I was out driving tonight and on my way back home, probably a mile from my house I started to hear this knocking. It increases with RPMs and every once in a while you will hear it at idle. I got home and checked my oil to make sure it was ok and it was on full like always. I don’t know what the heck it could be... my motor is only about a year old; I hope it's not that. The motor does still pull strong but I am not trying to give it much throttle until I figure this out. Mods are below

Thanks,
Chris

 

one of my old cars did that. it could be the rear rotor hitting the housing. i took out my cats and put a straight exhaust on it and it quit. ---j

 

Thanks for the quick response... The motor is only a year old and I baby my car, I haven't even raced on a track. If I do street race it usually is only pulling in a gear or so. I guess I just dont understand...

I forgot to add, the Power FCs knock meter wasn't jumping around either.

 

heat shield maybe?

 

It's your rod bearings!!!

 

that sounds like a heat shield to me
is it a constant knocking? (even at cruise)
my wife's tercel does the same thing...and her's is a heat shield

 

I got a closer look at it tonight and my main drive pulley looks to be a little loose. I think the next step is to tighten that or get some new pulleys. Any other ideas are still welcome... heat shields could be a possible it doesn't sound like a rattle though. It isn’t a constant knocking kind of erratic, it has a little click to it as well.

 

Well..just outta curiosity..does it only happen when you're driving..or does it do it when you're idling also?

If it's only when you're driving..it might not be part of the engine but something in the suspension?

 

My power steering pump shaft bearings went out on me and made a noise very similar to what you are describing.

 

sounds like one of the pulleys is slipping and when it catches it makes a clicking noise. Mine did that right after i got my first new clutch in.

 

It happens at idle as well, I'm hoping it was an accessory and not a part of the engine. There isn't any reason for the engine to be bad, it still boosts and idles fine

 

If my main pulley is loose would that mess with the thrust bearings alignment at all? I haven't touched the main pulleys bolts before and it still is the stock pulley.

 

Yes, if your main pulley is loose, that's really bad.

If the main pulley bolt is loose it could let the thrust bearings fall out of place. Once those are out, all sorts of parts could hit I think.

Is the knocking noise RPM-dependent?

Brian

 

You could also drain all your oil and carefully look through it for evidence of metal bits. Poke your finger into the oil pan hole and see if you find any suspicious stuff in there too.

 

yikes!!! now how would that come loose though?

 

It is rpm dependent Brian... the car still idles perfectly though.

 

Main pully was loose, I took it off, but the hub is till on there tight. 3 of the four belts broke off.... now I need to extract them out. Does anyone know the size of the bolts???

Thanks,
Chris