Noisy 1.8 - help!

[Hellraiser]

I've got a 1.8HLX which has developed a strange noise. I've had the car for a month or so, and it had the cambelt changed about 3 months before I had it. On tickover, it sounds rattly, almost diesel-like, yet this doesn't seem to affect engine performance - I took it to a couple of garages today, the first said the cambelt was too tight hence the noise, whilst the second said it sounded like the cam tensioner had gone. I've made a recording of the engine, and to be honest the recording sounds worse than the engine does in real-life, most likely due to having to rest the microphone on the slam panel

Anyway, could you guys listen to this link and see if you can notice the rattle at idle - if so, give me some ideas? Better yet, anyone with a 1.8 Bravo, do me a recording of your engine and post a link!

http://www.hellraiser1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/fiat.wma

Cheers

Hellraiser..........>

 

[andre]

about the noise

must be the belt tensioner.iv had the same prob

 

[Tom]

Something is deeply buggered, its not the cambelt being too tight.. rather pathetic reason that. Almost as bad as saying the tensioner had gone. you'd know if it had!

Sounds like a valve isn't seating.

 

[Hellraiser]

Could the rattle be caused by the timing being slightly off after having had the belt changed? If it is a valve not seating properly, how much would it be to put right (ballpark figure, obviously

Hellraiser........>

 

[Tom]

Do a compression test first.

If the belt was out then it would run like ****.