K-series - Noisey VVC ?

[kambites]

I have an Elise with the 160bhp VVC version of the K-series engine which has recently started making an odd noise. The best way I can think of to describe it is to say that it sounds like a diesel when it's idling.

Last time I heard a petrol engine sound like this, it was because the cam-belt tensioner had failed and the belt was slapping the cover (On my Corrado). Has anyone else experienced this kind of noise from a K-series?

It has been suggested to me that it might be a stuck VVC unit - does anyone know how I can test this and/or of a good garage for K-series engines in the Southampton area.

[jack&mle]

I just had my VVC mech changed and it cost me the best part of £1700, so for your sake I hope it's not that

Jack

[kambites]

[quote=jack&mle]I just had my VVC mech changed and it cost me the best part of £1700, so for your sake I hope it's not that

Jack[/quote]

So not a "take the cover off and hit it with a hammer" job then?

[coco h]

I borrowed a Rover once - with a K series and that sounded like a diesel for a while and was very wobbly - not idling properly. It needed a new head gasket - I can't remeber exaclty what the issue was and why it made the noise.

[esselte]

jackmle said:

I just had my VVC mech changed and it cost me the best part of £1700, so for your sake I hope it's not that

Jack

you could have got a brand new complete engine for that

Edited by esselte on Tuesday 15th May 14:11

[kambites]

esselte said:

you could have got a brand new complete engine for that

Not including fitting your couldn't but still...

[esselte]

kambites said:

esselte said:

you could have got a brand new complete engine for that

Not including fitting your couldn't but still...

Yep, OK fair cop.....

[mgsteve]

Does the noise go away once the enigne has warmed up?
When was the oil last changed?

[kambites]

I only noticed today, but the noise only arrives when the engine is warm. It's quiet when it's cold.

The car was serviced in January (before I bought it) so I assume the oil was changed then. It certainly looks clean enough.

I've found a few MG/Rover related threads which suggest it's not uncommon with VVC engines, for example:
http://forums.mg-rover.org/archive/in

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 16th May 07:46

[kambites]

According to the garage, they all do that.

[AL666]

If it's a ticking noise that's louder sometimes than other times it's probably OK. A lot of them do it.

[Blue160]

My ZR 160 makes exactly the same noise, as did all the others I tried before buying it

I think it's a case of "They all do that Sir"

[andymg]

Hi , I had exactly the same problem on my S Plate VVC MGF, it started occuring just after I had my head gasket done. The car would start up and sound fine but after it warmed there was a diesel type sound at tickover. This would go if I turned the car off and on again, after a month of doing this I finally took it to my local MG garage (Summit MG in Berkshire, whom I throughly recommend). Apparently, after my head was changed they forgot to plug back in one of the 2 VVC units hence all the oil drained from it and began making a tapping/diesel noise. The cost of the fix was just £70, however they advised that if I had left it much longer the VVC unit would eventally give up the ghost and be far more costly.

Anyway, take it to an MG specialist and explain this and you should be OK

Hope this helps.

Andy