Sickening loud rattling noise

[seabeelt]

Went for a drive and some diner this past Wednesday and about 5 miles from home I hear a loud rattling noise coming from the engine bay and it is rhythmic with the engine rpm. I pull into the nearest parking lot. Unhappy but not heart broken, I find this:


The aluminum has sheared in half at the top mounting point and the timing belt cover is rattling around in front of the cam pulleys. Nothing catastrophic, but something else to fix

[TX82FIAT]

A lot of guys are running the cars without timing belt covers. I have mine on the car. However, if my cover broke at the mounting point I'd have to think long and hard before replacing. A debate (with or without timing belt cover) comes up every now and then. The thing is I have yet to hear anyone takl about experienced ill effects of having the cover off such as a stone in the belt/gears. The cover off sure does make things easier to see. Again, i have mine on. but if it were to break I'm not sure i would bother with a replacement.

[4uall]

http://www.motifake.com/holy-crap-holy- ... 53926.html

[azruss]

odd place to break. be happy it wasnt something internal.

[SoFlaFiat]

Isn't that bracket steel? Or did some cars come with an aluminum one?
Andy, that's alluumineeeum to you!

[2500diesel]

Earlier cars had the aluminum cover, replaced with the bright "WET FLOOR" yellow plastic cover in the late '70s.

[SoFlaFiat]

I mean the bracket that holds the timing belt cover and has cam gear timing pointers, not the cover itself. Did some cars come with an aluminum bracket?

[wetminkey]

Nice going to catch this ASAP, seabeelt. Can't this be repaired/replaced?
Best of luck with your fix.
Pollywog Todd.

[bradartigue]

That just looks like the metal bracket snapped, probably because the front bolt was overtorqued. You should be able to find one of these easily just by asking around here (sorry I don't have one). About a 15 minute job, get the cam cover unbolted and slide it forward, remove the bracket, replace, reinstall. Don't torque it down much it doesn't need it.

If you can't get the cover to slide far enough forward you'll have to remove the water cooling port; be prepared to replace that gasket if so, it will be destroyed when you pull the thing apart.

Looks minor. For the time being remove the cover and the bracket and just drive it.

[seabeelt]

Well I took it all apart (pulled the hose connection for ease of working) oddly enough the bottom bolt was somewhat loose and migh have been the cause allowing it to vibrate. The center bolt under the hose connection was missing Any how pulled the broken piece off, welded it back together, grind smooth and a quick coat of paint to cover the repair and delay rust. Put another bolt in the center location. Good as new and much more quiet

[RRoller123]

There you go! It is quite rare that a sickening loud rattling noise ends this well....

[wetminkey]

Hot dog, seabeelt!!
Glad you could get things fixed, and back on the road, so easily!!
Todd.