2000 Vitara 1.6 engine rattle

[gazmoore]

Hi,
I am a new subscriber, my name is Gary, I live in Leeds, W. Yorks. I have had Suzuki 4x4s for the last 25 years or so. started off with an Sj410, then a Vitara, and then another Vitara! The problem I have at the moment with my 2000 1.6 8 valve injection, is it suddenly developed a loud knocking rattle. I had to drive it for a few miles after it suddenly started, and it got worse. It is loudest when idling in neutral, or coasting and gets quieter when the car is actually driving. ie when the engine is actually driving the wheels. The sound does not alter when the clutch is pressed with the engine running in neutral, and I tried taking each plug lead off in turn to pinpoint any problem cylinder, but the sound is constant. It sounds very "top endish" and I took the cam cover off to see if I could see any problems with the rockers or cam, but it all looked fine as far as I could see. i checked all the valve clearances, and they were all pretty much OK. I can't even really decide where the noise is coming from, so I am stumped. The car actually runs perfectly, although it sounds absolutely awful. Any ideas?

[donkeychomp]

A stab in the dark here but is the cam on that beastie chain driven? That might be the problem.

[gazmoore]

Hi, thanks for the reply. No, the cam is belt driven, with a spring loaded tensioner pulley.I levered the top of the cambelt cover off a bit and peered in, it looks OK as far as you can see, but to look properly it will need to come off, quite a job. regds.gaz

[ScottieJ]

Is it more of a ticking noise rather than a knock? And loudest when the engine is under load? If so when it's running put your hand around the back of the head on the inlet side of the dizzy, there's a little hole that's for the egr system on some models and this is normally plugged, sometimes the plug corrodes away allowing exhaust to escape and it makes a loud ticking noise.

I just plugged it up with some exhaust putty as a temporary fix that was a few years ago.

[gazmoore]

Cheers Scottie. No, it is a pretty loud sharp knocking/rattle, bit like an old diesel. It is loudest when under no load, i.e in neutral and when lifting your foot off the gas during gear changes, it is quieter when engine is actually under load driving. I'll have a look for your hole though!

[gazmoore]

Help please! Anybody got any ideas? I really need to get the car sorted and back on the road.
Gaz

[donkeychomp]

Been scratching my head over this. I take it you've checked under the bonnet and nothing is loose.

Have you had a look underneath?

Are you sure it's coming from the engine? Sound can be deceptive...can you get a mate to walk behind and in front of the zook while you trundle along and see if they can tell where it's coming from?

Kinda running out of ideas here.

Also wondering if it might be a diff problem...

[gazmoore]

hi, pretty sure it is engine related. It is pretty loud and definate. happens when the engine is running but even with the car is parked up, so cannot be from diff etc. will check for anything loose underneath, exhaust etc, which might be knocking against something, but somehow don't think it is. worried it might be con rod little end, but if it was, I would have thought it would have stopped when I took the plug lead off the affected cylinder so it wouldn't actually be firing. thanks, Gaz

[Rhinoman]

If its not the engine then I would suspect the heat shield on the cat

[gazmoore]

definately coming from the engine, loud rattly knock, you can feel it when you put the old "screwdriver stethescope" to your ear.