Billman250

Hey Raul, how you be? I've got some news for ya. The sound you are hearing is likely the timing chain. It only makes the noise on cold starts, for 1-3 seconds, then abruptly disappears. A new timing chain tensioner will possibly cure the problem. I haven't heard your noise for myself, but have replaced the t-chain tensioner on two cars. Myself was the first, and Spikez513 was the second. It's been a few months and the sound has disappeared. Does it sound like a playing card in the spokes of a bicycle wheel maybe?

Billman250

Idler pulley..it would be near impossible for it to make noise at startup only. Now the tensioner on the other hand, if the pivot is sticking, I guess it could make some noise at start up. I think they are hearing the noise through the idler pulley, because the noise is coming from a source directly behind it.

I hope I'm wrong and your car comes back ok

An audio clip would be vital to the board, you're not the only one with that noise...

w1ngman

Bill,

Actually, I have heard the same sound in The Bruised Banana a limited number of times as well. 100K miles here ...although quite frankly, I've heard it probably first at, say, 70K miles...and then intermittently all of maybe 5 times since. Cold starts for certain. Abrupt & then gone w/in 2 seconds. Fanning cards?...maybe...to me when I've heard it my gut would think, "Holy crap, I just turned the motor over and there's no oil in it!" (but quicker than I could complete that thought, the noise was gone). Oil check would always say I'm fine there subsequent to the noise.

All that said...you're suggesting timing chain tensioner, correct? Question: Are you saying replace your timing chain tensioner (or we'll be sorry )? Or are you saying, that if it were replaced, we wouldn't hear the noise anymore? In other words, if the tensioner is exhibiting this...is it dangerous to our motors?

Thanks in advance.

- Dave

S2000driver77

Ahhhh.....

I happened to be in New Bern today so I stoped by the dealer to pick up an oil filter and the lady behind the cust service counter told me you had been in their recently.

Just a side note. The guy behind the parts counter gave me the absolute wrong oil filter. I had to tell him the part number. If I had been a S 2000 newbie.....

Billman250

All this is based on our noises being the same....hard to tell at this point

airgate

billman250, thank you! w1ngman, thanks for some additional info on this.

I will contact the dealer tomorrow morning (or stop by early, early) and share this info with them. I don't mind paying to have the car fixed, but I DO want the issue resolved. I appreciate everyone's input and hope to have resolution on this very soon!

Huskergirl

Just to confirm the cold start theory, I have had the same noise on a few occasions and I have about 45k on mine.

I'm also having some idling issues as well, but I'm going to wait to hear what Raul's techs say before I take her in.

airgate

I stopped by the dealer this morning and shared the info from the board. The tech confirmed that it is the Idler Pulley as he was able to see it "moving around," I believe he described it as "wobbling." He is sure that is the culprit. He also inspected my serpentine belt and found ZERO cracks. He was impressed with this considering:

A) How many miles (nearly 80k)
B) Given the high-RPMS of the engine

He also shared that the timing chain was in perfect condition and described the "guides" as perfect - like new. He shared that I can probably wait till 110k miles to have the timing chain replaced. Guess, I need to start saving up for that maintenance.

I should have picked my baby up today, but a part is being shipped from somewhere else and won't arrive until tomorrow, so I'm looking at late Friday afternoon/early evening before I have her home in my garage.

w1ngman

Great news Raul!

S2000driver77

That is GREAT news. Just goes to show how those SEBRING Silver cars can hold up over time