Very noisy vibrating car

[Monty-4]

The 'rolling' restoration continues... an issue with the rolling part.

I've had the car a year now and I'm quite sure it's gotten noisier recently. The reverb/booming gave me a headache on the way back from the supermarket yesterday. I'm guessing (and this really is a guess) that it's not the prop or anything rear of that as it's pretty shaky before engaging a gear, although it does rattle like hell when pulling away.

Anyway - what I've looked at so far after a search on the net:

1) Checked the engine mounts and found the nuts were really loose so I tightened these up, this did nothing, maybe made it worse!
2) Slackened off the engine steady and re-tightened in-case it was 'pulling' or 'pushing', no change.
3) Getting desperate - drilled some very thin holes in the engine mount rubbers, didn't hear any improvement.
4) Had a look at the fan while running, it does have a bit of wobble, but not really laterally, hard to describe.
5) Had a casual glance at the crankshaft pulley while it was running, no obvious wobble.

Thoughts:

A) The front-end of the car does 'tick' noticeably, sounds like the fan.
B) The clutch - It's always had some judder, and I did adjust it up recently, but it does have the required 'free' travel as stated in the owner's handbook.

What should my next steps be?

[panky]

Things that spring to mind are exhaust, is it secure and not loose or holed, gearbox restraining cable and gearbox cross member bolts and mounts. While your under there have a look at the propshaft UJ's - might be a bit obvious but have you checked the wheel nuts

[bmcecosse]

Is the engine running on all 4 cylinders ????? Check the compressions....

[simmitc]

If I understand correctly, you say that the vibrations / noise are present when the car is stationery, before you select any gear? If so, that rules out the prop shaft and almost the wheel nuts (if they were really loose, the car would still cobble when at rest, but I'm sure that you would experience handling problems).

So, is the exhaust knocking on the body? Are the mounting straps both OK. You already suspect a water pump problem, so remove the fan belt and see if the noise persists - obviously this is only for a test, not for long distance driving. Is the engine running OK otherwise - plenty of power, easy to start? As above, check compression on all cylinders. Report back on what you find.

[Biggles1957]

When mine did what sounds very similar it turned out to be a small blow in the head gasket.....

[bmcecosse]

Maybe even just a bad /oiled spark plug - or bad HT lead... But 3 cylinder engine is the most likely cause.

[MrIan]

If they aren't the original or genuine ones i'd quite honestly change the engine mounts. I didn't think it'd make that much difference till I changed mine (previous owner had fitted new ones but the too hard veriety). New original spec ones made a noticable difference instantly.

[Monty-4]

Thanks for all the replies guys, this place is fantastic.

It doesn't feel it's running on less than four cylinders, the power is there and it idles nicely. I only did the head gasket back in June when I had an exhaust valve go (see - http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=60308), so I hope it's not that.

Nevertheless, I'll check the plugs and the compression and move on to the fan, gearbox mounting paraphernalia, UJs and exhaust if that doesn't yield any results. Questions:

1) How do I get at the gearbox mounts? They've never caught my eye when I've been under the car.
2) What should I be looking out for when examining the UJs? Cracks? Rust?
3) Where can I get softer engine mounts? I have ESM's on the car and Bull Motif's in a box somewhere, I guess they're the same or similarly hard.

Thanks.

[James k]

I don't know exactly what sort of noise you've got but I had a very disconcerting vibrating/rattling noise recently which turned out to be the exhaust pipe rattling against the chassis. I wrapped some tin foil round it which worked until it fell off! It's still there now but not as bad.

I've been told that the Bull Motif engine mounts are the correct modulus.

[bmcecosse]

You say " it's pretty shaky before engaging a gear " - so that tells me the engine is NOT running at all well !!

[MrIan]

I got my engine mounts from BM, at not even a fiver each i'd get'em anyway !!

[Monty-4]

You say " it's pretty shaky before engaging a gear " - so that tells me the engine is NOT running at all well !!

Sorry - I should have said - the car vibrates strongly at a standstill when revved, but the rhythm and speed of the engine doesn't sound wrong or irregular to my entirely untrained ear.

If I do change to the Bull Motif engine mount rubbers - can I safely support the engine with a jack + wooden plank or will the sump crumple? I don't have an engine lift and don't have a hundred quid to spare to buy one.

[bmcecosse]

The engine should NOT vibrate when you rev it - there's something wrong with it. This is not an engine mount problem.......

[Monty-4]

Messaged recieved. Will report back with findings later.

[Monty-4]

Comp 155/155/155/155. Plugs all black, mixture is turned all the way in. Have readjusted using piston lift method.

[bmcecosse]

Fair enough compressions.. plug leads on correct order?

[Monty-4]

1-3-4-2

Why would I have black plugs when the mix was way too lean, if it was oil I'd see that on the comp test no?

[amgrave]

Misfiring would cause this problem. Sparks not firing all the mix so too much when it does fire and would make the engine shake. You will have to check all the things that can cause a misfire to eliminate that as the problem. Good luck.

[bmcecosse]

'Choke' stuck on?

[moggalot]

Check the bottom crankshaft pulley. Rivets can come loose?