Tue, 31 Mar 1998 10:43:57 -0800 - Message No. 2460
From: Holger Blumentritt

Subject: Re: strange noises


Hi Sheridan,
just came back from vacancies and hope my advice will get you in time. I think there 
are three sources for the noise and therefore three opportunities to cope with, two 
cheap and one expensive. but first you have to start the engine again and rev it up:
1. the noise becomes less - then its the camchain itself, possible in an '89 model 
with about 100-150 tkm, you didn't give a hint about your mileage. the @ has 
automatic tensioners which you can't see from the top, but they are for sure not the 
problem (ok,ok the only sure thing in life is death...)
2. the noise becomes more, the frequency gets higher - two possibilities:
2.1. the easy way, you gave to much valve clearance; check again and adjust more to 
the thight side.
2.2. the hevy and expensive way, and as it seems to me after your description the 
most probable reason: when rebuilding the camcover you have to take care for the 
little oilcanal inside for the cam bearings. fitting them not exactly or not 
absolutly clean it will cause a cam bearing damage on the first run after a few 
minutes or seconds, hell knows. so if the noise starts a little later after 
rebuilding, that's the cause...but always look on the bright side of life-h.
ps: always provided, that you gave the right torque to the screws!!!

dipper@normans.isd.uni-stuttgart.de