Engine rattle

Hi Folks, Noticed recently that when I'm accelerating thro the gears, there is a noisy rattle......Comes in around the point I'm changing gear, and disappears again...Sounded like a loose plate of some description so I was not too concerned. On investigation it sound more like its from the vicinity of the timing gear....to the right and down from the fan.....Should I be worried... Cheers Gerry

The fibre timing gear is prone to going and can be replaced by a metal gear which I think is from a Volvo 164.

The book talks about multiple "special" tools for changing the timing gear.....are there ways around this? Is it an engine out job? Anyone got any tips :)

Can be done in place. Remove the radiator. Remove the fan blade and pulley. Remove the botton pulley. Unbolt the timing cover and remove. Unbolt the timing gear and replace. Best of luck.

Be carefull when pushing the new gear on the camshaft. You can push the freezeplug out on the other side. That would mean pulling the engine to replace! Also check if the small oilnozzle is pointed at the conjunction of the gears, and that it isn't blocked with dirt. Sometimes the fanblades from the cooling fan become loose and destroy your radiator sooner or later, I would check them first.

I thought that a disintegrating timing gear was also fairly audible at tickover, at least mine was. I managed to soldier on for a few hundred miles after it began to be rattly, but I would recommend checking sooner, because it could leave you stranded if it gives up while you're travelling. Good luck, Tom

Nope, all sounds well at tickover.....its only as the revs rise, in normal driving it kicks in about change-up time... Funnily enough, I was out this morning........no noise :confused-smiley-013

Just a thought have you checked the crankshaft pulley is tight and the key is in the shaft.

If you take off the dizzy cover, plugs out too makes it easier, and watch the rotor while you turn the engine via a spanner on the crank nut. They should move together. If the crank moves round noticeably before the rotor moves the metal "star" driver in the centre of the fibre gear has broken away. Rotate the crank in both directions to gauge how bad it is. Actual noises when the engine running vary but can sometimes sound like big end failure at about 2-2.5k revs under light load. This is a similar to when you come off the throttle to change gear. As mentioned, other bits can rattle if loose, but not too difficult to check around the engine bay.

Am I correct in thinking I'll need a 1 7/16" socket??