NEW 156 owner...engine rattle...help!!!

Hello poeple,

I've had my 2002 156 2.0JTS for a couple of weeks now and I've noticed a problem....

...I have a rattle coming from the engine - this happens most commonly when I lift off the accelerator, sounds a bit like a diesel but not massively loud on start up. I am very scared!!!! In the garage at the moment but they are struggling to find the problem - they think it could be a variator issue coupled with the variable valve timing being slightly out. Cambelt and tensioners done 20,000 miles ago (Year and a half). It's done 75,000k.

The noise doesn't seem to change i.e when the engine warms up or when it's cold. Performance it still amazing and fuel consumption is very very good, tickover is as steady as it can be!

Having read the threads I'm worried that the problem may be the big end, the car's got a full Alfa service history etc Does a big end failure produce a rattle on throttle liftoff? Definately the easiest way to describe the noise is a sort of diesel clatter. | gues the noise happens when the throttle is pressed down very lightly too.

Help I have my dream car but am I facing a nightmare???????????

Try another garage, preferably an Alfa specialist. From your clear description, it sounds like it might be easy to diagnose to someone with the right experience...that your current garage doesn't have.

The garage is an Fiat/Alfa specialist so hoped I was in good hands. They say they haven't had this exact noise/symptom before. Does a big end noise sound a bit like a diesel too? Or can the valve timing plus variator issue cause this sort of problem? I guess I'll have to wait and see what they come up with........

Could be the bracket on the front of the engine, Just behind the heat shield. Mine cracked and started rattling at around 3K rpm. It secures what looks like two cans.

A variator that's on its way out does sound like a diesel but you'd expect an Alfa expert to know that. A crack or leak in the exhaust system can produce similar noises. If the cam belt was changed without the proper cam locks, the timing could be out.

these responses are amazingly quick!!!! Sounds like an engine related noise to me. The rattle occurs mainly when I lift off the throttle, I personally have symptoms of big end paranoia but i'd have thought the garage would be able to establish whether it was related to that or the cams/variator quicker than they have!

Yeah you're right, the garage said that they can identify a typical variator noise almost straight away but this isn't 'typical'. Hence their theory that it might also be a timing problem - I'd have thought that would affect tickover but it's mint!

Doubt its big ends. I had similar fears but apparently big ends are very obvious. if they are gone it'll be loud enough.