f7p sounds/problems, youtube video attached

[smchris]

I think I've been through every f7p post on here today, the closest thing i found to my problem was a post with the title "f7p diesel sound" it sounds similar to this but not quite the same, unfortunately you dont hear him rev it up. I've got a custom powerflow exhaust system from the manifold back and its all fitting and sealed well.

this is a very bottom end/dieing engine sound. I think the clutch release bearing is damaged anyway so I have a whole new clutch kit to go in but theres definitely some other sounds from the engine bay. my question to you guys is this. Is it new engine time or is this some relatively simple problem? be sure to read the youtube description as i explain a bit more on there. This engine has had a good life too and been running really sweet. it all went pete tong in the space of a few days..which is weird

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BLcHM_QTzs

[smchris]

*don't want to double post! meant to put this in technical section, can mods move it? or can i delete it and post again??" sorry mods/members

[Chris_C]

When the lifters siezed on my Corset, it sounded bloody awful and lost most of it's power. As you say you havn't lost power I don't think it'd be that. FWIW, a new set of lifters cost me £50 from the bay, in genuine Vaux packaging even though sold by a third party.

I'll post most the the pm I sent you up here later, it's always better to share thoughts rather than keeping them private!

[L14MNP]

Unsure on the metallic sound, but the other symptoms sound to me also like spun bearings mate.

Especially as the noise worsens at 2.5-3k. I am not sure if there is something to do with the harmonic balance of an engine, but that rev range is exactly where an old SR20 of mine - and the 1600 before it (Never used to service, and gives cars death I'm ashamed to say) would rattle the most - it's where I was told to check, and subsequently where I have always checked since. I done this on the Escort I have just purchased too. Also, years back, a mate had a Clio 16v which spun it's bearings.

The cutting out issue was also something I experienced. In my case though, it was on the final journey for an engine, and I had to bump start the car whilst still rolling at least 3 times. I believe it was literally seizing up.

If I was you, I would listen to various parts of the engine using a long bar as a stethascope, but would be expecting the noise to be at its loudest when concentrating on the crank case tbh.

Maybe your oil pump has packed in? Either way, if the noise seems to originate from the bottom end, I would have the sump off and inspect the shells.

Obviously you aren't stupid, and I am not implying that you are, but you have certainly done the right thing in taking the car off the road!

I hope it is something less serious mate!

[smchris]

thanks for that response chris, theres a lot of information there to get working on! I think it could answer a fair few probs on here. I'll put a more decent video in this thread tomorow, thanks for moving it aswell

[smchris]

yea i put in bottom end rattle on youtube, and there was tons of 200sx vids showing it, but nothing renault. the only renault vids i found were of the dephaser pulleys on the new ones which generate a similar sound. I don't have an oil gauge so its hard to tell! it does sound like an engine low on or starved of oil though..that might explain why my oil level hasnt changed if theres a pump failure?

this engine has been well looked after aswell, what happened to your mates clio 16v exactly? what was the pre-warning sounds, symtons? I'm going to try the stethascope trick this evening aswell?

dont woryy I am severely lacking kowledge in the f7p department! I've only had this car a month or so! I bought it off linkay on here, and he looked after it really well and there was none of these problems or sounds when he took me out in it! I've carried on his checks and routines and I planned to but then this noise started out of nowhere, 3k onwards up the rev range then the car cut out completely in traffic. upon starting it up there was this new, awful sound- you cant really hear it in this vid, disappointingly. but you can hear its certainly not healthy!

[Chris_C]

Ok, I can hear a few different things in there, but nothing conclusive.

First minor thing, the high pitched bird tweeting sound (almost a whistle) I imagine is you have one of the breathers on the head disconnected or going to a short filter? Mine made that noise when I had same (see halfway along rocker cover in this photo ) I just put a 12" length of hose on, and that moves the resonance enough that it's not audible.

The clutch output shaft bearing does sound knackered, you can hear it fetching up. Good news is it's a standard bearing. Bad news is that Volvo in their wisdom encased it in cast rubber, so you can't use an off the shelf standard bearing. I've not found a solution for this yet, when I last saw Nev he said he was working on a CNCd tailhousing that would take just the standard bearing but I've not spoken to him since July. Volvo must have put the rubber in there for a reason though, possibly so it doesn't fatigue the aluminium? You can hear the prop changing speeds as it fetches up on this bearing though.

As to any other noise, it's all a bit muffled.

FWIW, I'd have the engine out, take the bellhousing off and remove the tailhousing (the rear ice cream cone shaped bit) from the bellhousing. (I'm into back of memory stuff here, might be out a bit..., but you can see the tailhousing on the back here ) There are 2 bearings in that housing, I'd have the shaft out (a few circlips, the green books give a good "how to take it apart") and feel the bearings by hand. Any roughness or slop means the bearings are past knackered.

You might be lucky and it's just that, but good luck trying to find a solution to how to mount an off the shelf bearing.

[smchris]

thanks.if anyone else has had/have expierienced similar things aswell, let me know