Noisy 2005 SV6 - sounds like a diesel, rattle in front of engine

[NotAMechanic]

I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination so here goes. I have a 2005 SV6 which has been fully maintained meticulously with servicing and has 135,000 on the clock. There is a 'rattle' in the front of the engine. When you remove all the belts and have the engine running only you can hear it clearly and it sounds similar to a diesel engine sound (I also have a Cruze diesel), but a lot less significant. Rev the car, you can't hear it, let it idle and it is noticeable again. Any ideas on what this might be would be appreciated?

[D3CID3R]

sounds 'special' good luck with responses

[bigdaddycool]

Could have the problem I did, take the rocket covers off and make sure there's no a rocker arm thats come off....... if it has you can usually just pop them back in with a bit of force.

[torana355]

Timing chain rattle??

[impulsesv6]

low oil pressure on the chain tensioners or a broken tensioner... or a tensioner seal leaking just enough on low pressure...

expect around $1200 - $1500 to replace tensioners

[NotAMechanic]

Thanks to all who gave me ideas....ended up having Holden look at it as I have no idea....have suggested worse case oil pump needs to be replaced...a couple of $grand, other than that it depends what shows up when they pull it apart.

[Clutchy]

It sounds like what mine had it was the bottom timing chain cog was not being held inplace by the balancer as it was loose allowing the cog to move and cause the rattle in the end it sheered the pin off that holds the cog in the correct spot to align all the chains up.

[spudymatt]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did it cost to have that problem fixed? My ve sounds like a diesel to

[db_notso]

....
the tensioners and and camshaft actuators on these rattle if oil level is too low
or if pressure to them is t0o low.

vz/ve style motors dont normally wear out guides until 150,000kms or more

if oil light is on at idle then i would suspect oil pump
if engine light but no oil light suspect chains or guides as sensors are VERY VERY sensitive

no matter which of these (except low oil )
are very expensive to repair.... a good mechanic will do a set of chains and guides and tensioners in about 2 days or less
an oil pump takes about a day (only if oil pressure low) as they only remove 2 out of 3 chains.
if you have a noise like this and it is a tensioner or guide continuing driving it could be harmful to the motor (chain come off or skips teeth)
so you should get it checked out !~

[impulsive]

Could have the problem I did, take the rocket covers off and make sure there's no a rocker arm thats come off....... if it has you can usually just pop them back in with a bit of force.

dude are you serious? what part of the alloytec has rockers or rocker arms??

i experienced somethign very similiar to this, a broken timing chain tensior, this is what impulsesv6 was talking about

[richardpalinkas]

by rocket covers, did u mean the engine covers? i heard that once painted, can add 50hp... just a sugestion... hence the name... rocket covers, makes your car go like a rocket...

[db_notso]

by rocket covers, did u mean the engine covers? i heard that once painted, can add 50hp... just a sugestion... hence the name... rocket covers, makes your car go like a rocket...

okay then "rocket covers" will have to get me some of tha!~
maybe i will get myself a flux capacitor too!~

[impulsive]

okay then "rocket covers" will have to get me some of tha!~
maybe i will get myself a flux capacitor too!~

Word has it that if you paint the flux with the same paint it doubles its power output and you can also manage to get 2 carbon dioxides less at the tailpipe end

[db_notso]

lol you are the master of the universe!~

if only half the jackasssses out their i have to deal with had your snese of humour
like a guy today my car wont start pop bonnet and heads off engine he smiles laughs and points to back seat and says "that stuff might help ya!~"

[impulsive]

lol you are the master of the universe!~

if only half the jackasssses out their i have to deal with had your snese of humour
like a guy today my car wont start pop bonnet and heads off engine he smiles laughs and points to back seat and says "that stuff might help ya!~"

pulls the head off to find its a dead battery hahahaha

[db_notso]

no he blew the headgaskets and was just having a laugh at my expense

[jasnos]

i also have this on mine, its an anoying rattle noise that you notise when revs are very low reversing and in 1st (bellow 1500rpm) and goes away with more revs!
did you end up solving the issue?

[Slipper]

i also have the same thing as you have described jasnos, anyone have answers?

[richardpalinkas]

haha, same with me, i got that tone too, i notice it when i park on a down slope and gotta reverse up it, sorta rattle clunk around the engine as soon as you start to reverse

[db_notso]

some of you are describing a different fault
if rattle is a t idlle in nuetral or park then likely engine
if noise is only when in gear could be box or mountings loose or (most commonly i found)
the heatshields rattling on left and right side nearest to firewall where bell housing /box is
most of these other rattles are easy as too fix and if annoy you just get them checked and tell your mechanic when noise happens in gear or parked hot cold and first start or after a while of driving
most of the time when a techie buggers it up its when we dont have enough information about the fault...

[puggs85]

not long after i did the 2 hole mod on my car a few months ago i noticed a rattle or ticking sound coming from the engine bay you hear it more when idling and in gear waiting. would anyone have an idea what it could be

[jetboy]

harmonic balancer ? , seen hundreds

[VzVzVz]

Timing chains no doubt, has it lost power?

[puggs85]

na it dosent seem to have lost power cause i drive to and from work along the open road and it still gets up and go.

[VzVzVz]

Alloyecs will tend to loosen up at around the 140k to 150kms mark. Timing chains are a common thing to get done at this point, as well as the tensioners. Still, it's not a cheap job in terms of labour. You say it goes alright on the open road, that's common also for these engines to feel like they've got more grunt when the car's moving. But I can almost guarantee that if you get the chains and tentioners done, it will tighten up the tiiming, get rid of the noise, improve power, and give better fuel economy.