Help! 2.3 Engine V. Noisy At Idle

[stairforce]

My 1999 2.3l auto petrol Galaxy (LPG converted) has started making a loud noise at idle, which goes away if you bring the

rpm up over 1500. It seems to drive OK if you can bear the racket at idle. I found an article on the Internet (admittedly

relating to an American Ford model) with a 2.3 litre engine with balancer shafts (like this one) and it suggested that if the

balancer shafts fail somehow, this can cause the symptoms I am getting.

 

Does anyone have experience of this fault? Can anyone confirm that these symptoms may have this cause?

Biggest question - what is it likely to cost to get fixed? Is it an engine-out job?

[snapper]

If it is the balance shaft then engine out and much the same cost as a camshaft but i have never heard of one breaking.

It could be oil pressure to the hydraulic followers, that would make the top end tick like hell.

One trick to try and isolate the area where the racket is coming from is to use a very long screwdriver place the tip at various points on the engine and your ear on the handle then touch the screwdriver to the sump, engine, front, back, both sides, bottom,middle top and then the cam cover, you can usually hear/feel where the noise is coming from and therfore get a better idea of what it may be.

 

Mechanical things are easier to fix than the smoke and mirrors of the electrics like the ABS/brake warning light problem i am trying to solve.

I am thinking of chuking out the V6 and putting the Pinto from my Super 7 in, clockwork, easy. :ph34r:

[banjaxed]

I have a similiar problem with my 2003 1.9. A kind of thumping when in neutral that disappears on alceration. I had my flywheel replaced and noticed it after, but it could have been there before as I hadn't had the car that long. My mechanic thinks that there is a lot more miles on the engine than what the clock says and it is a worn valve ( i think he said valve). I brought it to Ford and they said the engine was fine and the only time that they had something similiar was when they had put a inferior clutch in a Mondeo. However....... he said that he couldn't say for sure that it was the clutch and that I should keep driving it until whatever it was became worse and they could better identify the problem. That was about a month ago and so far it has stayed more or less the same.

 

Any change on yours?

[sepulchrave]

banjaxed, it is possible that your dual mass flywheel has been replaced in the wrong position which could account for the slight thumping noise, a worn valve can give those symptoms on a PETROL engine but not on a turbodiesel.

 

stairforce, your problem is almost certainly a leaking hydraulic lifter, if you can't live with it then you can replace them all but it's probably not worth it. Occasionally there is a blockage in the oilway feeding the lifter and a flush might clear it but I wouldn't hold your breath.

[chromedome]

I'm not too sure but does the 2.3 have a timing chain? Could be that.

[NikpV]

I know op hasn't a tdi but maybe!!

 

 

alternator idle pulley

Edited September 22, 2008 by NikpV