147 Tapping / Knocking Noise

I've recently bought a 2002 147 2.0TS, which broke down last week! It kept overheating and has just come back from the garage. They ended up replacing the water pump and cambelt (thankfully the dealer i bought the car from agreed to pay for this).

But... since i bought the car there's been a tapping noise upon starting and when traveling at lower speeds. Having read through the other posts i'm guessing it's the variator(?) Wish i'd realised this before the belt change! Since the belt change it is quieter than before, but it's still there!

A couple of questions,

1. Do you have to replace the cam belt when replacing the variator (bearing in mind that the belt has been replaced and the car has travelled 6 miles)?

2. Will I damage the car if i don't replace it?

I'd really appreciate any advice, i'm not very mechannically minded!

I'm pretty sure the variator noise only appears on start up and then goes away.

I would take the car back to the dealer.

I would also check that he has replaced all the associated pulleys and tensioners and the balance belt NOT just the timing belt.

P.S. check oil level EVERY week!!!!!!!

hmm when I had my cambelt done, it made a loud tappy type noise, which didn't go away until 10 mins of driving. Took it back, and they had put the wrong belt on! Thankfully, they replaced it with the proper one free of charge.

Is the dealer an Alfa specialist or just a general car dealer? I wouldn't mind betting that they didn't use the correct cam locking tools when doing the belt change, and the timing is out slightly. Alfa's cannot have the belt changed and the timing set correctly without the cam locking tools due to the vernier pulley adjustment and variable cam timing.

The variator can cause ticking and diesel noises in general running but it will rattle only on startup for many weeks even months before then.

The belt was replaced by an independent garage. They actually bought the proper tools for the job from Alfa. The ticking noise was present before the belt was replaced, and seems a bit duller than before. The mechanic reckoned it might be the camshaft that's worn.
Think i might take the car back to the dealer to sort.

Originally Posted by jeshow

The belt was replaced by an independent garage. They actually bought the proper tools for the job from Alfa. The ticking noise was present before the belt was replaced, and seems a bit duller than before. The mechanic reckoned it might be the camshaft that's worn.

The mechanic would have seen the camshafts when the cam locks were fitted, so he should really know for sure whether they are worn or not.

Other possible causes of ticking are loose spark plugs, cracked exhaust manifold, sticking tappets, or even worn big ends allowing the piston to tap the head.

The last one is pretty unlikely though if the engine has been like it for a while.

Does the piston type valving on these variators, perhaps coupled with an intermittent solenoid operation, cause a malfunction in it's operation? Only asking, as always, I haven't a clue really! :

1. at 6 miles i would say its ok to re-use the belt. personally for the sake of £28 i would stick a new belt on, and i'd make sure its a gates powergrip.

2. rattly variator wont hurt anything other than your high rpm performance, but i also think that in your case it may be something else making the noise.

Could perhaps be that they replaced the belt and not the tensioners and it's the latter making the noise?

It might also be that they haven't tightened something up correctly and it has now come loose.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Sounds like it might be a bigger problem than i first thought
Think it'll be a trip to Leeds to the garage i bought it from.

Just an update...
Took the car back to the dealer i bought it from and after 2 weeks of tinkering they couldn't work out where the noise was coming from. They took it to an Alfa specialist, who said it was the big end that had gone. They decided to put a reconditioned engine in. Got the car back yesterday and all is well
Glad i didn't pick up the bill!