Topic: Newbie with engine noise issues

[dsw140]

Hello all and thanks for allowing me to be part of the community. I found this site while searching for 2.0T Ecotec engine issues. I am having a ticking/rattle noise during cold starts. I am thinking balance chain and guides are to blame and hoped that engine experts will chime in. I had the valve cover off to inspect timing circuit but couldn't see much in the balance area without further teardown. Replaced the upper timing chain guide and installed a new timing chain tensioner but the noise remains. Please see the short video here.... Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Steelmesh]

That start up sounds familiar, the lash adjusters taking a couple seconds to pump up and take up the lash.  However the random chirping is odd, is that maybe the belt tensioner?  Does the engine seem to misfire when it makes that chirp noise?

[dsw140]

I actually removed the belt and still had the chirp. Had a chance to poke around the water pump with a stethoscope and not coming from there either. No misfire at all, no knock counts. Engine has 83K so I'm figuring its just the beginning of guide/chain issues anyway.

[Gentleman Jack]

near the end of the video it looks like you slide a dipstick / something in and the chirping stops?  What was that and where were you touching?

[dsw140]

That was my mechanics stethoscope. I was probing around and the noise stopped just as I touching the head. That's the problem with this noise, it doesn't last long enough to narrow it down. I've heard it on the underside of the engine, on the top side, and on the timing cover side. I'm guessing the noise is being transmitted throughout the engine. I'm suspicious of the balance chain slapping on something.