Horrible rattling in the engine!

[damthatbeaver]

Hi all...I had earlier inquired about washing your NSX and getting a bad spark plug from the water leaking in to the engine...I would like to know if anyone has experienced a horrible rattling noise in the engine...my car had its usual great run and then a huge hesitation...then a horrible rattling came from the engien...just like the sound when a lifter goes...well - I immediately shut the engine off...checked the oil...full...no white smoke...no blue or black smoke...started the car again...no noise...but it was running rough...no engine lights were on...nothing...can faulty o2 sensors cause this?

thanks

Dam

 

[nsxnut]

I suspect a wet plug is not the problem.

If you are washing the motor than you may be able to get water into the hole for the plug & coil pack.
Assuming the covers are in place I suspect you would have to work a it to get the plug wet.
Just washing the car you wouldn't be able to get water in there.
Unless you rinse cycle includes submerging the car into a lake. :smile:

If you got water on the plugs I don't think it would recover with a restart.
The water doesn't have a place to go. It would have to evaporate.

I suspect a wet plug would cause a misfire and would set the check engine light.

Later,
Don

 

[NCC-1701D]

Not sure what the sound is

But have you ever heard of the spark arcing and grounding on engine components?

Perhaps when you washed your engine, that allowed the spark to arc to the engine instead of going to the spark plug. Then causing that coil pack to crap out. So you are firing/running on 5/6 cylinders.

Just a long shot guess..




I would check to see if you are getting spark on all 6 coil packs..

if good then I would

Then check compression of the engine on all 6 cylinders.

 

[ffffanman]

Perhaps you blew a spark plug out just like I did and said goodbye to 8g.
Trev

 

[Larry Bastanza]

This sounds like a Lost Motion Assembly. The LMA preloads the VTEC cam follower when not in use. If it is not reloaded it makes an aweful racket.

How many mules on the engine?

Regards,
LarryB

 

[damthatbeaver]

110,000 miles...hope its not a blown spark plug:frown:...kind of scary when your not sure...just started her up...and there is no horrible noise or rattling...she is just running rough - like she is not running on all cylinders...is it safe to drive her to the garage if its 20 minutes away? Thanks all

Dam

 

[ffffanman]

Don't start it, don't drive it.
A flat bed ain't that expensive.
Trust me.
Trev

 

[RON98]

"my car had its usual great run and then a huge hesitation"

what is usual great run? high end performance driving? high rpm?

did the hesitation come in at high rpm wot? or just normal driving?

detonation comes in the forum of hesitation or drop in power. detonation leads to spun bearings and bad compression..... spun bearing and bad compression leads to noise and bad idle.'
'
yes. better not drive it at all. you could damage your cylinder walls and other issues that could have been caught and been much easier to fix then if you drove it. Dont ask me how i know :wink:

 

[damthatbeaver]

The hesitation has been an issue with the car for a long time...I thought it was a vacuum leak...the hesitation occurred at low rpms...just off of the line...and I was not gunning it...I just pressed the gas pedal (its an automatic) and there was nothing...this has occurred numerous times...we thought that it was a speed sensor problem...we replaced the speed sensor...things went well...then the odd hesitation...when I was at a light I had to put it in park and rev the engine slightly so it would not stall out...as it would idle very low...there were no odd noises - I just felt that my o2 sensors were going...or maybe a fuel pump issue. The car (the last time that I started it) now has a surging sucking noise...like its not getting enough air...lol...like someone who has smoked too much...if you rev the engine the tapping or ticking sound does not increase or even get louder...when I first heard the noise...it reminded me of a noisey lifter...maybe its the Lost Motion Assembly doohickies? The car is definately running very rich...but there is no blue or white smoke...she goes in tomorrow on a flat bed...so thanks for your great insight and input...

Dam

 

[ffffanman]

I too had hesitation before my #5 plug let go and stripped out and popped up and down and destroyed the bottom end of the coil, then my engine ate it all.
I guessed at and when I should take a look at the hesitation until it was too late. But who would have thunk!
Trev

 

[damthatbeaver]

Hey all...here is an update...and thanks for all of your input. Three hung valves...and 4 spark plugs that were slowly loosening themselves out! The guy that sold me the car said that he had adjusted the valves and replaced the plugs - I guess that he was going to do these things...go figure...so the car is running much better...One could go and spend a big bunch of cash to get her just singing again...but I am just glad that she is back to where she was...want to pay ehr off and then see if I want to keep her...have always wanted a 56 T-Bird...may go that way...would love a 62 Vette but the prices are absolutely rediculous...maybe in time the prices will deflate back to where they should be.

Dam

 

[docjohn]

Glad to hear things are ok. btw is'nt this the second case of a diy valve job performed by previous owner only to go south after the car is sold

 

[ffffanman]

There you go everyone, check your plugs with the proper torque.
Maze well just toss them and put in a new set if your going to take off the coils.
Its an easy job done slow, just find the time and do it now.
Checking your compression while your there is fun as well.
Mine cost me big time and this one was on the way out too.
You are so lucky man.
Trev