MINI2

sc00per · Feb 10th, 2007, 11:13 AM

Hi

Hi i'm new to this forum but please can anyone help!!

I have a mysterious tappet rattle on my 2004 MCS. It only happens at startup from cold and only happens only 2-3 times a week. The rattle continues until and stop and restart the engine, then its usually instantly cured. The oil light doesn't come on and the oil level is where it should be. The car has covered just 29000 miles from new and I've never had a problem until now.

It has been back to the dealer for 2 days and the problem didn't occur so they didn't find it. Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

matt21 · Feb 10th, 2007, 11:40 AM

interested to here what is said here.

mine makes a similar sound, also done 29,000 miles and seems to do it at idle, particularly at cold. dealer could not identify it (as per usual) but still does it.

oil is also fine (altho old as its approching service) so a bit worried here too!

K1 LYC · Feb 10th, 2007, 01:06 PM

Mine does it too - dealership said it was oil level so topped it up and it was fine for a week or 2 then it came back - oil level is fine though.

R53 Cooper S · Feb 10th, 2007, 01:43 PM

could it be the valve to the left of the intercooler?

matt21 · Feb 10th, 2007, 03:06 PM

it annoys me when the dealers dont know, not as uncommon as i first thought it seems

Wurzel · Feb 10th, 2007, 03:22 PM

2005 MCS 13000 miles

I visited dealer with what I thought was tappet noise, turned out to be valve to left of intercooler as suggested above, (something to do with fuel and emmisions).

If you put a big screwdriver on the valve or piece of tube the tapping resonates through it.

Also close your hand around valve and tapping noise gets quieter.

Other than that I saw a post on here a while back about faulty valve lifters which caused noise you describe.

Good luck.

sc00per · Feb 10th, 2007, 05:10 PM

hi guys thanks for the replies

i've checked the valve to the left of the intercooler and its ok, the problem i've got is definitely with the valve lifters and its worse with a cold start....looks like another trip to the dealership

PmP · Feb 10th, 2007, 08:56 PM

46,000 miles and on thursday there, I started the car and there was a loud tappet noise.

I at first thought it was the fan or supercharger belt, but when I went to rear of the car you could here the engine/exhaust note almost pulsing at the same rate as the noise in the engine.

Sort of a tappety noise the repeated about twice every second. First time its happened tho.

It continued for a couple of minutes, until I moved the car about the yard a bit. A bit worried somethings wrong.

On another note on start up of my car I have experience the speedometer needle vibrating wildly for about 5 seconds.

K1 LYC · Feb 10th, 2007, 09:01 PM

I think that the speedo, oil temp and fuel needles vibrating is normal. I'm sure there is a thread here somewhere about it. Mine does it too. Something to do with it calibrating itself I believe.

Maybe someone can confirm??

Alex5 · Feb 11th, 2007, 12:41 PM

I used to have an MX5 with the similar tappet/hydraulic lash adjuster setup, it was not uncommon for this subject to come up frequently for higher mileage cars on the forums I used to be on.
In the case of that car it was generally either down to the small bore channels which allow the oil in and out of the tappets becoming blocked with dirty/old oil (so they would not adjust anymore and become loose insted of taking up the clearance properly), or the actual spring within the tappet collapsing (much less common).
With the long oil service intervals, especially under TLC, I would have thought blocking could be a possibility. Flushing the engine with Wynns or equivalent engine flush when changing oil should clear this out, worth a try?

Alex

PmP · Feb 11th, 2007, 11:26 PM

We'll I went to take car out tonight and to my horror, the tappety noise was there again. So I checked the oil level, which was low!!

So I topped it up with remaining oil from the litre bottle in boot. Going to get some more at dealers tomorrow.

Then I looked into my Mini TLC servicing shedule and warranty. Which I thought was bullet proof and would treat my mini correctly.

I assumed that the car had had its oil changed twice, as it had had its first oil change and first inspection.

To my horror, It only been changed at 11,000 miles. And according to my trip it doesnt need changed until at least 50,000 miles!!! And spark plugs should only be changed at ever third oil change!!!!

So needless to say at 45,000 miles I am going to get my MCS serviced oil change, filters, spark plugs the lot right away and get them to investigate the tappety noise. And the creaking steering column. And im never relying on TLC again.

Marlan McLeish · Feb 12th, 2007, 09:32 PM

Wow, make that another of the exact same problem here, I get the tappet noise at startup on cold idle until a few min into journey then it just disappears (when engine is warm.) mines at 26k with 7k to next service. Also suffering from knocking/click noise from lock to lock in steering (also occurs if go over bump or pavement while on lock.)

Not a convincing start to my keep it or trade it decision coming up to my 1yr of ownership, especially when warranty runs out in June.

PmP · Feb 13th, 2007, 09:41 AM

Aye, mines booked in to be checked out, aint heard the tappety noise since I put some oil in tho. Car seems to have used a little water from the water reservoir as well.

Warranty runs out this sunday, so just as well I went and got it booked in. Was told additional warranty is £600 for 12 months.

