Hi everyone ;

I was wanting to run something thru the forum.

My car was not making any type of engine noises prior to me removing the intake to make some repairs and dropping one of the intake bolts into the back of the engine. As soon as I turned the engine on after making said repairs and loosing the bolt somewhere on the back the engine , the car immediately made an *extremely loud* rattling noise that would not go away regardless of temperature, could be heard at idle and would increase and decrease with RPM. Eventually I hit a bump and the noise *nearly* died. that was over a week ago.

my conclusion was that the bolt I lost landed near a pulley wedged itself there. I am assuming hitting a bump partially dislodged it, or that eventually it has worn down from the rotation of whatever pulley it’s lodged in.

as of right now, sometimes I hear it, sometimes I don’t . Tonight the engine was completely silent. Last night , it was noticeable. I have been faintly hearing the noise in the morning.

I guess what I am driving at, is if something else could be wrong. I can’t imagine that such a loud noise that nearly disappeared after hitting a bump is engine problem. But I wonder. Maybe a series of coincidences?…..reason dictates the bolt or part of it I somewhere there causing this noise….

I am worried I have a problem with the timing chain. Doesn’t seem to be common problem.

thoughts?

 

I don’t think we have ever heard about timing chain rattle on these engines.

 

Could the stray bolt have got itself wedged between the exhaust and a heat shield?

 

that’s what seems the most reasonable. I think , however, it lodged Itself on the crank pulley because of the extremely loud noise it made until I hit a bump and the noise went down like 95 percent- but there is still something there …. Barely audible.

 

Struggling to mentally picture that scenario........If you dropped the bolt at the back of the engine, how did it find its way over to the right side of the engine to land on the pulley?
Normally it would land on the Bank 1 exhaust manifold and then play 'pinball' bouncing off the transfer case or cat converter.

Oh, while I'm typing ....checked with the wrecker that has X-Types listed currently.....those seats have already been sold, so nothing in stock currently. I will still keep an eye out for any others popping up locally.
Do you you need just the element and leather upholstery, or do you need the lower cushion as well (if your foam has broken down).....just thinking of freight sizing and cost if the whole lower cushion were to be sent instead of just the leather and element.

 

I think I just need the cushion leather. Thanks so much !