Suddenly VERY noisy engine....

Merry_Gentry

I have a Skoda Felicia, 1.3, 1998/9. It has done approximately 73,000 miles. Today the engine suddenly started to sound very very loud - like a boyracer car almost. I have walked round the car and looked at the tires and they seem ok, and the exhaust isn't bouncing or anything like that that I can see.

Any suggestions as to what it might be? I understand this car has a timing chain rather than a cambelt, so could the noise be that? I've had the car since December 1998, and it sailed through it's MOT in January.

There are a couple of local garages to me, but I haven't had much luck with them to be honest, and wanted to see if you guys had any advice before I start thumbing through the yellow pages.

Thanks in advance.

Norfolk_Jim

If its just loud rather than the sound of wearing metal you might have a loose manifold or a hole in the pipe between manifold and cat. This happened to me. Is is a rattling noise or just loud engine like your exhaust has a hole?

MX5huggy

Difficult to say without hearing it really, could up put a vid on you tube?

Has it got oil in the engine? does it make the noise when stationary?

My guess would be exhaust, either a hole, or maybe a lose baffle.

Merry_Gentry

No rattling or anything like that - just very loud noise whilst driving. It now sounds like a boyracer car that has had the fancy exhaust system put on - very loud vroom (God, I am !!!! at describing this, sorry ).

Unfortunately can't put a vid up on youtube as not got anything to record the sound with, etc and wouldn't know where to start either There is definitely oil in the engine, etc but I will do all those checks again to be sure. Thanks for advice so far.

BYALPHAINDIA

If the car has a 'Turbo' it could be the 'Turbo' blowing?

I would just run it and see how it goes, Obviously if you take it to a garage, There may be other jobs that need doing and other costs etc?

Cars are so cheap now, People are just running them to the ground and then buying another.

Better than having a car on finance I can tell you.

As long as you have MOT, TAX, INSURANCE you are all legal.

The police don't seem bothered about car noises thesedays.

Petree

Does your 1.3 now sound like something off topgear? Prob a hole/crack somewhere along the exhaust.

Simple way to check the exhaust and manifold. When it's cold with the engine running, stick your hand over the exhaust, if its trying to push your hand off then its fine, if you can hold it over it quite easily then you've got a hole somewhere. A friend can then have a look around and see where the noise/air is coming out, if its just a hole then bit of exhaust tape/gunk should fix it for a while, it's often a crack between the pipe and the back box (the big bit you see hanging down on lots of cars) then you can use lots of gunk but it won't hold too long.

HTH

Edit : Timing chains go on for ever really, they just get a bit ticky/clickty (like tappets on an ford), so it's unlikely to be that.

Inactive

BYALPHAINDIA wrote: »

As long as you have MOT, TAX, INSURANCE you are all legal.

.

Complete rubbish, a car can be illegal and still have Tax .. Insurance and MOT.


Bald tyres for example.

Blowing exhaust probably in this case, all illegal.

Merry_Gentry

Does your 1.3 now sound like something off topgear? Prob a hole/crack somewhere along the exhaust.

That's exactly what it sounds like!!!! :eek:

Simple way to check the exhaust and manifold. When it's cold with the engine running, stick your hand over the exhaust, if its trying to push your hand off then its fine, if you can hold it over it quite easily then you've got a hole somewhere. A friend can then have a look around and see where the noise/air is coming out, if its just a hole then bit of exhaust tape/gunk should fix it for a while, it's often a crack between the pipe and the back box (the big bit you see hanging down on lots of cars) then you can use lots of gunk but it won't hold too long.

HTH

Will have a go at this - thanks so much :beer:

anewman

A common problem with these engines is the timing chain stretches over time, and as there is no pretensioner in the design to take up the slack this leads to rattling. This noise would be coming from the left hand side of the engine as you face it from the front, down towards the bottom. I don't think it would sound like a top gear car though so I think everyone is on the right track with the exhaust system.

Does it only make the loud noise at higher revs?

I would recommend to go to https://www.briskoda.net but the site is presently down.

Merry_Gentry

Funnily enough, it is coming from that side of the car, but it's definitely not a rattling. I tried Briskoda first but decided playing Space Invaders wasn't going to help me :rolleyes: Ta Anewman

Rolandtheroadie

A boy racer alters his exhaust to make his car sound like its faster than it is. I always achieved the same effect by having either a hole or a break in my exhaust system.
From what you are saying (and without seeing/hearing the car) your exhaust is 95% likely to be holed or broken. Lie on the ground and look under it. Get someone to rev the engine and watch for fumes/try to establish where the noise is coming from. If you suspect some part of it put your hand close to (but dont touch)the exhaust and see if you can feel air/fumes/smoke being expelled.
Either that or drive into any exhaust place and ask them to see where your exhaust is blowing from and how much will it be to fix.
I'd go the exhaust repair centre route as if you dont know whether or not your exhaust's blowing, your unlikely to be able to fix it yourself. They'll either show you where its blowing and quote for a repair or laugh and say it's not your exhaust thats causing it.