So pending them sorting this problem I have to decide whether to keep or trade in. Dont particularly want to change nothing else out there somes interesting at moment.

zero_cool · Feb 14th, 2007, 02:28 PM

Mine is doing the same thing:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...e-tapping.html

Alex5 · Feb 18th, 2007, 02:59 PM

Have any of you with the tappet rattle had an engine flush and oil change yet?

Be interested to hear how you have got on

Babes · Feb 28th, 2007, 12:57 AM

I get a slight rattle on start up but only or about 30 seconds then its fine. Did have the horrid squeeky steering column, got that fixed (replaced) while still under warranty.

Ant FR · Feb 28th, 2007, 07:16 AM

i get that on start up, but I am 1000 miles away froma n oil change so that must make a difference, seeing as it was last changed in 2005. Damn you long life service schedule. deliberatetly racking on the miles to get it done before Nurburgring trip....lol

PmP · Mar 22nd, 2007, 12:26 PM

Ok I topped my oil up til its high on dip stick and noise didnt happen for about two weeks, happened two days ago on a really cold morning, but only for 5 seconds.

However, our GP which only has 1100 miles got started yesterdar and on start up made the same tappet noise, but only for like 5 seconds.

So I'm guessing its just the pulley belt getting wound up to idle speed.

zero_cool · Mar 22nd, 2007, 12:56 PM

I eventually got mine cured. The dealer had it for a full week and eventually heard the noise. They replaced the valve lifters and it's ok now.

Hope that helps

PmP · Mar 22nd, 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by zero_cool (original)

I eventually got mine cured. The dealer had it for a full week and eventually heard the noise. They replaced the valve lifters and it's ok now.

Hope that helps

I dont think valve lifters are needed on a Gp with 1100 miles

. How many miles had you up on your mini? my S is at 46,000. Could be on my S as the tappet noise can go on for minutes.

Feb 10th, 2007, 11:13 AM	#1
sc00per MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:39 AM Posts: 2 Offline	MCS tappet rattle - advice please Hi Hi i'm new to this forum but please can anyone help!! I have a mysterious tappet rattle on my 2004 MCS. It only happens at startup from cold and only happens only 2-3 times a week. The rattle continues until and stop and restart the engine, then its usually instantly cured. The oil light doesn't come on and the oil level is where it should be. The car has covered just 29000 miles from new and I've never had a problem until now. It has been back to the dealer for 2 days and the problem didn't occur so they didn't find it. Can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks

Feb 28th, 2007, 12:57 AM	#16 (permalink)
Babes Cruising In The Minge My Classifieds Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Perth Local Time: 11:39 AM Posts: 746 Offline	I get a slight rattle on start up but only or about 30 seconds then its fine. Did have the horrid squeeky steering column, got that fixed (replaced) while still under warranty. 2003 BRG/W JCW MCS 2002 PS/PS JCW MC 1970 BRG/W MK2 Morris Cooper S

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Feb 10th, 2007, 11:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
matt21 Now with S power! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rugby/Loughborough Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 24,219 Offline	interested to here what is said here. mine makes a similar sound, also done 29,000 miles and seems to do it at idle, particularly at cold. dealer could not identify it (as per usual) but still does it. oil is also fine (altho old as its approching service) so a bit worried here too!

Feb 10th, 2007, 01:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
K1 LYC 210 of the finest horses Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northampton Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 39 Offline	Mine does it too - dealership said it was oil level so topped it up and it was fine for a week or 2 then it came back - oil level is fine though.

Feb 10th, 2007, 01:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
R53 Cooper S GP 1699 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: uk Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 113 Offline	could it be the valve to the left of the intercooler?

Feb 10th, 2007, 03:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
matt21 Now with S power! My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rugby/Loughborough Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 24,219 Offline	it annoys me when the dealers dont know, not as uncommon as i first thought it seems

Feb 10th, 2007, 03:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Wurzel Oh arr Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bromley Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 94 Offline	2005 MCS 13000 miles I visited dealer with what I thought was tappet noise, turned out to be valve to left of intercooler as suggested above, (something to do with fuel and emmisions). If you put a big screwdriver on the valve or piece of tube the tapping resonates through it. Also close your hand around valve and tapping noise gets quieter. Other than that I saw a post on here a while back about faulty valve lifters which caused noise you describe. Good luck.

Feb 10th, 2007, 05:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
sc00per MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2007 Local Time: 03:39 AM Posts: 2 Offline	hi guys thanks for the replies i've checked the valve to the left of the intercooler and its ok, the problem i've got is definitely with the valve lifters and its worse with a cold start....looks like another trip to the dealership

Feb 10th, 2007, 08:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
PmP GP 0380 My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saintfield Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 2,627 Offline	46,000 miles and on thursday there, I started the car and there was a loud tappet noise. I at first thought it was the fan or supercharger belt, but when I went to rear of the car you could here the engine/exhaust note almost pulsing at the same rate as the noise in the engine. Sort of a tappety noise the repeated about twice every second. First time its happened tho. It continued for a couple of minutes, until I moved the car about the yard a bit. A bit worried somethings wrong. On another note on start up of my car I have experience the speedometer needle vibrating wildly for about 5 seconds.

