engine tapping ...oh no

[Ldub]

Near as I can tell...that would be your fuel pressure control valve.
Take a look in the shop manual that Scott recently made available for download & look under "fuel system".

[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!!!!