I have a 2003 Lancer ES 5sp. When I leave my car ideling with the car out of gear I hear what I thought at the time to be valve knocking, so I listen closer and it seems the sound is coming from the intake. Any ideas what it can be?

Thanks in advance,

Jason

 

You say the sound is coming from the intake. Do you mean the intake piping or the intake manifold?

 

Is it a knock like a popping sound or a knock like a clicking sound? The valve clicks are par for the course. A knock (like predetonation) is very bad.

 

The valving clicking with these engines sucks. Recently I realized the it goes away when I depress the clutch. That's probably what you're hearing.

 

The noise is more a clicking sound from the intake side of the head or the intake manifold. Is there any fixes for this besides pressing in the clutch?

 

If it goes away when you depress your clutch its not your valves, its your throw -out bearing. Take it in for Warrinty. I find that the throw out bearing lasts for 20,000 - 50,000 on the 4G94 Lancers.

You can drive with it like that for a bit but I would definatly get it taken care of. Expecially because your powertrain warrinty covers it.

 

Under closer inspection today pressing the clutch in doesn't stop the clicking. Would it be the intake valves then?

 

did anyone ever think it could be the fuel injectors also supplying fuel to engine. I heard this same problem before and that what people said it was. I have the same problem on my car, but its been like since day 1, 71,000 miles later and i'm not worried about it.

 

My TOB went at 49,000 miles...the noise is a bit irratating but nothing more than that..like you said, it's still drivable..i'm at 55,000 now and still running just fine

 

It's not the injectors. It's air in the tappets. You can try building up the oil pressure by idling the car at 1,000 rpms for a few seconds, then taking it progressively higher (to maybe 2-2.5k rpms) If that doesn't work you can either accept it, try to get warranty work done, or try looking elsewhere. The noisy lifters are typical of the 4g93 and 4g94 though.

 

It's coming from around the injector area, so I figured the same.

 

^Aha, or those.........The lifter effect. Will this go away if I change my cams?

 

A good way to pinpoint noises like this is to buy an automotive stethiscope...kinda like doctors use, but with a long rod on the end. You can get them at many auto parts stores, or Sears. I recommend them over a long screwdriver (although that will work in a pinch). Basically, just touch the end of the rod of the stethiscope to different parts of the engine as it is idling and you should be able to hear when the clicking gets louder. Wherever it's the loudest should be your source.