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[chrisdb]

Last weekend I did some major work - removed the head to change the exhuast manifold gasket, and changed timing belt and tensioners.

When the car started it was very loud - from cold, and idling at around 1000rpm it sounded more like 1500. when and idling at 600rpm it sounded more like 1000. I have not driven the car again until this morning. I could not see anything wrong under the bonnet and when I started it up it was just a s loud. Then it occurred to me that the accelerator cable might have been set too tight so I reset it. That made a difference and it does not sound so loud now.

Throuble is that the engine still sounds pretty harsh - no better than with the old manifold gasket which had half missing! When I accelerate it sounds like the valves are tapping big time, and all the time I have this "loud" engine sound.

My questions are... Given that I have no EML light on, there is no smoke coming out and after 10 miles or so there seems to be no water loss, would you chance using the car - I have to drive 200 miles today and then next week I have to do about 300 miles a day. I have to decide today if I will keep the hire car for another week instead. Also, does this sound like a timing problem? You might see from my previous problems I had lots of trouble trying to set up the timing.

Grateful for any advice  

Cheers
Chris

[Welung666]

The tappet noise will me the hydraulic lifters, a couple of short oil changes should cure that. As for the exhaust manifold gasket if you are sure everthing was torqued correctly then could possibly be the manifold to downpipe joint. Other than that not sure.

[Loch View]

I would NOT drive it at all until the problem is clear.
Check the timing belt and see if all marks still line up. It might be 1 or 2 teeth off.

[chrisdb]

The tappet noise will me the hydraulic lifters, a couple of short oil changes should cure that. As for the exhaust manifold gasket if you are sure everthing was torqued correctly then could possibly be the manifold to downpipe joint. Other than that not sure.

I wondered about that - I check around the floor to make sure it had not slipped out while I was trying to line it up. I was careful torquing those bolts too - 30nm on the downpipe.

If I had not torqued the head properly would I see other problems - like water loss?

[chrisdb]

I would NOT drive it at all until the problem is clear.
Check the timing belt and see if all marks still line up. It might be 1 or 2 teeth off.

Thanks Ruud - I think that decides it for me