I have a 2004 1.2 16V mk2b.
The car had been sounding rather tired and old. Engine noise was noticeable on the motorway but the situation is now better.
1. For the second time I replaced a gearbox input bearing.
2. For the third time I replaced a noisy timing belt tensioner.
3. I replaced the catalytic convertor because it was sometimes making a strange noise like a dry bearing. But i could not find a fault with it once off the car and it looked ok inside mostly but not perfect - there must be a hidden part which was doing something.
4. I replaced all the other gearbox bearings but have not yet done the differential bearings.
5. I got 8 hydraulic lifters as the last job to do because the top end just did not sound right. It is now noticeably better but there is still a knocking sound at the coil end which i can hear with my screwdriver. The cam shafts were in excellent condition and the extension bearings looked unworn but there was some play at the coil end if I put the camshaft in the bearing so it was sticking out fully in the opposite direction to the installed position. I am supposing the knocking i am hearing is not the camshaft moving in the bearing but i am not sure. There is no other place for the noise to be coming from as far as i can see. Valve noise?? With the hydraulic lifters pushing down directly upon the valves you would imagine wear would be tiny. Compression is like new.
With the bonnet open the injectors are amazingly noisy and I am not yet sure if this normal. With the screwdriver they are clicking and thumping at the same time. I don't recall the thump but that could because of the other noises which have been eliminated. I know if you shut off a pressurised pipe it will make a massive thump so it could be normal to get that sound
Anyway it was interesting to reduce the noises so the car is not sounding tired and getting near the end of its life.
The road noise is very significant - potentially replacing the differential bearings might help? I am not sure if I can be bothered but it seems the car could do with more soundproofing around the wheel arches inside and out.
The car had been sounding rather tired and old. Engine noise was noticeable on the motorway but the situation is now better.
1. For the second time I replaced a gearbox input bearing.
2. For the third time I replaced a noisy timing belt tensioner.
3. I replaced the catalytic convertor because it was sometimes making a strange noise like a dry bearing. But i could not find a fault with it once off the car and it looked ok inside mostly but not perfect - there must be a hidden part which was doing something.
4. I replaced all the other gearbox bearings but have not yet done the differential bearings.
5. I got 8 hydraulic lifters as the last job to do because the top end just did not sound right. It is now noticeably better but there is still a knocking sound at the coil end which i can hear with my screwdriver. The cam shafts were in excellent condition and the extension bearings looked unworn but there was some play at the coil end if I put the camshaft in the bearing so it was sticking out fully in the opposite direction to the installed position. I am supposing the knocking i am hearing is not the camshaft moving in the bearing but i am not sure. There is no other place for the noise to be coming from as far as i can see. Valve noise?? With the hydraulic lifters pushing down directly upon the valves you would imagine wear would be tiny. Compression is like new.
With the bonnet open the injectors are amazingly noisy and I am not yet sure if this normal. With the screwdriver they are clicking and thumping at the same time. I don't recall the thump but that could because of the other noises which have been eliminated. I know if you shut off a pressurised pipe it will make a massive thump so it could be normal to get that sound
Anyway it was interesting to reduce the noises so the car is not sounding tired and getting near the end of its life.
The road noise is very significant - potentially replacing the differential bearings might help? I am not sure if I can be bothered but it seems the car could do with more soundproofing around the wheel arches inside and out.