know if your engine has overhead clearance, but I suspect it doesn't. If you timing chain goes, it throws the pistons into the valves in non-clearance engines. Not good. Get it checked asap.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

I third the timing chain. Have them check the guides.

[nguyen]

usually it is not the chain that has problem, most time its the guide or the tensonner. how much I don't know, but it shouldn't be too much. I know the chain cover at the front of the motor will come off to access the chain. according to nissan this should be done at about 90k. hope this doesn't give nissan a bad name in your book. good luck

[BlueEyes240]

OK, we found the problem, I don't know how this happened and how vital this little piece is, but OK you know when you take off the Valve cover and look at the very front of your engine right at the timing chain, well there is a little piece that bolts down in between the cams right before the first cylinder and then comes up and over the top of the timing chain, kinda like a little splash guard of some sort. Well this little piece, I am assuming this is the guide everyone has been referring to,(about 3/4 of an inch wide and about an Inch and a half long) had completely snapped in two and was just laying on my timing chain, evidently bouncing up and down in between the chain and the valve cover. Thank God it was a snug fit for that piece against my valve cover or that little piece could have ran all through my cams and stuff. We just tossed the piece, put all back to together and she purred like a kitten, but can some of you guys enlighten me on the signifigance of this guide before I drive it to work in the morning. &nbsp;What I mean i, well it be OK for me to drive it tomorrow as long as I am gentle, until I can get another.
Thanks for all you guys, I really appreciate your help

(Edited by BlueEyes240 at 12:23 am on Nov. 16, 2001)

[s14guy]

If I'm not mistaken that shouldn't be a problem even if you don't replace it . I work @ a nissan dealer and I think thats what the tech told me when he took my s14 apart. He replaced the chain and all the guides, but I had an extended warr. You should drive gentle &nbsp;, and ask a nissan tech. on your free time .

[nguyen]

the guide is on the passenger side of the motor and it there to keep the chain from rattles and jumping off the sprocket. but the chain always tight on the driver side of the engine when it is running, if you drive gentle it should be ok, but you shoule have it replace asap though. good luck BlueEyes240