IanR

Member
Hi,

I realise that this topic has been covered many times on many forums but I still do not have an answer, so here goes.

I left my 1996 2.5 DSE P38 (manual transmission) standing for three weeks while I was away, and upon my return I noticed a nasty clattering noise coming from the engine. The noise is only present when the car is idling, it disappears at about 800-1000 rpm, and the temperature of the engine is definitely not a factor.

I have replaced the fan belt tensioner damper and the ancillary drive pulleys , plus I fitted a new fan belt. Sadly the noise has not subsided and so I am now a little lost.

Lying underneath the car while running, I can't see any obvious external problems. A friend suggested it may be that there is an issue with the flywheel, something about the rubber perishing. I'm new to DIY car maintenance and so have no idea what he's talking about. I changed the oil and filter a few days back but that does not appear to have helped.

Any suggestions or advice would be great.

Thanks.
 
Crankshaft pulley torsional vibration damper is a common cause. When was the oil last changed?
 
I haven't long had it, so sometime before I owned it but could've been anytime. Like I say I changed it a few days back.

One thing I forgot to mention; when I removed the fan belt the noise disappears. Is the part you're referring to somewhere in that area? When my friend was trying to explain his theory to me he was referring to a 'flywheel' but not the one in the gearbox but something similar near the front of the engine. Is it possible he is talking about that same part but with incorrect terminology?
 
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Crankshaft pulley? Get under and see if the rubber is breaking up. I think this is what your friend is talking about.
 
Your friend and Datatek are talking about the same thing....

Mounted on the front of the crankshaft is a small flywheel which is in two parts, these two parts are joined with a rubber compound that can flex about.....diesel engines knock so this rubber takes some of the rotational vibration out of the driveline that feeds the water pump, alternator etc...
 
So I stripped the front end down today and removed said part. It was in a pretty bad way as far as the rubber was concerned! Anyway, I don't have the money to replace it so I just welded it into one whole piece and now the rattle has gone.

Thanks a lot for the help folks
 
No more vibration than a 20 year old diesel should have. I tightened all the bolts back up, didn't use RAVE though.
 
Crank bolt MUST be tightened correctly as it also drives the oil pump drive.....if it is not done correctly, there is no drive to the oil pump....

Ensure you do this up correctly in accordance with RAVE
 
Do you have any vibration? Did you retighten the main bolt as per Rave?

No need to remove crank bolt to remove harmonic balance. Bet his crank is deflecting pretty well now though. Get ready for a "Why has my crankshaft snapped" thread. :D:D:D
 
No need to remove crank bolt to remove harmonic balance. Bet his crank is deflecting pretty well now though. Get ready for a "Why has my crankshaft snapped" thread. :D:D:D
Ahhhh....so no need to have panicked the poor guy with my reply above then Tony?? :D
 
Crank bolt MUST be tightened correctly as it also drives the oil pump drive.....if it is not done correctly, there is no drive to the oil pump....

Ensure you do this up correctly in accordance with RAVE

Held on by six bolts Ant. No need to remove crank bolt. :);)
 
Only on certain subjects Alan others are little hazy. :D:D:D

I'm thinking what I need to pack for my trip, one pair of front brake discs, a couple of books and a thong. Not taking my swimming costume because the missus never darned the hole in the elbow.:D:D:D
 

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