clacking sound

**tarrrron510** · 07-11-2007, 02:44 AM

When my car idles at start up most of the time there is a clacking noise

I checked the oil pressure and it seems to be ok. The it was an old police camaro it has 105k now. The car runs fine, I just hate noises that shouldnt be there any ideas anyone? oh I have a 2002 camaro

**sunsetorangess** · 07-11-2007, 07:29 AM

Clacking noise huh, Does it only do it for a while or when it warms up and goes away? If it does go away after it gets warm or running for a min then its just the common piston slap.
Have you tried starting it and listing under the hood to try and pinpoint the sound? Did it just start out of no where or after a mod or acidently shifting into the wrong gear, been there done that.
little more info would help out a bit.
Thanks
J

**SSTODD** · 07-11-2007, 07:41 AM

I think almost everybody has heard that after cold start-up with these engines (piston-slap) but it never seems to cause a problem and with 105k I would say it's durable. I hear it and I only have 17k. Might want to try a different oil brand and/or weight to help a little because I switched to pennzoil platinum 10-30 from mobil1 5-30 and I think it is better now.

**tarrrron510** · 07-11-2007, 06:56 PM

It happens off and on if i am on the freeway or rev up the engine it goes away, but it almost happens everytime i start the car, even when the car is already warm. I use 10-30w synth. That sound is very irrating. i hope this helps

**tarrrron510** · 08-05-2007, 12:57 PM

Still the same sound continues, I do you fix the piston slap?

**juiced99ws6** · 08-05-2007, 01:47 PM

you cant fixing the piston slap, has it always been like that? It would really help if you have a digital camera or something that can take a short video and post it on here so we can really get a handle on the noise. There are so many things that can make noise in there and without an accurate respresentation of when it started, when it occurs, and where its coming from then we cant really help you man. Try and take that video for me and that should help us out some.

**tarrrron510** · 08-05-2007, 03:59 PM

Here is sound clip
www.geocities.com/tarron510

This is the only way I knew how to put it on here.

**juiced99ws6** · 08-05-2007, 07:29 PM

thanks for getting the clip man, now i have more questions..

Is this noise only at start up and for how long?
Have you listened to it from UNDER the car?
If so is it louder from underneith?
If you put a load on the engine and drive it does it stop?
If it does then does the noise just get more rapid when you rev it in nuetral?

**juiced99ws6** · 08-05-2007, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by tarrrron510

It happens off and on if i am on the freeway or rev up the engine it goes away, but it almost happens everytime i start the car, even when the car is already warm. I use 10-30w synth. That sound is very irrating. i hope this helps

Ok, this one answered a couple of my questions but when you get off the freeway or after you rev it up after running for a while does it still make the noise?

**tarrrron510** · 08-05-2007, 07:32 PM

That was with the hood open. It does it at start up mainly or when Im neutral somewhere. I cant hear it when its under load. Then once u come off of it. It comes right back at idle or with a very light load.

**tarrrron510** · 08-05-2007, 07:34 PM

This will answer your question I sometimes take the car to work 47 miles when I pull into the drive of my job. It comes back.

**juiced99ws6** · 08-05-2007, 07:55 PM

Im sorry to say but all of what you told me sounds like rod bearings going bad, has this car ever been run very low on oil? being under a load will make it stop due to more tension on the bearings, or wrist pins, and make it stop..

Can you go listen under the car and tell me if it gets louder?

**Speedy_Gonzales** · 08-05-2007, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by tarrrron510

Here is sound clip
www.geocities.com/tarron510

This is the only way I knew how to put it on here.

after an oil change does it sound the same, worse or better

**tarrrron510** · 08-06-2007, 05:11 AM

about the same maybe a little quiter, i just changed the oil about 400 miles ago.

**Kaution vBi** · 08-06-2007, 02:32 PM

I have had that same sound since I brought m Camaro home from the dealership when I bought it back in '01. I thought something was wrong as well being that it was brand new but I was assured it was just piston slap and so have had it ever since. It is a real annoyance to me as well but oh well I guess.

**chuckie669** · 08-06-2007, 02:51 PM

I've found the cure for Piston Slap on our LS1's.

SLP Loudmouth I Catback.

you'll never hear it again.

**juiced99ws6** · 08-06-2007, 09:46 PM

that doesnt sound like piston slap to me though. have you listened under the car yet?

**tarrrron510** · 08-06-2007, 10:16 PM

That was under hood? It goes away once I rev the engine up. My neighbor has one he thinks its the push rods.

Im going to stop driving it for a while I almost went to jail for going 110mph. The CHP pulled me off and wanted to take me to jail. NO Ticket NO Jail knock on wood.

**cobra12345** · 08-07-2007, 08:46 AM

seafoam it then change your oil im betting valetrain

**PFM** · 08-07-2007, 10:19 AM

I never could open up your video/soundclip but I had a problem simular to what your describing and my mystery rattle was something loose in the cat. convertor. When I changed over to LTs and a catted-y the sound went out the door with the old cats. You could shake them and make them rattle when they came off the car.