(T) Strange Engine Noise - please look (sound file)

OK, so I've mentioned it before in this thread http://www.fiatforum.com/cinq-sei-te...-sporting.html

I used the car yeasterday and I find the noise really annoying so I used my phone to take a sound clip. It's very quiet so you'll have to turn it up a lot, you can hear me muttering some crap over the top, but you should be able to hear what sounds like a hollow tapping noise, after I have revved the engine a little, as soon as it returns to idle it gets more pronounced for a second or so. This was taken from inside the car.

Noisy Sei

It first seemed to occur (according to o/h) after I fitted a new water pump & cambelt, and did an oil/filter change. I'm pretty certain I checked and double checked the cam timing, but will take a 2nd look on saturday, I have also fitted new plugs & air filter since, and sound is still same.

Sound is heard at idle, and generally when the engine is under load, if I'm driving along and hear it, shutting off will make it go away/quieter. It gets louder/more obvious once the car is warm.

Not sure if it's related but car is sometimes a bit juddery after cold starts as well recently.

If anyone has any suggestions after hearing the noise please let me know

It's a '98 Sporting by the way.

cam belt too tight?

Do ya reckon? Maybe I suppose, when I check timing at weekend maybe it will pay for me to loosen it and re-tension. I just assumed any noise caused by cambelt (mechanically rather than timing issue) would be present all the time rather than under load & at idle.

Can you hear the noise I mean though? Hollow tapping noise? Not sure how to describe it.

i coudlnt hear the nosie very well i'm affraid - couldnt have speakers on loud, people still asleep (lazy gits!)

Ah OK, well when you can, turn it up a fair bit, my mumblings will be quite loud, wait until you hear me rev the engine and then as it returns to idles you can hear it quite clearly, once you have heard the sound I mean you should be able to pick it out all the way through.

just turned it up now, and i can hear it. that sounds really weird.

Can u tell which area of the engine the noise is coming from (long cardboard tube to the ear and pointed at the engine helps with this!)

edit: it almost sounds like compressor stall.. but since you've no turbo in there..

Well, doesn't sound like compressor stall to me, but I agree it's still a strange noise. Not sure on position, I think you can hear it better in the cabin, so maybe back of engine, I'm guessing top end rather than bottom end.

I'll get some listening apparatus out later!!

Anyone else got any comments

sounds like a rattly-tinny-cowbell type noise to me. Our punto sounded like that and I traced it down to the cover over the coils being loose and rattling. Could also be a loose manifold heat shield.

Jon+Em

Sounds like the engine is rubbing on something. Also sounds like an engine with no coolant. I had the same sort of noise, The cam cover was rubbing on the headlight adjuster.

Hope your still checking back here. Im off to look at my car again today with a engine sound that sounds just like the one in the sound clip posted. If anyone can enlighten me any further as to its cause, would be appreciated. Have a post in the cinq/sei technical section labelled Engine Noise if easier for anyone. Thanks