Alright so I just finished my ls/vtec (b18a block/1st gen B16 head)swap into my 93 Si hatch. Started up fine, but ran into a few problems that need to be resolved asap.

First, My timing belt walks off the cam gears. I started up the car, let it idle for 5 minutes, and when I shut it down, I noticed that the timing belt wasnt sitting right. It had moved about 1/4" towards the driver side. It also began to eat through some of the lower timing belt cover and the valve cover that goes over the gears. I retensioned the belt and tried it again, and the same thing happens after several cranks of the motor. Is it possible that since this motor sat for several months with the belt on and possibly tightened, that it could have warped and is causing it to move? Any other causes/solutions that you guys know of? I've heard that if the belt won't walk entirely off, then just cut the moon cuts into the valve cover to stop the rubbing.

Next, When idling, there is a loud clicking/rattling noise coming from somewhere on the motor. as soon the throttle is opened at all, the click stops. It is hard to describe the noise, but it is clear and happens maybe once every 1/2 sec., possibly less frequent, and ONLY at idle. again, ANY help would be awesome in identifying these problems!

 

Have u tried tightening the tensioner for the belt?

That knocking could be pinging, if you played with timing at all. it sounds like a marble being dropped on a cement floor....

 

I've retensioned the belt exactly the way helms says to do it, torqued the bolt down to the same spec and everything. And wouldn't pinging continue, even increase and get louder, as rpm's increased? because as soon as ANY throttle is applied, it stops. any other opinions???

 

timing belt walk i believe can be caused by not installing the washers down by the oil pump , somebody will know the exact name...

 

Anyone have any advise on the rattling? Possibly some valve component, cracked LMA, would that stop making noise when throttle is applied?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sector9guy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anyone have any advise on the rattling? Possibly some valve component, cracked LMA, would that stop making noise when throttle is applied?</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can check to see if the LMA's are still good, lightly push down on them and they should spring right back up. Are the valves adjusted correctly? Try to find out where the noise is coming from.

 

bump need some more opinions pleaassee

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Next, When idling, there is a loud clicking/rattling noise coming from somewhere on the motor. as soon the throttle is opened at all, the click stops. It is hard to describe the noise, but it is clear and happens maybe once every 1/2 sec., possibly less frequent, and ONLY at idle. again, ANY help would be awesome in identifying these problems!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had this problem, when I got my timing belt on right and set the timing, then did a valve adjustment, it went away. Valve train noise is all it is, get yuor timing checked and do a valve adjustment

 

have you tried adjusting the tension by manually manipulating the T belt tensioner (prying it with a screw driver)?

 

Kind of, the motor is in the car, so it is difficult to fit tools in the gap between the frame and the bolt. and i haven't done a valve adj. yet, so that will be in order next. thanks for the help so far guys, anyone else have any insight on why it would be walking? im stumped as to why it would do that, already torqued cam gears to spec, double checked cam rail torque, im leaning towards the tensioner.
If it helps, the tension seems to be inconsistent when i let it tension itself. by that i mean as i crank the motor after the bolts tight, it seems like it will get loose between the gears right after the difficult part of the stroke. the slack kind of works its way around too, as some parts will be tight when others aren't.

 

Try using a long screwdriver as a stethoscope to pinpoint where the noise is coming from. Did you happen to upgrade the injectors? sometimes injector noise is a little louder with larger injectors and it can sound like the valves are tapping

 

No, didn't upgrade, but I did reuse my old injectors from my Z6. put new rubber seals on them just to be sure. Well I drove my car for the first time today, runs alright. some other things I've noticed:
-between 1500-2000rpms, in any gear, if i am not giving it gas it will jerk the car noticably.
-ALL of the rattling/knocking goes on only when I'm not giving it gas. more noise when not in gear.

Things I will be doing in the next week before driving it anymore:
-fuel injector cleaner, seafoam
-Ignition Timing
-Valve Adj.
-replace valve cover gaskets
-Compression test
Any other advice about what steps might help me make the motor run better?

 

Sounds like the engines suffocating....(it jerks without throttle)....

 

yah do a valve adjustment

also

the 2 timing belt washers are supposed to keep the timing belt on.

Thats why your timing belt is walking.

There is one on the inside of the lower timing belt gear and one on the outside
They both face inward.

washer/gear/washer/timing belt cover/key/pulley


try doing a valve adjustment see if that gets rid of your tick

do a compression check

keep troubleshooting ull get there

 

Did the valve adj., found that it got rid of some of the slight ticks, but the ones that concern me the most are still there. I tried to locate any of them, but I couldnt hear where it was coming from. next step is fuel injector cleaner, carb cleaner, comp test, new timing belt/lower washers, see where to go from there! thanks for the help up to this point everyone.

 

what ones?? the timing belt still walking??

 

theres still a loud, inconsistent metallic clicking/rattling that appears to be coming from the intake manifold. sounds almost like a marble. valve adj. didnt quiet it down at all. thinking it might be either something moving around in the intake runners, above the intake valves, or something else. the noise is usually not heard at idle, but when the throttle is opened a little, the noise will start. goin to pull my intake mani and see if i can see anything useful. ive ruled out detonation or rod knock.
As far as the timing belt goes, it seems to have stopped walking so far as to hit the valve cover, but it still sits about 3mm off the cam gears. also, there are marks on the outside off the timing belt, presumably from the tensioner. is this normal? the marks are spaced about 6mm apart. not torn or damaged, but just look strange to me.

Got another one for you guys, its throwing code 22, vtec oil pres switch. when i first start the car, it doesnt have the code. then when i start driving, the code will come on. not enough oil pressure? already tried switching to a known working switch, and no luck. any other causes of this? thanks guys

 

you may have problems with the tensioner(s) pulley bearings. if they are trashed it could cause the pulleys to run at an angle thus causing the belt to walk. spin the pulleys when they are out of the car, if ther is any noise whatsoever, replace 'em. i ALWAYS replace everything that's under the t-belt covers when i'm in there. I only wanna do it once!!!!