Glyn M Ruck

+1^

maverik259

any idea how to check if one of my pulleys is going bad...ie super, AC, etc...I'm 95% confident its not the alternator since the sound is coming from thr right lower side of my engine...or am i gonna be reduced to simply taking it to a mechanic at this point?

jpman

maverik259,

did you engine sound like this?

Cintoman

Hey jpman, thanks for the video clip. My nearly 89K C230K engine makes that exact noise for about 2-3 seconds right at start up, then quiets instantly down. Almost sounds like there's no oil in the engine, and it's all in the pan. Then once it spins up and circulates the oil, it quiets down.

What's interesting is that it doesn't happen all the time. Maybe 1 out of 10 cold start ups.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Cintoman

side note...just checked my mileage. I'm 11 miles shy of 88888 miles. Cool.

VVF

I think Glyn once pointed out that the valve lifters may sound similar to the chain rattle on start up.

Cintoman

Thanks VVF. Yes, I do recall the lifters causing similar noise, as well as the camshaft adjusters. I'm just trying to figure out where my noise is coming from. Visions of the timing belt slipping a tooth and causing $4,000+ in engine damage and reading this thread has caused me to seriously look into my startup noise more closely.

Cintoman

VVF

Mine is doing that not only after sitting overnight, but sometimes after sitting several hours in the parking lot in the heat during the day, so I kind of hope it's not the chain
I think the other problem is, nobody seems to have any sound clips of the actual chain rattle, or not certain it's the chain.
I've been told by a good indie shop that they didn't hear any noise at start up, and they checked the timing angles with STAR and all looks good. But there's still that noise! lol

gucci88

I experienced the engine sound in the video once 2 weeks ago, it never returned back. Here is the clip of my engine sound. Hopefully its not the chain since I only racked up around 34k kms. M271 C180 Komp

Cintoman

So I have been keenly listening to my engine startup every morning now for the past week or so, and it's been hit or miss whenever the sound comes up. However, earlier this past Saturday, I started it up, and it was by far the loudest I've heard in a long time. Not sure if it was because I was standing right over the engine instead of behind the wheel or not, but it was pretty loud.

With the high recommendation I've read from here on the Forum, last week I spoke with Ed over at European Auto Solutions in Waltham, MA. Great guy, and we spoke for over 20 minutes regarding what the sound could be. He strongly felt that it wasn't a timing belt issue, as he's never run into that problem on these cars.

I explained Hogger's issue and how these single gang timing chains stretch, which leads to this rattling sound, but he didn't think it was likely. He suggested bringing the car in to have them check it out; something I'm most likely going to be doing within the next week or so.

When I asked him how much the job would be to change out the timing chain, he quoted me along the lines of around $1,200.00 USD; which I thought was quite expensive, especially since you can get the chain for around $60.00 or so, and I would think the additional parts (tensioner, chain guides, etc) would probably bring the part price to around maybe $200.00 if that. So around a grand for labor seem aweful high. He further told me that it's a BIG job to replace these. I guess I can agree after seeing the work Hogger did to his car. But still. This almost sounds like stealership prices. Could an M-B dealership be even higher than this?

At any rate, since I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, but I don't believe to the point of changing my own timing chain (and, what if it turns out it's not the chain, and the noise remains), I'll probably have EAS take a look at my car. It's a bit of a hike for me (about 1 hours drive), but I hear they're highly recommended. Unless anyone has a closer suggestion for an M-B indy in the RI/Southeast MA area.

I wanted to add a video clip of the sound to see what everyone thinks it might be. Those of you with this sound, do you think it's the chain?

Here's the clip:

Cintoman

And here's a clip of a much quieter "normal" startup. I can still hear a very slight rattle during the first few seconds, but nothing compared to the clip above.

Other times, there's no rattle whatsoever. Very strange. Any ideas anyone?


Thanks,
Cintoman

VVF

I think I have similar sound as your 2nd clip.
1st one sounds real scary though

ncmudbug

I agree that the first one sounds scary! It doesn't sound like what I think a timing chain would sound like tough. I'd get it looked at ASAP!

Good Luck!

VVF

Where is hogger - he had some sounds before the chain skipped if I recall correctly.
Otherwise my theory is: the chain does not make any sounds by itself, and the only way to check its condition is to open the valve cover and observe (or maybe it's possible to look at the timing angles via an OBDII tool and figure something out)

jpman

My sound is like this video here. That first video sounds like a timing chain, or a cam sprocket. My car has never sounded like your first video.

My car now has 100k miles and I have been driving it since 85k miles, it has always had that sound in the second video, sometimes a little louder, sometimes quietier, sometimes longer and sometimes very short. I believe that the sound in the second video are the cam adjusters, or the actualy timing chain tensioner pressurizing with oil.

I am going to be safe here and recommend that you do not move the car until someone with the right tools and knowledge can take a detailed look at it. I had someone check my car and remove the valve cover and inspect the chain and tensioner.

Norsk_Johnson

In the process of changing mine. Definitely glad I am, It' looks like my timing is a bit off and on the potential verge of skipping. I just hope the adjusters are ok. The chain slapping around in the crankcase scraped up the sprockets a good bit.

So stupid MB put this small of a chain on this engine...

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...in-help-2.html

kirkie

this is what causes it I think