Engine noise... Tappets, Cam belt...?

[mattoligy]

Hi, it's a mk3 2.0L 8v (75k) and the problem is that when i drive there is a noisy rattle/clicking that is at a very fast tempo and fairly loud! It Happens when you accelerate and the heavier the right foot the louder it gets but no really it's so annoying

I have searched and found it could be the tappets or the cam belt... The only other info i can give is that you can hear it when at a stand still but you have to have the bonnet up, and then it's at a slower tempo and of course... not as loud! I have tried to ear out where it is coming from with my head in the engine bay (Literally lol) and the closest i could pin point it to is the left hand side of the engine (my left lol) and more towards the top!

Any ideas would really help me out as i'm a complete noob lol

Matt.

EDIT: P.s I changed the oil and used engine flush when i done it (was about 2 months ago) but didn't help!

[Rmachines]

Hm is it louder when cold?  It actualy sounds like a leaking exhuast manifold/cracked manifold???

Or,  like you say tappets, usualy more of a knocking noise on this engine layout but depends.  One might not be pumping up,  If you have flushed the oil, and it is a lifter,  i would say it almost certainly needs replacing.   But, if you can put up with the noise, it wont do much harm.

Either way i would expect it to be louder when cold!  Other causes could be the big end?  Hate to even mention that but rule that out first,  they can start as a light clicky rattle! 

my 1.4L engine has a similar problem to this! but is more of a knock than a click now,  I thought it was the lifter but i think its the small end bearing now.  I wouldnt expect that to go on a GTI engine tho!

[saul79]

or the engine is fecked

[mattoligy]

It's def not a knocking! It's more of a spongy clicking if that makes sense... It makes no difference if the engine is hot or cold, it does it all the time!! I had even thought the cat might be fudged!? But it def gets louder and louder the more you accelerate!!

[Rmachines]

In that case i would go with somthing to do with drive belts, or cam belt.   Mabey a water pump bearing?  somthing like that. 

[herbster]

is the noise there when stationary?

[mattoligy]

here is a video/sound of the engine on tick over and then up to 2000 revs and then back down again, it kinda sounds more like an empty spray can!! 

http://www.mattoligy.000webhost.com/V030208_19.25.3gp  (1.37MB)

http://www.mattoligy.000webhost.com/V030208_19.25.wav  (5.78MB)

Sorry for the size, not 56k friendly lol 

Please have a listen as you probably know more than me and i really need some help here 

matt.

P.s you have to listen carefully as the noise of the engine it self is aslo quite loud lol

[Rmachines]

Hmm i hate to say this but from what i could hear it did have that big end noise to it,  but at the same time it could easily be tappits or bearings.  I would go to a garage ASAP! and have them have a listen.  They should be able to diagnose big ends if it is that.  You dont wanna be running the engine at all if thats the case.

Has it been doing it long?  got worse over a short time?   I doubt it is the big end but dont risk it and check is asap!

[saul79]

cant listen to it .

[Mikester]

Get some nice thick oil in there and run it to a garage ASAP!