Sunday night I went to start up my SS and it sounded like someone dropped a create of acorns into my engine. It was really hard to hear where it was coming from but you could notice it inside with the windows up. Under the hood it's like a metalic rattling coming from the motor mount areas on the left and right side of the head. Doesn't sound like the its the blower. You feel less of the vibration on the top of the blower than on the side of the head. What's weird is I was paranoid and ready to buy a coupler and timing tensioner thinking one of them was bad and the noise just disappeared, hasn't come back since. I did just do an oil change but used the same oil I always do, had plenty in the motor. There's no CEL or noticible differences in how it runs. Based on that I have to assume this issue is either 1) I have some wicked squirrels screwing with my car, or 2) the timing tensioner is thinking about going bad. It seems to come and go so which part failure is more likely, tensioner or SC coupler? The engine has 101k miles, LOTS of freeway miles. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

i assume uve changed your tensioner to the new style right? you dont have the stock one i hope

 

I can only assume you mean the defective part that GM used during 06. My car is an 06, but it was made 10/05 so it shouldn't fall into that category. If it had an issue, surely it would have failed by now with over 100k miles. But I can't verify what came on the car when I bought it w/ 45k miles.

 

what year and how many miles on your car?

EDIT: oh 101k miles.

Umm you could for sure you a SC coupler and oil change. But the screws inside the SC could be rubbing or the tensioner is bad too. hmmm the sc maintenance is cheap you could start there. If you take the SC off and look at the screws you could see if they are rubbing.

 

Yea I'm gonna order a zzp kit with the oil and start there. $40 is worth it to find out. Funny thing is I was just debating on getting an upgrade pulley kit and trying to squeeze out 250hp. It only makes sense the car wants to rebel. I think it overheard me talking about a smaller pulley lol.

 

Is it driving any different? If not... I'd say the coupler is just loose.

 

id also pull ur tensioner out and check it. if it comes apart in 2 peices get the new one. mine is an 07 and i had the shitty one too... changed mine at 15k

 

Was your 07 built in 06? I remember reading something about GM using the wrong tensioner part during the year in 06. What's ironic is I'm just down the road from where they make these cars so I should just walk down to the plant and kncukle punch the monkeys in management who did this to our cars!