Sound of marbles especially under acceleration

[andy05]

What could be causing this I wonder? Yes I read all the threads and it seems like it could be about a million things, but I wonder if someone can work out wtf is wrong with my car from these symtoms, none-the-less.

Marble-y sound, worse when at idle or under acceloration. Better when in neutral at lights. Sound still present when I take my foot off the gas when accelerating, but not as loud. Frequency remains constant, doesnt go up or down with revs, only loudness goes up with revs.

P.s: My guess.... exaust system, even though the noise SEEMS to be coming from the front... Just replaced caytalic converter, so dont think it can be that, ah I dunno, maybe better get a stereo and turn up da volume lol!

[mouce]

Dear god, I'm not alone with this noise. At least I have a similar one. I've checked my exhaust over though and couldn't find anything. I don't know what it is, but it's driving me nuts, and I don't want to pull the engine apart and go searching for a bearing that's shat itself.

Is your noise worst when you're accelerating in about third or fourth up a hill?

[Pretender]

I replaced my Cat and it fixed half the problem. New Airbox (gas injury to old) and new plugs and it dissappeared.
That's with my car though but maybe worth looking at the airfilter, plugs and leads to start with.

[CSL]

sounds like a flywheel, however that would get faster with acceloration

[sed8]

coutd be worse at idle the noise shouldn't be as prominent as when the vehicle is moving this sort of noise could be a breaing issue in any of the moving parts in the driveline usually the bigger noised is due to the big end bearings leeting go for you sake let say that could be worse case scenario

[commy92]

HARMONIC BALANCER... i can almost guarntee it.. exactly what mine did and exactly what i thought..

[blackduck11]

Check thatg your harmonic balancer has not separated and visit this link attached http://au.geocities.com/commodoretech/vnfaults.html

[CSL]

see i thought thats what mine was but was flywheel, hoever if the rubber on the balancer is all ****ed up, than thats your problem

[Dezza]

timing chain maybe? can make a marbley noise

[kirkson]

Yep i'm going with harmonic balancer cost me $180.00 to have done
Regards kirk

[VN-88]

i recomamend every check there harmonic balancer, my mate starter get odd noises like that aswell, so i check his HB and the rubber was splitting making it out of whack, super cheap here have one here for 159, autobarn had one for 250 or something but it would only like 180 if u gave them ur old one. but get someone to replace it, ive tried evreything to get my spare one of for my mate but it just ownt come off, my rattle gun at 120 pounds of pressure still dont get it off

[andy05]

The sound does go away once the cars up to about 40. Nah, the sound doesnt change when I'm going up a hill. By what you guys say, its the balancer, it seemed to look ok when I looked at itt, but maybe looks can be decieving

[jules]

this same sound was present in my VN. i sweated over it, changed stuff, checked everything.

the sound was the accessory belt tensioner rattling against the stop, but the tensioner itself was fine. it was caused by rough engine operation.

eventually i worked it out - the ECU had gone south. i had it fixed by Petrojet (is that their name?) in melbourne and bingo bango, it was fine after that.

[andy05]

The sound does go away once the cars up to about 40. Nah, the sound doesnt change when I'm going up a hill. By what you guys say, its the balancer, it seemed to look ok when I looked at itt, but maybe looks can be decieving

Finally found out what this noise really is. Went to the mechanic, he said hydraulic lifters, maybe worn cam and or engine bearings. I'm gonna clean the lifters and see if that helps. If that doesnt work I might have a look at replacing the lifters and possibly the cam (yeah I know its expensive!)

[andy05]

The sound does go away once the cars up to about 40. Nah, the sound doesnt change when I'm going up a hill. By what you guys say, its the balancer, it seemed to look ok when I looked at itt, but maybe looks can be decieving

Finally found out what this noise really is. Went to the mechanic, he said hydraulic lifters, maybe worn cam and or engine bearings. I'm gonna clean the lifters and see if that helps. If that doesnt work I might have a look at replacing the lifters and possibly the cam (yeah I know its expensive!)

[foammedia]

Good to see he narrowed it down so much, suprised he didn't say it was the excessive coins in your pocket

[chopsy]

I have the same thing it's my cat it's stuffed

[Morton]

Me too. It's a cross between rolling marbles and running water. New cat's going in tomorrow - I'll let you know if that fixes it!

[crazyspoon05]

I have the same symptoms on my car, least I know what to be looking at now, I just thought all VN's had that noise before..

[The1985divo]

My mate had this problem, he got the exaust replaced after the cat and the noise went away, sound was coming from the end muffler, cat was fine

[slayer]

hey ive got the same noise on my wgn but mine sounds like its comming from the tranny??????

[andy05]

I have the same symptoms on my car, least I know what to be looking at now, I just thought all VN's had that noise before..

A lot of 'em seem to... maybe something to do with a combination of the design of the VN's engine, and owners poor maintenance (lack of oil changes allowing sludge build up) See if the Nulon lifter clean works (looked like deisel when I poured it in) I also have heard thicker oil and more frequent oil changes helps this problem... VN's are a bit rattly though, there are a million similar rattles, just got to use some deduction, the Just Commodores forum, and hell if that fails a GOOD mechanic... man these rattles are driving me mad!!

[Morton]

Well I fitted my "new" cat and exhaust, and I'm proud to say the noise is gone. One step closer to a roadworthy!

[crazyspoon05]

I have the same symptoms on my car, least I know what to be looking at now, I just thought all VN's had that noise before..

A lot of 'em seem to... maybe something to do with a combination of the design of the VN's engine, and owners poor maintenance (lack of oil changes allowing sludge build up) See if the Nulon lifter clean works (looked like deisel when I poured it in) I also have heard thicker oil and more frequent oil changes helps this problem... VN's are a bit rattly though, there are a million similar rattles, just got to use some deduction, the Just Commodores forum, and hell if that fails a GOOD mechanic... man these rattles are driving me mad!!

Cheers, thanks for that, yet another thing I'm adjusting back to after being in the wilderness of owning other cars inbetween Commodores