What else could be causing this noise it basically comes and goes.

 

Can you pinpoint where the noise is coming from? Maybe get a mechanic's stethoscope to help you out. Is it from the front, back, left, right side of the engine? Is it up high or down low? Is it rpm related and at what rpm does it mostly happen? Sitting still in neutral? Or while driving and at what speed? Or did you really think someone over the internet can tell you exactly what your "clacking" noise is on the basis of what you posted alone?

 

There have been quite a few cases of premature cam chain wear in the UK. Sounds like a metallic slap/clack coming from the front of the engine/chain case. Easy to feel the vibration to localise it if that's the case. If that is your problem, replacing the timing chain and tensionser seems to have fixed the UK ones with no other issues.

-Brian.

 

It's probably an S2KI board member banging his head against your engine because he can't understand how someone can expect an answer to their question with such a small amount of information.

I'll take a WAG at it (only because I've already experienced this problem)... maybe (as Turtle suggested) it's your cam chain tensioner.
Pinpoint the location (you can take a big screwdriver and stick the tip of it to various locations on the engine and then stick the handle of it to your ear), and if it is coming from the cam chain tensioner then you've found the problem. If not, then find out where it is coming from.

 

sorry for the lack of info seem to come from front of engine and does it at idle up to maybe 2 grand and then goes away. Sometime when i start like this morning u don't hear at all. Thank guys.

 

With this latest infor, I'm going to go with "mxt" - cam chain tensioner. I'll also add in a check of oil level and oil pressure, possible piston slap, possible serpentine belt tensioner. A mechanic's stethoscope may help you determine if it's on the inside of the engine (cam chain tensioner) or on the outside (serp belt tensioner). And since you say it's at the front of the engine, one can't rule out one of the accessories that the serpentine belt drives: water pump bearing, A/C compressor clutch, alternator pulley bearing. Again, you can narrow it down with that stethoscope.

 

Thanks xviper appreciate the info

 

Just wanted to thank everyone for the info again. I replaced the cam chain autotensioner and the noise is gone. Thanks again!!

 

BTW, have you had the head off before? Do you have any mods. I wasn't surprised when my autotensioner needed replacement because I've had the head off, etc, and I've been messing with my cams & stuff like that... but if you haven't ever opened up your engine, I'm surprised that the autotensioner failed. Maybe this is something people should be keeping an eye (or ear) on.

 

There have been isolated incidents where the tensioner has gone bad without any kind of engine work being done. Maybe there were a few "lemon" parts for these at one point in time. I'm talking about completely stock cars that were used as daily transportation. I think it's possible to pinpoint this fault with a stethoscope.