in the valves cover? what do you think, i'm out of ideas

 

I got the same thing except mine sounds more like a buzz, as soon I go past about 3000RPM it goes away.

 

Whats up fellas. I know I dont post here often but come on guys this has been talked about many times.........you can even "search" a little. It's Not the exhaust! it's the valves..................dont you notice that after an oil change it goes away for a day or so??? I have it too..........

 

so how do you fix it?

 

oh let's go through the list:
first it's probably not internal engine related- i.e. not a loose valve or anything like that. I think it's fair to say I've abused my engine more than most and when it's been time to mess with the head, nothing's been loose. I did recently mis-install one of the lifter spacers and that made a noise so bad I wouldn't drive the car- sounded like someone threw a handful of change in the cylinders. But, like I said, just a loose lifter spacer. If it was something like piston slap, it would go away when the engine warmed up.

So, heat shield, the downpipe rattling against the frame under load, exhaust rattling against the sway bar (or perch) are pretty likely. the injectors are loud. The lifters are louder and are quite noticeable if you're quiet in the car (no stereo or anything). I get weird rattles from the cabin at verious RPMs (must have something to do with the harmonics of the engine) so you could just be developing one of those.

My advice? Get a stethosocpe (or a really long screwdriver with the plastic end against your ear) and start listening to stuff. Move the throttle cable and make it sit at 2K RPM until you find the noise.

good luck and welcome to the world of the cost-cutting econobox

 

bringing this thread back from the dead... I just started noticing this too. Sounds like it's coming from the internal engine/valve cover. Only does it when revving to 2-3k RPM's in park or neutral.

 

You could try cleaning the lash adjusters. Although if it was dirty lash adjusters it shouldn't start at 2k-3k, it should only be present when oil pressure is low (generally when rpm is low). If you have the factory service manual check the section about lash adjusters to see if it matches with your symptoms.

 

anybody ever figure this thing out. just starting happening to me too. Car is fine idling even when I rev engine to 3k. But when I get to each gear around 2500-3k rpm weird rattling happens. once I go over 3k rpm it goes away. Very strange.

2002 Lancer ES / Manual trans

 

dirty lifters.....all mistus have the problm. close thread.

 

I have another possibility. My car has been rattling a bit for the last few months and when I checked it out I found it was the restrictor plate on the MAF. I have a SRI and the filter adapter plate doesn't hold tight against the restrictor plate. The glue on the restrictor plate has failed and it rattles around against the filter adapter plate. I suspect somethign like this could happen with just about any intake. Another possibility, and alot easier than cleaning the lash adjusters.