Technical HELP! Death rattle coming from engine...

[LittleSilverBoat]

Hi guys

Worryingly, my B has started making a horrible rattle/whir around 2400rpm upwards, regardless of whether in gear. I thought initially that it may have been the heat shield, but no such luck - on closer inspection it sounds like it's coming from near the top of the engine, somewhere near the cambelt side.

Does anyone have any idea what it might be? Maybe variator?

Failing that, does anyone know a trustworthy mechanic (preferably an Italian Car Specialist) near Manchester? In the meantime, I'm trying not to use the car. Fingers crossed!

Thanks in advance

Adam

 

[KC3]

Sounds like a variator issue, Does the rattle sound loud on start up and then not so loud as the engine warms up.

If this is the case, then it is more likely to be the variator but i wouldnt worry, it wont kill the engine, its just an annoying rattle which gets louder over time.

Many if not all barchetta's suffer from this every 40 to 50,000 miles
There is lots of info on this forum about it but sure some of the more experienced members or mechanics will tell you more.

new variators are around £100 to buy new but altenately there is a service kit for £10, Ive bought this kit and plan on doing mine soon so i can let you know how it goes.

Good luck and hope its not anything more synister..

 

[F4usT]

something like this on video? i was ignoring that sound for half a year. because all says that variator cant harm engine, true. but same sound make camshaft and crankshaft and i a was blaming variator for that... and then one day. bam! worn camshaft, turned flybearing and worn crankshaft , dead hidrovalves....

i suggest to change as soon as possible.



and this is pure bad crakshaft sound (i think, don't have speakers now)... sound like rankling 'n' biting very hard biscuits.

 

[spiderboy]

Adam, mine did this, and when I had the variator replaced it turned out to be the cam tensioner. There was no tension at all and the belt was flapping around. How it did not bounce the valves I don't know. So I would be very careful. Mine was sorted out at Ferdis Garage in Lytham. He's Ferrari trained and did a brilliant job. All it just over £300 for the cambelt, tensioner and variator. His number is 01253 738903.
Good Luck!
Incidentally, I did anther track day, this time in a car called a Deronda, bit like an Atom but quicker. 300 bhp in 650Kg! Very quick! Let me know how you get on.
Cheers

John

 

[barchingmad]

Adam,

I can second the comments about Ferdis. He has solved problems on most of my Italian cars over the past few years including my last barchetta and a bunch of alfas!

Spotted a silver b outside the ODEON in Blackpool where I work. Was it yours?

Colin

 

[bollie69]

I have had it and it turned out to be a stupid thing wich had me worried sick.
Look at the little bracket that holds the lower engine manifold to the block.
(you will need to take a look under the car)
If its broken in 2 it wil be giving a terrible noise.
Sounds a bit like a rattle snake.

Replacement can be done under 1O minutes, and the cost under 5 pound

 

[LittleSilverBoat]

Guys, thanks for all your advice - much appreciated.

I've now booked in with Ferdi for Monday morning. Having chatted at length with him (what a nice geeza!), he seems to concur that it is likely to be a cam tensioner/variator issue.

So, hopefully all will be sorted next week, I'll keep you posted. Finger crossed!

Colin - wasn't me in Blackpool, but glad to hear B's are well represented up there...

John - glad to hear about the trackday - where did you get your hands on that monster?! I did a trackday myself last week, on the Silverstone GP circuit. Unbelievable - very different to Oulton. Had access to Renault Sport Megane Cup 265, 911 GT3 (brutal) and an instructor all day.... Learned loads.

 

[spiderboy]

I met the guy at Cholmondely and blagged a test drive! I'll post a pic. Good luck with Ferdi, he really is a perfectionist. Found my bill and with a full service as well it came to £500. Let me know how it goes.
Cheers

John

 

[spiderboy]

Hi Adam, how is the Little Silver Boat now??

 

[LittleSilverBoat]

Mixed bag of news really....

Ended up taking the B in to Ferdi this morning, he took one listen and was sure that a big end had gone. VERY bad news, meaning a £2k+ repair, engine out, complete rebuild etc etc.

I've spent all day in depression, until literally 10 mins ago Ferdi called. He was taking off the oil filler cap to check a serial number for parts when he noticed a tappet through the filler - on further investigation, it's a worn camshaft and hydraulic tappets on cylinders 1 and 2 as predicted by F4usT. (Thanks again)

So, while not brilliant news, (it needs new variator, cambelt, camshaft etc), much better news than this morning. I've never been so happy to hear that the camshaft is worn!

I'll keep you all posted on progress.

A

 

[F4usT]

new camshafts are about 200€ (one) so try to find some fiat coupe. it's same engine. that's what i did and costs me only 30€!! both used camshafts. most important is that all bumps (knap) on camshafts are same height. don't know what size should be... but mechanics says they were in almost perfect condition, no signs of worn out.

i thin this also fit: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-punt...CarParts_SM&hash=item3a6aa2e754#ht_500wt_1156

 

[LittleSilverBoat]

Update...

Ferdi has replaced most of the top of the engine, inc Camshaft, variator, cambelt, and all 4 tappets.

Although the rattling has reduced in volume, there is still a knocking deep in the bowels of the engine, which leads us back to the initial diagnosis of a big end shell. Sigh. Next course of action is to take off the sump and do some further investigation, keeping fingers crossed at all times that whatever it is can be sorted without taking out the engine.

Ferdi concurs with me that the two problems are almost certainly connected, and that oil starvation at some point has led to something wearing. (Apparently the cam shaft that was replaced was very worn). Funny thing is, I'm always very careful to check fluid levels etc, and at no point in the 15 months I've owned the car has the oil ever been low. So maybe an oil pump issue?

Anyway, I wait to hear Ferdi's verdict. I'm really glad that he's doing all this work, he's a true perfectionist and knows his barchetta's very well.

Current repair running total? Circa £1000. Worst case scenario, with engine rebuild, hopefully not more than £2000. Any considerable amount more than that and I have to start questioning it's worth. Aside from the current mechanical ailments, I believe that it's one of the very best examples left in the UK, absolutely perfect, so there's no point in not fixing it...

I'll keep you posted on further developments.

Anyone in the market for a kidney?

Adam

 

[spiderboy]

Hey Adam, are you back on the road yet?