Odd valve train noise.

[Geared]

I finished a stock head swap on a 98 h22a, after adjusting the valves and started it for the first time it idled great. However, I now notice a loud valve train chatter (sounds like one very badly adjusted valve click noise, not the whole upper end) around 2500 rpm that goes away above 3000 rpm there is also a mild sputter that goes with the chatter. I rechecked the valves and all were within spec. At first I thought it was a weak valve spring, the odd thing is if I allow the motor to idle up to normal temp the chatter moves up to 3500 rpm and goes away around 4000 rpm.

Since I'm backed up on other jobs so I thought I would bounce this off a few people before I dig into it again.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Uncle Buck]

only thing i can think of is that the timing belt be off by one tooth.....

 

[Geared]

Hmmm, I did install after market adjustable cam gears, they are zeroed out but I wonder how accurate they are. I'll go over it again. I cut off the front lip of the valve cover so checking it will be a tad easier....

Thanks.

 

[Geared]

.006 on intake .008 on exhaust cold. The book way is .005 on intake low .006 intake high and .007 exhaust low .008 exhaust high. This particular noise is like it's off .5, very loud. And there are none off that far.

 

[Geared]

Understood. I would think it was the LMA if it was constant through the rpm range, but the 4-5000 rpm window it makes the noise and slight sputter in then goes away above it has got me for now. I haven't ruled out the LMA completely, for now I'm thinking it's a sticking valve. If thats the case I'm going to have words with the machine shop that was supposed to go over the head and do the valve job.

 

[Geared]

Update: I tore the head apart, replaced the rocker arms, lma, upgraded valve springs and retainers then stabbed in a set of skunk2 stage 2 camshafts in, checked all clearances and adjusted valve lash to spec. Starts and idles just fine.

Problem: If the rpm is raised above 1300 rpm or so, the valve train chatters hard (sporadicly, not a constant tic noise) and it sputters badly (as soon as I let off the gas it returns to idle just fine).

Theory: I'm beginning to believe I have a faulty vtec controller that is letting the vtec to engage and low rpm and the chatter is the vtec popping on and off.

Input anyone?

 

[LS_VTEC]

Check the timing belt tensioner. I had chatter from mine, and I pulled out the stethoscope and didnt hear anything significant in the valvecover region, but toward the belt it began to get louder. Also, take a good look at your timing belt as well. May be off slightly, belt may also be no good.

Oh yea... water pumps tend to chatter when faulty, could be that as well.

 

[Geared]

Belt, pump and tensioner are new from honda. This noise is loud and the car sputters with it. I didn't want to rev it any higher than 1300 rpm because it's that bad.

 

[Geared]

Problem found. The new vtec controler was stuck wide open, swapped it out with a used one off a head I had on the shelf. Runs great.

 

[eg6sir]

timing would have been my guess also

 

[Geared]

How do you get timing problem? Vtec does nothing to the timing, all it does is lock the rocker arms so it rides off the higher lift and duration lobes on the camshaft, the camshaft's timing or ignition timing is not affected at all. The problem was the vtec rockers had oil pressure at idle, not enough to engage in on and off causing a popping/heavy valve taping noise when I raised it from idle raising the oil pressure. And the valves that started running off the vtec lobes made the engine sputter because of the low vacuum from the vtec lobes profile at lower rpms.

 

[LS_VTEC]

Problem found. The new vtec controler was stuck wide open, swapped it out with a used one off a head I had on the shelf. Runs great.

You mean vtec "solenoid" im guessing?

 

[Geared]

You mean vtec "solenoid" im guessing?

Yeah. I've heard it called other things, vtec valve, vtec oil switching valve etc.

 

[Geared]

You do know that the high cam lobe has a different center line than the low lobe, right? Guess what that does. It changes the timing of the valve events. Ba-zing.

This is true, however calling this particular issue a timing problem would be like saying that if this engine's timing belt was off a tooth was a vtec problem...

 

[LS_VTEC]

lol.

 

[Geared]

If you don't understand what I meant, you don't understand that you're talking about. Your symptoms were those of a timing issue because of improperly timed valve events. Think about this way. If you were working on any non-VTEC engine your cam timing would've been off by several degrees. It's called a... metaphor. Seriously, just stop.

Just the reaction I expected. I should have known coming here was a waste of time. If I didn't know what I was talking about any other person that listened to you would be taking their timing belt off getting nowhere. The timing was never off, the vtec was malfunctioning making the sole cause of the problem a vtec problem. The only reason I didn't catch it sooner was I trusted honda would have given me a good vtec solenoid.

Take this piece of advise "The misdirection of metaphors never helped anyone solve anything."

P.S. Don't bother replying, I won't be coming back. :disgust1: