Hi all!

[Ollie.w]

Hi all!
I've had a 1989 Guards Red 2.7 944 for a few years now but its slightly poorly. Now for the slightly unconventional bit... I live on a farm in West Oxfordshire, Chipping Norton and i'm looking for someone to have a go at fixing it. I have a holiday cottage which we normally rent, but I was wondering if any knowledgeable Porsche mechanic fancied a stay in it in exchange for fixing my old girl? its got space for 4 so you are more than welcome to bring the family or some friends? We have a farm workshop which has an inspection pit and tools. Also some names of good local garages which know their Porsches would be helpful?

Just some advice would also be invaluable! Its got a loud knocking/slapping sound when idling and revving. Im quite sure its running on all 4 cylinders. Would it help if I was to post a video? sounds like its coming from the top of the engine but its hard to pinpoint it exactly.

Hope you can help!

Ollie

 

[PSH]

Hi Ollie

Video would certainly help plus a litle history on the problem, did it just start while running or did it start on cold start up and if so how long did you let the engine run before switching off. A stuck tappet can give a similar sound but would need 10-15 minutes running before it will clear.

Pete

 

[Ollie.w]

Hi Pete,
Its had the problem for some time, though I haven't given it a proper running in some time. Unfortunately it happened when I was short of time and money, so I covered it up and popped it into the workshop. Now with more time and a little more money i'm keen to sort it. With the little running I have given it 30-40 minutes, its got more noticeable. It started as an almost unnoticeable sound.

Link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DULFy5EubY&feature=youtu.be

Ollie

 

[PSH]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w

Hi Pete,
Its had the problem for some time, though I haven't given it a proper running in some time. Unfortunately it happened when I was short of time and money, so I covered it up and popped it into the workshop. Now with more time and a little more money i'm keen to sort it. With the little running I have given it 30-40 minutes, its got more noticeable. It started as an almost unnoticeable sound.

Link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DULFy5EubY&feature=youtu.be

Ollie

Hmmm.. doesn't sound as sharp as a stuck tappet usually does, try to find out were the sound is coming from,use a large flathead screw driver or something similar. With the engine running and with the handle of the screw driver pressed against an ear, try touching various metal parts of the engine close to where the sound is loudest. Keep moving the blade of the screw driver until you find the loudest place that the noise is coming from and report back. Be careful when doing this that you don't get to close to any moving parts.

Pete

 

[PSH]

one other thought Ollie, which plugs do you have and how old are they?

Pete

 

[Ollie.w]

I've had a listen, didn't lose any fingers, ears or hair in the process. It sounds like its coming from the top and back of the engine. Almost certainly not the big end. When you say plugs... at risk of sounding like an idiot do you mean spark plugs? It had a full service in 2010, this was before I bought her but i'm presuming they were replaced then. It's only done 3,500 miles since then.

Thanks for the help Pete. Your Turbo looks very smart, I slightly envious!

 

[PSH]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w

I've had a listen, didn't lose any fingers, ears or hair in the process. It sounds like its coming from the top and back of the engine. Almost certainly not the big end. When you say plugs... at risk of sounding like an idiot do you mean spark plugs? It had a full service in 2010, this was before I bought her but i'm presuming they were replaced then. It's only done 3,500 miles since then.

Thanks for the help Pete. Your Turbo looks very smart, I slightly envious!

Ok... so you say top and back... is it from the head or from the camshaft tower?.. the reason I asked about plugs was due to an incident that I had with my engine some years back. Sounded like a stuck tappet although a little duller, but in fact it was a broken iridium spark plug that had lost part of it's ceramic isolating sleeve and the noise was a broken part being smashed between piston and combustion chamber. Turns out that this problem is more common than one might think, so much so that some Dyno operators refuse to run a car with iridium plugs in it.

Pete

 

[Ollie.w]

It seems to be coming from the camshaft tower. its loudest on the right hand side if this helps? Thats as you look at the engine inside the car. Plugs aren't iridium fortunately. Is this helping or are you still none the wiser?

Ollie

 

[PSH]

I've been trying to listen more to the video, are you sure all 4 cylinders are running properly?, she certainly doesn't sound like it. Since you say it's not the head then hopefully that rules out both big and little ends, however is there any fluctuation on the oil pressure? cam tower would point back to stuck tappet but the sound just doesn't sound right for that although perhaps I'm not getting the true sound from youtube? Of course if it isn't firing properly on all 4 cylinders then that would also mask the sound somewhat. How many miles has the car done in total? It could well be a failed tappet which isn't pumping up properly, you could try giving it a flush and oil change and see if the sound stops or hopefully goes away all together. Only problem in doing this is if that doesn't help then you've wasted 6.5ltrs of oil..lol Also I would check all of the plugs anyway just to be sure.