Feb 10th, 2007, 09:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
K1 LYC 210 of the finest horses Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northampton Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 39 Offline	I think that the speedo, oil temp and fuel needles vibrating is normal. I'm sure there is a thread here somewhere about it. Mine does it too. Something to do with it calibrating itself I believe. Maybe someone can confirm??

Feb 11th, 2007, 12:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Alex5 MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buying Mini bits Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 75 Offline	I used to have an MX5 with the similar tappet/hydraulic lash adjuster setup, it was not uncommon for this subject to come up frequently for higher mileage cars on the forums I used to be on. In the case of that car it was generally either down to the small bore channels which allow the oil in and out of the tappets becoming blocked with dirty/old oil (so they would not adjust anymore and become loose insted of taking up the clearance properly), or the actual spring within the tappet collapsing (much less common). With the long oil service intervals, especially under TLC, I would have thought blocking could be a possibility. Flushing the engine with Wynns or equivalent engine flush when changing oil should clear this out, worth a try? Alex

Feb 11th, 2007, 11:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
PmP GP 0380 My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saintfield Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 2,627 Offline	We'll I went to take car out tonight and to my horror, the tappety noise was there again. So I checked the oil level, which was low!! So I topped it up with remaining oil from the litre bottle in boot. Going to get some more at dealers tomorrow. Then I looked into my Mini TLC servicing shedule and warranty. Which I thought was bullet proof and would treat my mini correctly. I assumed that the car had had its oil changed twice, as it had had its first oil change and first inspection. To my horror, It only been changed at 11,000 miles. And according to my trip it doesnt need changed until at least 50,000 miles!!! And spark plugs should only be changed at ever third oil change!!!! So needless to say at 45,000 miles I am going to get my MCS serviced oil change, filters, spark plugs the lot right away and get them to investigate the tappety noise. And the creaking steering column. And im never relying on TLC again.

Feb 12th, 2007, 09:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Marlan McLeish MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Local Time: 03:39 AM Posts: 32 Offline	Wow, make that another of the exact same problem here, I get the tappet noise at startup on cold idle until a few min into journey then it just disappears (when engine is warm.) mines at 26k with 7k to next service. Also suffering from knocking/click noise from lock to lock in steering (also occurs if go over bump or pavement while on lock.) Not a convincing start to my keep it or trade it decision coming up to my 1yr of ownership, especially when warranty runs out in June.

Feb 13th, 2007, 09:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
PmP GP 0380 My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saintfield Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 2,627 Offline	Aye, mines booked in to be checked out, aint heard the tappety noise since I put some oil in tho. Car seems to have used a little water from the water reservoir as well. Warranty runs out this sunday, so just as well I went and got it booked in. Was told additional warranty is £600 for 12 months. So pending them sorting this problem I have to decide whether to keep or trade in. Dont particularly want to change nothing else out there somes interesting at moment.

Feb 14th, 2007, 02:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
zero_cool MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aldershot Local Time: 03:39 AM Posts: 236 Offline	Mine is doing the same thing: http://www.mini2.com/forum/faults-fi...e-tapping.html

Feb 18th, 2007, 02:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
Alex5 MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buying Mini bits Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 75 Offline	Have any of you with the tappet rattle had an engine flush and oil change yet? Be interested to hear how you have got on

Feb 28th, 2007, 07:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
Ant FR MINI2 Master My Classifieds Join Date: Oct 2006 Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 1,843 Offline	i get that on start up, but I am 1000 miles away froma n oil change so that must make a difference, seeing as it was last changed in 2005. Damn you long life service schedule. deliberatetly racking on the miles to get it done before Nurburgring trip....lol

Mar 22nd, 2007, 12:26 PM	#18 (permalink)
PmP GP 0380 My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saintfield Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 2,627 Offline	Ok I topped my oil up til its high on dip stick and noise didnt happen for about two weeks, happened two days ago on a really cold morning, but only for 5 seconds. However, our GP which only has 1100 miles got started yesterdar and on start up made the same tappet noise, but only for like 5 seconds. So I'm guessing its just the pulley belt getting wound up to idle speed.

Mar 22nd, 2007, 12:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
zero_cool MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aldershot Local Time: 03:39 AM Posts: 236 Offline	I eventually got mine cured. The dealer had it for a full week and eventually heard the noise. They replaced the valve lifters and it's ok now. Hope that helps

Mar 22nd, 2007, 10:25 PM	#20 (permalink)
PmP GP 0380 My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Saintfield Local Time: 04:39 AM Posts: 2,627 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by zero_cool (original) I eventually got mine cured. The dealer had it for a full week and eventually heard the noise. They replaced the valve lifters and it's ok now. Hope that helps I dont think valve lifters are needed on a Gp with 1100 miles . How many miles had you up on your mini? my S is at 46,000. Could be on my S as the tappet noise can go on for minutes.

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