baileyman11

Hi guys,
I'd really appreciate some advice dealing with this car I just bought.
I just bought a Berlina Black 01 and got it really cheap because it's beat to crap and the valvetrain is making a terrible knocking sound. it sounds like it's got a really really loose valve. kind of like a lock nut backed off. the sound is very pronounced at idle and accelerating at low rpm, however, when accelerating past 4k rpm, it seems to either go away or be drowned out by other engine noises. I would say it sounds like rod knock however, I've revved this thing all the way to 8k accelerating on the on ramps and it screams great past 4k and has awesome power. also, I've driven it for about 400 miles already at about 78 mph (which I'm sure you guys know is around 4200 rpm) just waiting for the motor to throw a rod through the block but it hasn't and it hasn't lost power. so I'm hesitant to suspect it to be rod knock.

here's some adituonal info:

mileage: 120k

check engine lights:
P1362: top dead center sensor no signal
P1362: top dead center 2 no signal
and P1456 which I know from the trusty search function is likely a faulty gas cap.

here's a link to the video of the noise
https://youtu.be/inIfUIvqtfE

I've always been an s2000 fan and when this one popped up on the cheap I couldn't resist. I've been cruising the s2ki forum for a long time contemplating when I'd buy my first one so I know how helpful you guys are on this forum. thanks in advance for your help guys.


thanks,
Ethan

windhund116

Boy, that sure sounds like rod knock. Pull one coil, at-a-time, and see if the noise changes with one specific cylinder.

baileyman11

ill try that tomorrow. also going to drain the oil tomorrow and check for shavings. literally just bought this car last week and I'm going to have to drive it for the next week while my 08 wrx is getting the pedal assembly welded back onto the firewall so if it's rod knock, I can do nothing except wait for it to throw it through the block because I've got to get to work. :, (

baileyman11

just changed the oil. no noticeable sign of hearing failure that I could see. also, put in a little lower viscosity to help with circulation maybe. used castrol edge 5w30 synthetic. it quieted it down a lot and kind of lowered the threshold where the change over to not sounding like crap is. so now it doesn't sound like crap after like 2.5 or 3k rpm.
any suggestions? think I'll pull the valve cover tomorrow and have a look see if the valves are in spec.

afzan

Tct maybe?

Slowcrash_101

It's too quiet for rod knock, time to get u a vc gasket set a set of feeler gauges and a jam nut tool n check the valve adjustment. At its mileage it probably can't hurt, plus you can inspect retainers as well.

baileyman11

I thought TCT noise was supposed to be a little more arrhythmic (i.e. not such a steady or slow tempo)? any other input? definitely going to change the tct while I'm in there this weekend either way since I'm are it needs it.

Slowcrash_101

TCT noise is much faster, almost like a fart type brrrap but constant.

baileyman11

that's what I was thinking. I do appreciate the detailed description tho haha. does anyone have any info on what might be causing those CELs? would they be associated with the knocking sound or nah?

hvAlfaWant_S2000

I believe Billman described a bad TCT like a card in the spokes type of sound.