e30 bearable ticking

[deeze30]

Is this normal for M20s as far as ticking sound goes? I tried to adjust the valves myself but not sure if i did it right because it didn't seem like it did anything. I heard M20s are usually loud like this which is completely normal. Is this true?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhflqCfRah4&feature=youtu.be

[htown318is]

oh they tick, but this sounds a bit excessive, I can barely hear mine with the hood still closed. either they are a bit on the loose end, or maybe those components are pretty worn.

[Northern]

check to see if your fan is hitting something, or if there is something hitting somewhere on an accessory belt, or on the alternator. The video sounds like rocker tick, but also another noise through the grille.

If your motor mounts are old or broken, it doesn't take much for the fan to contact the radiator or shroud.

[e34_spangler]

Yes! couldn't agree more with fan idea when the fan clutch goes bad which they tend to do! The fan wobbles and will usally hit the one coolant hose there!

[Cephas]

Sounds excessive for valvetrain noise. I would also check tension on accessory belts and for play in the water pump pulley.

[jlevie]

Cell phone recording aren't the best quality, but I think I can hear something other than the valves. With the engine cold, remove the belts and see if the noise is still present. If it is, use an automotive stethoscope on the timing cover to check for a bad timing belt tensioner bearing. As long as you don't run the engine for more than a minute it won't overheat with fan belt off.

[deeze30]

Sounds excessive for valvetrain noise. I would also check tension on accessory belts and for play in the water pump pulley.

Is it supposed to have some play or not?

Cell phone recording aren't the best quality, but I think I can hear something other than the valves. With the engine cold, remove the belts and see if the noise is still present. If it is, use an automotive stethoscope on the timing cover to check for a bad timing belt tensioner bearing. As long as you don't run the engine for more than a minute it won't overheat with fan belt off.

sounds like a good way to rule out the problem with the belts. This process won't mess with it's timing or anything like that right?

I will look into this on my next day off. When we first got the car it did not have this sound until after my bro replaced the water pump and belts, so that might be the problem. As far the fan hitting the radiator or anything for that matter, I observed it and its surroundings and it had pretty good clearance and was freely moving without hitting anything in its way.

[downforce22]

I had a problem with the water pump pulley bolts coming loose. A trick I have used it to tighten that belt and then tighten the bolts on that pulley. Good luck.

[davesmystery]

I'm interested to know what you find. I'm slowly finishing up adjusting my valves and doing TB/WP for the first time and I'm trying to keep notes of what I should be checking before I fire the car up again.

[e34_spangler]

I'm interested to know what you find. I'm slowly finishing up adjusting my valves and doing TB/WP for the first time and I'm trying to keep notes of what I should be checking before I fire the car up again.

Your valves will tick when adjusted correctly but what you don't wanna hear is clacking