My car has developed a rattle/tick that seems to be coming from the timing belt cover. It almost feels like something is hitting it from below. It's especially bad when the car is cold and idling. It seems to go away (or is MUCH less noticable) when the car is running above 2000 RPM's or after it warms up. I had the timing belt changed about 40,000 miles ago, but it just started devloping this symptom recently. Any ideas on what could cause this? Car seems to be running fine, no major mechanical problems other than the weirdo quirks that a car devlopes when it racks up over 158,000 miles....

 

I read in another post that it could be the tensioner pulley sticking. What are the symptoms?

 

I'd be willing to bet you $20 that it's the tensioner.

 

Too bad you would have lost the bet...

I ended up taking it to a mechanic becuase I chickened out. I didn't want to risk ignoring it, or worse...screw somthing up even worse trying to track it down. He found the balance shaft chain tensioner had broken and the chain was basically free wheeling, just slapping away inside the oil pan.

While they were at it, they had to take off the timing belt, so I had them replace it, along with all the crank/cam oil seals, waterpump (and t-stat), flush the radiator. I had the transmission serviced and the fuel injectors cleaned. My oil pan was leaking too, so that was taken care of during reassembly.

At $500 in parts, and $400 in labor, I sure hope I can hang on to this car for a couple more years!