Z22YH 2006 2.2 Petrol clatter sounds like one cam has no oil pressure

[sjburt]

Hi,
My 06 Signum 2.2 Direct has always clattered for the first 2 seconds after start up.
But after washing it on Saturday I took it for the normal 2 mile spin to make sure all the water is out of the panels (up and down a few hills) on returning home I had to park it in the street (left wheels on the pavement).
Then when I started it about an hour later to put it back in the drive the clatter reduced but didn't go away totally.
Now every time I start it the same clatter continues after start up.
No need to say I haven't driven it anywhere yet and I have only started it a couple of times to check it is still doing it.
To me it sounds like all the hydraulic cam lifters on one of the cams are being starved on oil pressure.
I have read on a forum about the oil filters being liable to collapse if tightened too much and that could cause oil starvation.
Could it be a simple case of an oil change??
Was thinking about recording the noise from start up and posting but haven't got around to that yet.
Thanks in advance and here's hoping.

 

[HarleyPete]

How many miles and have the chains been done? Mine had a very slight rattle when I got it and it turned out the balance chain was shot. Sorry if this is something you've already investigated just trying to throw a suggestion out there.

 

[vocky]

it's certainly worth checking if the cam chain is slack

 

[sjburt]

It has done 76,000 miles and no chain channge that I know of ... I was once told by an ex vaux mechanic that the engines are fit for 100k plus.
How do I check the cam chain for slack?

 

[evocarlos]

tbf if the car has not had a sparkling service history the info a ex vaux mech told you is rubbish
what he probably meant is that gm recommend for the chains to be done @ 100k miles or 10 years whichever comes 1st

the rattling at startup is an indication that the main tensioner is sticking and waiting for oil pressure to push on the chain its time for the chains to be done
simple way to check is lift the rocker cover and see if its drooping between the sprokets

 

[sjburt]

Bought the car from NetworkQ in Stratford in 2012 and have done two oil changes myself since ... last one less than 10K ago (last April).

If I want to remove the cam cover to check the slack do I need to have a replacement gasket ready before refitting?
That is just in case I decide the job to replace the chains is better done by a garage ... i.e. can I just put it back together to drive to the garage?
I have two "friendly" garages near by ... any idea how much the chains and fitting would/should cost?
Or how many hours a garage should charge?
Also I am not too bad with the tools and Just borrowed a Haynes manual and it talks about the tensioner being removed form the back of the head ... is this something I could attempt?
If I could get rid of the extra rattle ... I would probably then book it in for the full chain replacement ASAP.

 

[HarleyPete]

To be honest unless your friendly garages are used to doing these then I would recommend that you talk to Evocarlos above. Mine has had a full service history right up till November last year by both VX and independent but still my balance chain was shot. I drove from Surrey up to Carls to have mine done and even staying out for two nights and fuel it was far less than the 900 I'd been quoted by a cam specialist. It is a job you could do but would take time if you'd never done it before. Carl did mine in six hours with ease and I would highly recommended him.

 

[KevinH]

If you want to remove the camshaft cover yourself for inspection then the gasket should be re-usable.

It really isn't worth just changing the timing chain tensioner on its own as it is part of the kit anyway. Your better off having a new timing chain kit fitted and it's prudent to have a new balance chain kit done at the same time (as mentioned above).

I would also recommend fitting genuine GM (or FAI) kits if your budget allows - many garages will fit third party kits, e.g Lucas and they are a struggle to fit.

 

[Dave Gilbert]

I would suggest a video of cold start for us to see

and best to have a quick look under the rocker cover

if I was you, get the chain done by a specialist who has done loads of these chains evocarlos is the chain man.

 

[sjburt]

Here is a video of the start up from cold.
First attempt had too much noise from the engine to be able to pick out the new noise so in this one I pull back so you can hear the clatter.
Also had to convert from 3gp to avi so there is a stutter in the video right at the start.
then found it I can't upload an avi or mp4 ... so I have renamed the avi file to a .txt extension.
If you don't trust the file just tell me what format I should use as I can't find anything in the help.

 

[evocarlos]

Here is a video of the start up from cold.
First attempt had too much noise from the engine to be able to pick out the new noise so in this one I pull back so you can hear the clatter.
Also had to convert from 3gp to avi so there is a stutter in the video right at the start.
then found it I can't upload an avi or mp4 ... so I have renamed the avi file to a .txt extension.
If you don't trust the file just tell me what format I should use as I can't find anything in the help.

youtube then a link to the vid here

 

[sjburt]

D'oh ... here is the link

 

[sjburt]

Progress update:
Removed the rocker cover and checked the tension of the chain ... no slack whatsoever.
While I had the top off I thought it a good idea to have a look around ... spotted what looked like one of the chain guide bolts loose next to the inlet cam sprocket.
With the help of a magnetic screwdriver, lots of fiddling and some swearing I managed to retrieve it.
Put it all back together and of course the same noise is there but at least we now know what the cause is.
Here's a photo of the loose bolt:

 

[HarleyPete]

Well lets hope it's not done too much damage and that you can sort it out so that it's not rattling anymore.