engine in my 1997 eclipse is making a knocking sound

[navyguy3117]

i have a 1997 eclipse RS 5 speed. the engine is making a knocking sound. i dont think its a rod. or antyhing like that. it drives pretty smoothly but the knocking sound wont g away. can any one help me figure out what this is. i am very machanicly enclined and can dfix what it is as long as i can figure out what it is. please help me if you can,......

Meeeee

[red/tegra]

i had the same problem it ur piston rod bearing the one where the rod bolts on to the crank , i am pretty sure

[navyguy3117]

is it safe to drive like that. and is the bearining your talking about called the Thrust Bearing?? and do you know how difficult it is to change>???

[kuks]

Very common problem on the earlier Eclipse engines was the timing belt hydraulic tensioner collapsing and it makes a hell of a racket - sounds a lot like rod bearings - i would check that first

[navyguy3117]

the timeing belt was just changed a year ago. befor it even got to a bad point... the head gasket and the clutch also got changed at the same time.

[ron korolak]

Its common fact 99% of people dont change there tensioner and pulleys when they do there timing belt.:thumbsdow

[kuks]

Originally posted by ron korolak
Its common fact 99% of people dont change there tensioner and pulleys when they do there timing belt.:thumbsdow

Exaclt why i am saying that the tensioners should be checked first. Most people are to price orientated and do not focus on the work being done - just what it is going to cost. Right on

[kuks]

Originally posted by navyguy3117
the timeing belt was just changed a year ago. befor it even got to a bad point... the head gasket and the clutch also got changed at the same time.

So did they replace the tensioners ?

[navyguy3117]

no i did not.. but is it safe to drive for a few days until i get a new tensioner?

[kuks]

Originally posted by navyguy3117
no i did not.. but is it safe to drive for a few days until i get a new tensioner?

I would not recommend you to do so. If the timing belt skips a tooth you will bend / break all the valves and cause some serious grief to yourself.

[navyguy3117]

but its been driveing smoothly just that annoying knocking... how hard is it to do... can i do it myself?