Astra Weird Engine Noise - Update

LadyMorticia

Heya everyone.

OH bought a second hand 1.6 Astra Hatchback from a car dealer the other week

However, the engine seems to be making some weird noises.

At first it was just when we accelerated and it stopped when we reached a steady speed.

However, today it's started getting louder and more constant.

It sounds quite tinny and clunky, if that makes sense. I don't know how else to describe it.

I'm a very nervous passenger so I'm terrified that we'll break down on the motorway or something.

Does anyone have any idea as to what the noise may be? I ready that it may be a hole in the exhaust pipe?

OH said that the car won't just fail on the motorway but I'm an anxious person so I'm terrified it will.
Any help would be appreciated.

Also it has a full MOT until November and it has three months guarantee from purchase but I'm not sure if this would be covered under that.

Thanks in advance.

Edit - Okay we took it to a quick fit type place (but not Kwik Fit!) and the jist of it is (I've forgotten exactly what the guy said) that a certain part of the car usually has 8 bolts but one has come off which is making the weird noise. I think the thing he said the bolts are on had the pre-fix "man" or "main" but I can't remember.

The guy said that the whole board would have to come out to repair it and that it would be a garage job.

No idea how much it's going to cost though. Any idea roughly? It's a 1998 Astra.

maninthestreet

Possibly loose baffles in the exhaust silencer??

hartcjhart

why not pop it back to the dealer and ask him to look at it/or a garage(not kwik fit)

LadyMorticia

maninthestreet wrote: »

Possibly loose baffles in the exhaust silencer??

Thanks for that. We're 200 miles odd away from home at the moment with OH's parents but we're due to come home today and they said that on the way back we'll go to the garage to have it checked out. The garage is only 6 miles away from here and hopefully we'll get it fixed there and then.

hartcjhart wrote: »

why not pop it back to the dealer and ask him to look at it/or a garage(not kwik fit)

Heya.

We're going to a garage to get it checked out today.

pitkin2020

If you still have warranty on it take it back to the dealership you bought it from rather than shelling out your own cash, it may not be covered by the warranty but worth checking first. If its not they even may do it at parts cost for you as a goodwill gesture if you go in with the right attitude.

Good luck

Wig

It'll be your exhaust manifold or the inlet manifold, most likely to be the exhaust manifold and maybe the heatshield is loose causing the "tinny rattle"

Don't know the car so can't comment any further, I'm sure they know what needs doing.

Don't know what they mean "the whole board will come out" Doesn't make any sense to me if it was the manifold......should be easy enough to put right.. without major works, but maybe it is a stud in an awkward position blocked by the exhaust so the whole exhaust will need removing and replacing.. dunno prices, but £60 - £100 would be my expectation but I have very low expectations of prices.

tomstickland

A blowing manifold doesn't make a tinny, clunky sound though.

goldspanners

mealticket wrote: »

I shouldn't have used the word loose, should i?, but if wig's guess is right (heatshield) caused by a missing stud/nut, then the gasket is at risk of burning as well.

you have to be so careful what you say around here.........

my money is on a heatshield. exhaust gaskets are usually metal. why the exhaust gasket matters i don't know.
exhausts can have heat shields on the manifold,but they usually just rust away, they also can have a shield under the car to keep heat away from ground or fuel tank. these also have a habit of becoming loose due to corrosion.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

tomstickland wrote: »

A blowing manifold doesn't make a tinny, clunky sound though.

A blowing manifold can however make a pronounced ticking sound, as the gas escapes.

LadyMorticia

Thanks for all the replies.

Come to think of it, a ticking sound does sum it up. Kind of like a weak tractor noise? That's how OH's sister described it and it's exactly what it sounds like.

The car is going into the local garage tomorrow. No idea how much it'll cost though and we're struggling for money at the moment so that's another hole in the pocket.lol. Somebody please tell me it won't be more than £300? And even that's stretching it.:(

Manifold was what I meant. I'm rubbish at remembering the names of things.