Pete

 

[robwright]

Pete my vote would be a tappet also. If the car has stood for some time then alomost certainly all of the oil has drained out of them. This normally goes away within 15 mins. Oxfordshire not too far from me but alas I am very busy with my own car at the moment so cannot be any more than help through advice sorry mate.

 

[Hairyarse]

Hi Ollie

These guys aren't a million miles from you - http://www.autofarm.co.uk/contact

I've not used these guys before, but know the area quite well as grew up in Kidlington. Oselli engineering would be worth a shout too I would have thought as from memory engines are their thing. I'm not sure how local they are now though, I think they were in Witney many years ago but not sure if still the case?

Good luck in getting it sorted

Cheers
Andy

 

[Ollie.w]

I couldn't be 100% positive its running on all 4, but I'm fairly sure. Whats the best way to check? She idles fine apart from the knocking. The short journey I did make in it she seemed to go well, certainly no misfires. Oil pressure seemed good, will check again tomorrow but last time I checked it was at 4.5ish from memory and dropped away a little when warm. The current mileage is 137,000, so not too high. I will pop and buy some oil tomorrow, what oil do you think would be best 10W40? Will check all the plugs in the morning, was a little hot to be pulling them all out earlier.

Ollie

 

[Ollie.w]

Hi Rob, Hi Andy, sorry bad internet connection.
Thanks for the advice. The sound doesn't seem to go, I've given it a good run today I must have had it running for 30/40 mins just checking where the sound is. Autofarm is meant to be very good, I will get in contact if I cant sort it with help from you guys. I thought Oselli had closed but it seems they have move, I will give them both a ring if I cant sort it.

Ollie

 

[robwright]

If you have had it running for 30-40 mins then at least we can confirm it is not terminal lol. So could well be a dodgy hydraulic cam follower.

 

[PSH]

ORIGINAL: Ollie.w

I couldn't be 100% positive its running on all 4, but I'm fairly sure. Whats the best way to check? She idles fine apart from the knocking. The short journey I did make in it she seemed to go well, certainly no misfires. Oil pressure seemed good, will check again tomorrow but last time I checked it was at 4.5ish from memory and dropped away a little when warm. The current mileage is 137,000, so not too high. I will pop and buy some oil tomorrow, what oil do you think would be best 10W40? Will check all the plugs in the morning, was a little hot to be pulling them all out earlier.

Ollie

Oil pressure is fine, check each lead in turn, try wriggling it to see if the revs die or increase. Any change could be a damaged lead, if it increases then you know that particular cylinder wasn't firing properly, drop or increase the lead will need looking at. Be careful as a damaged lead can give a hell of a kick if it's arcing out. Oil is a personal preference, I use 15/50 motorsport but it's not necessarily the one for you, if trying to get life out of a suspect tappet it may be prudent to use a thicker oil. If the oil doesn't feel good to the touch and is dirty (black) then I'd definitely change it and since there may be an issue with a tappet I'd flush it first too. If the noise remains and nothing else has been found then I'm afraid the tower will need removing and perhaps a new tappet sourced.
Sorry if this seems a bit limited, it's not easy describing what to do or even find the problem, what may take me seconds to find in the flesh could take forever trying to explain here as experience has a lot to do with listening to an engine for faults and then illuminating possible candidates.

Pete

 

[Ollie.w]

Might get my brother over to help check the leads... don't fancy a shock. Might go for a slightly thicker oil as you say should help the tappets. I will let you know how it goes. I could really do without having to replace a tappet. No need to apologise! its great to just have the help. It really is one of those things that as you say you need to see and hear to diagnose.

Ollie

 

[robwright]

Cam tower isn't actualy thet hard to remove. Check out www.clarks-garage.com it has a wealth of information for any 944 owner.

 

[Ollie.w]

Thats incredibly useful. Im very good at following instructions, so that could come in very handy.

Thanks Rob.

 

[Hairyarse]

Lol. I like it how you plan to ask your brother over to get the potential 'belt' from the leads, I hope he likes you still []

As Rob said, not too bad to remove the tower and you can have a good look easily once it's off. I would suggest that you fit new gaskets to anything you remove

 

[Ollie.w]

Well its only fair, the amount of pain I've received helping him with his Land Rovers!

New gaskets is a good call. Where's the best place to get them?

Ollie