Noisy Fuego

R

RedFuego

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Fellow Frogger
Joined
Nov 29, 2002
Messages
9
Location
Sydney Australia
Recently, I had the head gasket done on my 85 Fuego, for no other reason than it was leaking oil from the rear right (driver's) side of the engine between the head and the block. The engine has 185,000k on it, and uses no oil apart from what leaks (it may need a rear main seal soon.) The head was re-surfaced, and the timing was re-set by moving the TDC pickup to the right side of the car. The timing belt was also replaced.

Ever since then, or more acurately, within a week of the head gasket being repaired, the car makes a strange noise under the following circumstances.

- I start the car first thing in the morning.

- Out the driveway, around the bend, about 500m to my first stop, which is slightly down hill to a T junction.

- The noise now starts. It is not a tappet noise, but with the same rythym.

- During the next kilometer or so, the noise generally gets louder, then ceases.

- Generally the noise does not re-occur on that trip, but sometimes does slightly after a long run at highway speeds.

- Some days the noise does not occur at all.

It is deeper than a tappet noise, and happens just off idle. As the revs rise it is hard to tell if the noise disappears, or if it just gets lost in the general engine noise. It is related to engine speed, not road speed, does not disappear out of gear or with the foot on the clutch. It does not seem to effect the performance of the car in any way, and there is no smoke from the exhaust.

I have also re-set the timing back to the factory point and the noise is still the same.

I am wondering if it is something left un-done or not done properly during re-assembly, and I am anticipating some problem proving things to my mechanic. I have informed him of the noise, and I have to leave the car overnight in the hope it will occur the next morning.

Does anyone more mechanically adept than myself have a clue here? Hope the post isn't too long.
 
Redfuego

I would rather confidently say that this rather catastrophic
sounding noise may well be a broken starter fork in the
Paris Phone starter. If so the starter will still work o.k
but while it is idling and particularly facing uphill you will
hear a regular metallic heavy ping or clunk as the starter
pinion gear slides into the ring gear teeth and is repelled
back on its helix. It is then only intermittently heard as
you slow down etc. I hope this is the answer, it is
reasonably easy to fix if you can get a new fork, (they are
not expensive) its a hard plastic type of material, and easy
to strip and fit in the starter.

If your Fuego has the shorter starter motor fitted I suggest
that at the same time you get hold of the longer version
from a wreckers and fit that as it is a more powerful and
reliable starter. (As in P/Steering cars 86 on)

Now if its not that, over to our experts for further advice!!

Ken
 
Did you check or replace the timing belt tensioner? The sealed bearings can make all sorts of intermittent noises when old and dry.
Is it power steering? If so, is the pump and pulley stuff all aligned nicely ect and not loose?
Check that the timing belt cover went on straight and tight (should have 4 rubber washered bolts)- not rattling about or rubbing on a pulley.
Otherwise, the starter fork is a good hint, as is the clutch fork/thrust bearing assembly. But these shouldnt have been touched to remove the head, so it would be Murpheys Law for them to fail now!
 
Kenfuego:
Redfuego
If your Fuego has the shorter starter motor fitted I suggest
that at the same time you get hold of the longer version
from a wreckers and fit that as it is a more powerful and
reliable starter. (As in P/Steering cars 86 on)

Ken
Click to expand...
hanx for that info, i was at pick a part 2day and compared the starter off an 86 fuego and a normal one and appreciated the difference in size.

Will it go on my car (non-power steering) no worries or will there be minor mods to be made?

Took it home for $30 2_cents

Cheers
 
Was the head thickness, after resurfacing, within factory tolerance? May be an issue related to that...

Stuey
 
Renaulturbo

Yes the longer starter will fit straight on, the shorter one has
a longer support frame, but it will bolt straight in - I hope you
took it off with its front bracket intact. Make sure you disconnect
the battery of course before working on it and most times I
put new star (electrical contact washers) washers on each side
of the main electrical feed wire to make sure you get a good
contact. Check the old starter to make sure the problem is the
throwout fork. The price is good value and a much stronger
starter anyway.

According to Haakon its an easy job to remove and replace the
starter, but personally I found it a bit of a pain as it is a bit
confined with all the bits and pieces around the area. I have done
three starter changes, two were fairly easy but the last I did took
a bit longer (maybe I was impatient..!!!) :rolleyes:

If you can get a new part, it may be worth putting in a new throwout
fork while the starter is out of the car, from my recollection the new
replacement fork was not expensive to buy. and it is pretty easy to
replace, taking care that everything goes back the same way it was
originally assembled. I think I put the part # and price in my starter
motor post earlier this year. (Just noticed I stuffed up, it was redfuego
that had the problem, the infor. is the same anyway)

Redfuego, let us know when you trace the noise and fix it.

Good luck..

Ken

<small>[ 02 April 2003, 03:34 AM: Message edited by: Kenfuego ]</small>
 
I took 15 minutes to rip it out of the pick a part fuego but of course, would probably take an hour or two on my car as more care would be taken whistle

Front bracket? There was no such thing on this one. Unscrewed the 3 bolts at the gearbox and the baby came out. Is it supposed to have a bracket?

I just bought it to have a spare when my starter drops its lunch. My donor fuego i bought with a stuffed starter so i needed a spare!
 
The longer Paris Rhone starter has a bracket at the end away from
the flywheel and is normally secured by two bolts into the engine
casting.

If its a Bosch replacement or similar, then it may not have this
bracket. When I think about it, few starters on other cars need
the extra bracket as fitted to the Paris Rhone.

Would be handy to record the make and model, as it
obviously fits. Its always handy to know what parts from what
other cars will fit straight on the Fuego, just in case. :)

I usually cut and paste good tips on this Forum into a growing
word document that contains this sort of interchange information.

Ken.
 
Hi Ken,

I also have a red fuego, 84 model.. well 2, one is a spare now. any chance I could borrow some of your hard work and make a copy of your text file?
 
Vivid

Wouldn't have been a problem, but we are heading out of the country
for a while. When we get back I could probably help, but by that
time you will probably have your own made up.

Not to worry however, the other posters on this forum are very helpful
and far more knowledgeable than I. Just put up a question and most times
there will be some great answers from Fuego owners and past owners.

Regards.
Ken.
 
thanks ken, might grab it off you when you get back anyhow if thats ok.
 
Vivid

Ring me on 9457 1985 and I will see if I can email it to you
direct.

Ken
 
Vivid

Found I had your edu email address so sent a copy there and it hasn't
bounced yet so hope you get it.

Regards

Ken :)
 
Thankyou so much Ken.

I have a spare red Fuego I am wrecking at the moment if you need any parts.
 
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