44 replies to this topic

[Pauly]

If it doesn't happen when in gear then you can forget about gearbox issues.

[Little Miss B]

If it doesn't happen when in gear then you can forget about gearbox issues.

When we had the bonnet up and she was in neutral we could get the same sound at certain revs, so I guess that rules our gearbox problems?!

[m1tch]

If it doesn't happen when in gear then you can forget about gearbox issues.

When we had the bonnet up and she was in neutral we could get the same sound at certain revs, so I guess that rules our gearbox problems?!

If you get a long thick stick and carefully whilst the engine is running hold the stick to different parts of the engine you can listen to which parts might be rattling - just be careful

[midridge2]

my money is on the fan catching the radiator cowling.

[jaydee]

Hi there Miss B, can you post a video to show us of this noise?
Can be due to so many things, 99% it isnt your engine big ends.

[little stu]

hi ...i had a same sort of problem with my old mini city. only when i reved the engine, and that turned out to be timing chain tensioner .but i didnt do it ran it for a year got louder and louder .then on the london to brighton run the chain wore through the cover and chucked oil everywhere........poor min.......but like the other guys say hard to know without hearing it......hope that helps........

[m1tch]

Have you found the problem yet?

[Little Miss B]

So update on the intermittent noise coming from my minis engine.
First of all we drove it to Neil Slark and he wasn't sure of what the noise was but thought it could be one of the ends. We took the chance and drove to Cornwall. 650 miles later the noise is still there, no change and no lose of performance etc. We were told it would be on it's last legs by now. Thinking the next step is to get it to a garage and have the engine taken out and looked at (yikes). Still skeptical whether it is the ends as surely the engine would be showing some problems by now.

[daemonchild]

Have you tried the stethoscope methods described above to pin point it?
DOn't give up yet!

[jkjaxor]

hows the engine temperature keeping?
if its coming from around the radiator area it could be the water pump bearing, they make a very similar sound to what your describing when theyve gone, you can test it by slackening the alternator belt off and trying to wobble the bit that the radiator fan mounts too.
jack

[Little Miss B]

daemonchild-Neil Slark tried the stethoscope approach but still couldn't figure out where the noise was coming from

[Little Miss B]

Interesting. The engine temperature isn't really rising but the noise does seem to be coming from that area. The radiator is a fairly new sports job (8-9 months) so it shouldn't be over heating but I hope it is the water pump bearing and not one of the ends. Will look into that.

[zef]

Tried the radiator mounts? Mine were loose and rattled in a similar manner.

Might be an idea to check the bodywork fittings around the engine. My Elf has an annoying rattle which comes on at certain revs and that's the bumper overrider (not got round to fixing it yet).

Big ends make a unholy knock, nothing like a rattle. Alternator bearings would be a rumble, as would the waterpump bearings.

[Brigbeale]

I had a '93 Auto Sprite with a 1275 in it.
It too had a rattle, which worsened as the revs went up.
Turned out to be the alternator bearings!
To discover if it is the water pump/alternator bearings, take the fan belt off and run the engine.
If it is still there, then you've eliminated two items.

Another possibility is the alternator adjustment bracket loose, but I'd have thought the fan belt would have gone loose.

[jkjaxor]

had any luck yet?