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Old 08-27-2010, 07:30 PM   #1
vettedriver986
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Default Tapping sound from passenger side head on my 02 wrx

So I noticed that a new sound is coming from my engine bay... I have a 2002 wrx with a motor in it that has about 70k miles on it. I am hearing a tapping sound from the passenger side head. It is more to the rear of the car and not the front, but is definitely only on the passenger side head. I also have a check engine code that just came on indicating my 02 sensor. The tapping is slower than the engines RPMS, but does raise with added throttle.

Any clue what this could be? It wasnt doing this a couple days ago I have visited 7200 rpms on a daily basis, but not sure if that makes this happen. It def sounds like a valvetrain noise. My oil level is correct and I watch it regularly.
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Old 08-27-2010, 08:03 PM   #2
skimobile
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Could be a loose plug, that will give you a tapping noise.
Have you changed them recently?
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Old 08-27-2010, 08:05 PM   #3
vettedriver986
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Never chaned them since I have had the car. There also appears to be evidence of a valve cover gasket leak because there is a good bit of oil around the coil pack areas and edges of the valve covers.
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Old 08-27-2010, 09:11 PM   #4
daehttub2000
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Go to an Auto store and try the $12 dollar solution - Chevron Techron. Run the tank to near empty, pour it in, and fill it up, and cross your fingers. A repeat treatment may be warranted. $24 is a small price to pay. It smoothed out my idle and eliminated the valve clatter noise. I think it might have been a sticky lifter depending upon which NASIOC thread is correct.

I had developed a tapping valve like noise (direct connection to rpm) on my stock 02 WRX recently (50K) and was doing the Woody Allen routine worrying about all the nightmare engine failure scenarios. The NASIOC threads can be scary. I swear some of you guys try to prank newbies sometimes...

I then remembered that I had been buying cheap gas to save some coin instead of the expensive name brand stuff (Mobil 93+, Amoco Ultimate, etc.). In Chicago, there is no such thing as cheap gast but there apparently is less expensive garbage gas with varnish & sludge.

I then read the NASIOC threads about Chevron Techron and remembered that it had been quite a while since my last Chevron Techron treatment (oh, about 20K after the new car obssessive compulsive disorder went away...)

Good luck!
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Old 08-27-2010, 11:55 PM   #5
vettedriver986
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im readin about loose coil packs and or spark plugs also being able to cause this sound? I hope it isnt a rod bearing or something
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Old 08-28-2010, 02:46 AM   #6
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to the toppp
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Old 08-28-2010, 04:27 AM   #7
Chi_San
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The squirrel needs more caffeine?

If it's a tapping at half engine speed, it could be a cam issue. Get yourself an automotive stethoscope and take a listen. They're quite useful. Same as the doctor's setup, except they have a rod on the end. You poke your motor with the rod, and whatever sound the component is making that you poke, you can hear it quite easily (and loudly). It's the same effect as sticking it with a screwdriver and then poking your ear against the screwdriver, but you get better definition and is in stereo, instead of mono.

Rod bearings are usually pretty loud, and have a definitive 'clacking' sound. It's a sound that... If GOD was ANGRY, that is the sound he'd make (an engine with nothing but bad rod bearings). A Stethoscope will let you know if it's a bearing or not, you can actually zoom in on what is making the sound in the engine by where you stick the rod (that's what she said).

Maybe take a short video of it, if you have a good camera? Might help.
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Old 08-28-2010, 01:48 PM   #8
vettedriver986
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I have a stethoscope. I will use it on monday and let you know. Right now I am in florida 300 miles from home. Just was a little concerned about it. I can also tell you that I have been using 10-30 oil instead of 5 30 lately... Could this be doing it?
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Old 08-28-2010, 03:23 PM   #9
Chi_San
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No. I use 15-40 in the summer and 5-40 in the winter, and no problems.
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Old 08-28-2010, 03:47 PM   #10
spiffed34
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check your timing belt and pulleys. i've had that noise coming from the back but it was my belt smacking one of the guides and also an idler pulley had some play in it.
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Old 08-29-2010, 12:03 AM   #11
yvfcfire58
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my 04 wrx wagon is making exactly the same sound its driving me CRAZY! i will try the techron trick. us buffaloites have very poor quality gas and i cant recall ever doing a fuel treatment . I will also check her with a scope and see if i can hear valve rattle fwiw i just did a timing belt with all new pullys and tensioner.
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Old 09-01-2010, 11:04 AM   #12
vettedriver986
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well, i used a stethoscope to dig around and I mainly heard the noise most from the passenger rear coil pack area... IDK what that means but well C...

The car seems to drive fine, but the noise has gotten a little bit louder.
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Old 09-01-2010, 01:56 PM   #13
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Well, turns out it was the spark plug being loose.
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Old 09-01-2010, 05:33 PM   #14
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how/why do our spark plugs back themselves out?
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Old 09-01-2010, 06:18 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vettedriver986 View Post
how/why do our spark plugs back themselves out?
They either weren't torqued down tight enough when initially installed, or too much anti-seize was used when they were installed. I personally have installed plugs using WAAAAY too much anti-seize and never had them back out, so I'm going to guess they weren't torqued down enough when installed.
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Old 09-02-2010, 05:29 AM   #16
CpnNeeda
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Nice find, glad you found it before it somehow caused other problems. I had an annoying tapping sound that turned out to be a bad alternator. It drove me nuts for the longest time.
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Old 09-02-2010, 11:11 AM   #17
vettedriver986
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cpn needa what does your user name mean?
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Old 02-05-2016, 09:48 PM   #18
AkiaHawkinsGG
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Default Find this Noise?

My 02 WRX is having the same problem. Checked my plugs and they all seemed to be tight. It has 238,000
Miles on it and has been making the noise for a little over a year now. What else could it be? We did the timing @214k when we bought the car. Now when we start it it'll make the noise it'll continue to make the noise even after warming it up it gets fast as it goes up in RPMS but doesn't get louder and I can't seem to here if past 3k RPMS or it doesn't get any faster. Started happening after our first oil change when we bought the car using Mobil 1 5w30. Any other ideas!
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Old 06-24-2018, 03:24 PM   #19
Andrew2166
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Same issue and oroblem knocking noise from passeneger side rear. Started misfiring WoT and would run sluggish with no check engine light...nkticed knocking noise over the weekend when cleaning, read this forum...rear passenger side spark plug was loose, must've over tightened the plud and stripped the treads. Was able to get tight enough to stay...noise and problem went away.
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