My 2002 C5 with only 4k miles on it is making a lot of engine clatter. I took it in to the dealership and they told me it was the roller rockers and lifters and its normal. It usually stops after it runs a while but starts again every time I start it cold.

I also have a very loud fuel pump. Is that normal to be able to clearly hear the fuel pump?

My car also has some annoying rattles in the dash and around the rear hatch. Does anyone else have this problem?

It's my first Vette and even my first time riding in a Vette at all. I just want to know if there is something wrong or is it normal? I don't trust dealerships!

Thanks All.
:banghead:

 

any time I hear an engine I worry, you have roller lifters but does not come stock with roller rocker arms, if it goes away when it warms up your lifters may be getting pumped up when the oil warms and thins out a little. I am surprised you hear anything at only 4000 miles, is it cold where you are I didn't check you sig for location. I don't have dash or hatch noises and I can't hear my fuel pump, you may want someone besides your dealer to look at this thing.


[Modified by NEPTUNEBILL, 11:49 PM 3/20/2003]

 

:seeya I've got almost 800 miles on my car and it ticks like a bomb. As the car warms up, the ticking sound dies down a bit but it's still there. :mad I took it back to the dealer and they told me that its a common problem and that all of them do it. I find it hard to believe. :rolleyes:

You can search through the archives on here (like I did) and read about others who are experiencing the same.

Is there anything that I can do to stop the ticking ? If feels like I'm constantly watching 60 minutes. :confused: :rolleyes:


[Modified by djc11571, 12:23 AM 3/21/2003]

 

My 2003 Coupe MN6 has 5000 miles and is very quiet -- no engine ticking, slapping or knocking, hot or cold. I had the oil changed at 3500 miles and consumption amounted to less than 1/2 quart. I've seen reports that GM has supposedly solved their longstanding problems with piston slap by tighening piston/cylinder wall clearance and applying polymer coatings, beginning with the 2003 model year. My engine runs quietly, even when started in extreme cold, down to minus 20 F this winter.

Whatever the cause, your engine should not be ticking as you described. GM published a recent TSB concerning a severed seal on the oil pump assembly which can cause engine ticking noise (do a search on this forum for details). You may want to have your dealer check out that possibility.

 

My C-5 is very quiet, no engine noise, but my LT1 does exactly as you described from the time it was new. I now have 110k miles on it so I guess it is not damaging at all, but I agree it does not seem right. No fuel pump or dash noises.

:seeya

 

Mine has made that chatering noise eversince ive had it for 2 years for the first 15 mins or so.Seems to quiet down when it gets hot.Most of the noise happens when i let go of the revs.Example if i hold engine at 3000 rpm sounds normal but as i let of gas get that chatering realy loud.

 

1

 

These engines do have roller rockers..in fact GM is aware of a concern with the needle bearings coming apart and showing up in the oil pan. If the noise goes away when warm it is usually just piston to cylinder wall clearance and this noise is being looked at also.

 

Do you know the TSB number? Thanks

 

TSB 02-06-01-038 - (12/02/2002)

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/....php?qstId=378

 

yeah, they say it's normal.... :rolleyes:
my 02 has been doing it since I bought it.

 

Put on stingers so i hear that engine less.

 

similar experiences with my 02....even in FL heat. After three minutes of warmup its gone. Someone once asked if I over revved it and then noticed the sound was gone a minute later. :eek:

 

My previous C5 was a 98 and was real quiet. My 03 makes the sames sounds as described by the others in this post and it has only 500 miles. Took it back to the dealer and was told it was normal. This must be the usual response for lack of a better explanation. Car runs great so I am not that concerned. Otherwise no other strage noises.

 

i have had my car for two weeks know, and I have never rode in a vette till I bought mine, and my car makes a lot of noise like gurgling sounds. Needless to say Im a little dissapointed in my 30k car, Im only 20years old and had to save for years to buy this car. So Yeah my car makes un-normal noises too. :banghead:

 

Well believe it, because it's true. The LT1 and LS1 are both known for this. There are actually two common causes. Piston slap and noisy valve trains. The piston slap goes away as the engine warms up. The noisy valve train gets quieter, but never fully goes away. None of this is an actual problem, unless you consider a noisy engine a problem. Damage is not being done by either of these.

 

Thanks for all the good information and general feedback. :smash:

 

Easy items first:

Dash rattles/squeaks can be fixed. Here's a video showing a dash squeak: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=468222

This can be fixed by using felt material between the squeaking components (takes about 1.5 hours; requires removing instrument cluster. Common problem; dealers should know how to fix).

Rattles in rear hatch, doors, etc., can be fixed via inspection, removal of panels, and securing of rattling item(s). Mine had a rattle in the passenger door that was fixed this way.

Fuel pump noise: Yes, it's loud. Apparently some late 2003 models are getting a new design (quieter).


Engine noise: Start up noise that goes away once warm is almost always piston slap. Common on short skirt piston'd high-performance engines. A less frequent problem is a cut o-ring on the oil pump, causing aerated oil, and "comes-and-goes" (even after warmed up) valve train noise. The TSB for this is #02-06-01-038 - (12/02/2002).


Valve train noise: Noisier than some cars, but should not be constantly noisey. Some noises that are constant and loud are incorrectly diagnosed as "normal valve train noise". A defective wrist pin can sound like a bad lifter. Video and more info here: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=503410 and http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=496040 . It only takes a few minutes with a Tech 2 to turn off cylinders to diagnose such a problem.

The biggest challenge is that most dealer service departments appear to have limited ability to diagnose and repair some problems. Some dealers will make the effort to call GM tech support, but their information systems and ability to help dealers also appears limited. Your best bet is to gather information, get second opinions (from other Vette owners, tuners), and then provide such information to the dealership(s) and GM customer service.

Hopefully your car is OK. Getting peace of mind one way or the other is a good thing. :cheers: