engine tapping ...oh no

[IndianaVX]

well,
not for sure, but maybe, the sound you hear in my earlier post may be the sound of a timing belt, or tensioner going out. my belt jumped, and now the truck is in the shop.
just an update. any body having some ticking in their engine should maybe investigate. i only have 64000 miles on the vx. belt is said to be replaced at 100000.
just letting you know whats up with an update.
thanks for your help.
still dont know what the black box is though

david

[Y33TREKker]

I was just looking through a '99 VX Electrical Troubleshooting Manual and saw a picture of that general location. Any chance that's the Intake Air Vacuum Switching Valve making all that noise?

[IndianaVX]

Hmmmm,
with a name like that, im sure it COULD make some noise!!! i dont have that manual so im not sure, but it sounds like it could be something like that. it DEFANTLY has a valve, or piston moving in that "black box"
thanks for the post, i will look into it when i get my truck back from the shop.

UPDATE ON TRUCK......
talked to the warranty people today, but not the jerk ive been talking to.
this guy was as cool as could be. told me to have the mechanic look into bent valves and what not. HE was pretty sure it was an interferance engine (i know, i know) and that i should have it checked out anyway, and the cost of the diagnostics would be absorbed in the R and R with the timing belt!!! (why cant all agents be like this guy??)
he also was saying that i should replace the water pump, cause it will go bad, or may have caused the timing belt jump in the first place. the other agent just wanted to replace the belt, and send me down the road. So anyway, I miss my truck.
hopefully, i will have it back on the road soon.
thanks for all the info, and posts!!

David

[CowboyErik]

Hey! I listened to your video; and your VX sounds just like mine started to sound a few weeks ago! My timing belt tensioner had totally failed! The tensioner cylinder is hydralicaly loaded and provided pressure to the belt; I put a new one in 11 months ago when I did a timing belt job; and the NEW tensioner failed completely! I'm amazed the timing belt didn't jump! Terrible sounds, I thought all the things listed in this post, EGR or intake manifold clogged, PCV valve clogged, valves going out of adjustment, but the clue in your post is that you were convinced the sound came from your drivers side camshaft; well, that is the one that would make the loudest noise because it's out of sync with the other came, and it sounded TERRIBLE! Replaced the waterpump again! NEVER BUY AUTOZONE WATERPUMPS FOR VEHICROSS!

[SilverBullet75]

Hey! I listened to your video; and your VX sounds just like mine started to sound a few weeks ago! My timing belt tensioner had totally failed! The tensioner cylinder is hydralicaly loaded and provided pressure to the belt; I put a new one in 11 months ago when I did a timing belt job; and the NEW tensioner failed completely! I'm amazed the timing belt didn't jump! Terrible sounds, I thought all the things listed in this post, EGR or intake manifold clogged, PCV valve clogged, valves going out of adjustment, but the clue in your post is that you were convinced the sound came from your drivers side camshaft; well, that is the one that would make the loudest noise because it's out of sync with the other came, and it sounded TERRIBLE! Replaced the waterpump again! NEVER BUY AUTOZONE WATERPUMPS FOR VEHICROSS!

Hi, my VX just started sounding like this too. In fact your situation with the timing belt sounds identical to mine. I replaced mine about a year ago. My question... What is causing the noise? The engine is still running good, so I don't think the belt has slipped. (I'm just praying it's not a spun bearing, or rod knock).

[SilverBullet75]

A HUGE THANK YOU TO COWBOYERIK!!!!!!!!!!

I've been in a VX depression ever since I heard that darned knocking sound in the motor. I even warned my wife about the "potential" of the motor going kaput long ago. After reading CowboyErik's post, I felt I had hope still. Sure enough! I pulled off the passenger side timing belt cover enough to push on the belt. Without any trouble at all I was able to deflect it by almost an INCH! So, after about 45 minutes I had the front end torn apart and found that the timing belt tensioner went bad!!! I can plunge the piston with my hands with ease, and there is oil leakage around the "pushrod" base. (see pics).
SO, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE ROD KNOCK/ENGINE FAILURE, CHECK THIS BEFORE SENTENCING YOUR VX MOTOR TO DEATH!!!!

[Chopper]

Nice catch!!

[CowboyErik]

Amazing isn't it! I thought my VX was dying to! Going to Indy500 this year? People really think VX is badass at the track!

[Gussie2000]

Mine sounds just like that and has ever since I got it. I've put almost 10k on it and no problems yet. It is rather annoying though.

I bought mines with that tapping too.Now it taps harder when it's cold,but after 5+ minutes the taps breaks down quit away.

I was concern about that,so i had an isuzu specialist checked it,he said that tapping happens because the VX were sit for a long,long period of time,my VX were storaded for almost 5 years in massachusset before the son of the previous owner's (who died) decided to get rid of it,that's why my VX only had 38K on the clock when purchased on november last year,he also said that will not cause any damage to the engine,neither the engine's performance. I've add almost 5,000 miles since & truefully the VX runs very smooth,it starts rightaway & never give me any troubles so far.

My mech told me to use 5w 20 mobil,but i didn't supposed to add lucas oil stabilizer,however i'll have the VX into the shop as soon fall season shows up to correct that little annoying noise.The tapping is right under the left cover or passenger side.

[CowboyErik]

I finnally ran out of brake pad on my VX. When I did, I figured I would replace rotors and pads; I also wanted to strip and paint my calipers, they have a rusty surface. I got the car up in the air and ROTORS don't come off like anything I've ever worked on! Looks like you have to pull the hub? How difficult is this? Is this when people do bearing repacks also? I might just paint my calipers and puts the pads on; any advice is appreciated! So far my 2nd timing belt tensioner is holding, I checked it over the winter! Thanks! Erik

[Gussie2000]

I finnally ran out of brake pad on my VX. When I did, I figured I would replace rotors and pads; I also wanted to strip and paint my calipers, they have a rusty surface. I got the car up in the air and ROTORS don't come off like anything I've ever worked on! Looks like you have to pull the hub? How difficult is this? Is this when people do bearing repacks also? I might just paint my calipers and puts the pads on; any advice is appreciated! So far my 2nd timing belt tensioner is holding, I checked it over the winter! Thanks! Erik

I quit sure many of the members had they caliper replaced at the own house so just check all related threads & you can figured how to do the job.

I replace my OEM rotors with R1 concepts drilled/slotted rotors & satisfied brake pads which i love how they performed together,excelent braking.