Hey guys. I have had my s2000 for around 1.5 months now and ive noticed a progressive valve tap since ive had it. At first it was VERY faint, where i could barly even hear it, to today where its very distinct and i can hear it at all times. Its very annoying and i was wondering if its just everything getting old and needs new, or if a valve adjustment is in order? The motor has 92k miles on it. I dunno if valves have ever been adjusted, and its been turbod for a little while, running 15psi ~ 400whp. I know its a valve tap because right when the car is started cold, its very quiet, but once the car starts warming up, it starts doing it. And once fully warm, its very loud. Now, i cant tell if it ever goes away or not, since if i ever give it any gas, it starts getting very loud when it spools, but for the most part, its very quiet at idle, and get louder up till 3k. Any suggestions?

 

did you check your oil level?

 

Yes, checked oil level and changed the oil, its 100% full. Right at the Line

 

Sure it is not the timming chain tensioner?

 

No im not sure, thats why i posted this to ask! lol. How do i check that? Main question i guess is...can i trust a honda dealership to look over the car and actually tell me whats wrong? Why would the timing tensioner randomly start making noise? When i bought the car, it didnt make any noise at all..its just progressivly gotten louder over the last 1.5 months.

 

Just get a valve lash adjustment. Even if that's not the cause, it probably needs it pretty bad by 92k miles.

What's the factory interval for valve lash, is it every 30k or every 50k?

 

[quote name='nextinstant39' date='Jan 3 2009, 08:30 AM'] Why would the timing tensioner randomly start making noise?

 

chain tensioner or belt tensioner? i changed my belt tensioner bearing (just the bearing) and it made a nice diffence dont remmber it was making more of a whistle noise then a tapping though my s2k does make a bit of a loud tapping exspecially if i stick my head down low behind the passenger side tire all my friends say they dont hear it and that im just crazy

 

Checking your valve lash is pretty easy. The only hard part is getting the valve cover off which is little bit of a puzzle.

 

It is the timing chain tensioner, they go bad on these cars, sometimes at very low miles. As the tensioner gets worse the chain gets lose and begins to rattle back and forth. It can be easily confused with tapping valves, and is one of the most common problems with S2ks, it happened to a friend of mine shortly after he picked his 05 up. He thought it was a valve issue, come to find out just the chain tensioner.