Rattle in the timing belt cover

DONNIE CREEKMORE

MEMBER
2000 FORD FOCUS
2.0L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
104,479 MILES

I have the ford 2.0 sohc (spi) engine it has started rattling" softly". The noise is coming from the timing belt cover. It sounds like a valve starting to tick "barely ". But I can't hear it anywhere except by the passenger fender well at the top of the timing cover. It gets louder as the motor is reved, but barely. How can I determine what it is without taking it apart. I think it is either the tensioner pully or idler pully, but I know they are natorious for dropping valve seats. A complete engine rebuild was done at 86227 miles heads at 88.088. Should I take valve cover off and check the valve seats or go ahead and take the timing cover off or both because I don't know who built the motor or what kind of job they done. Its awful soon since the rebuild for it to start rattling. And if there is anything I could overlook I also need to know. Thanks so much, Donnie.

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2 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Rebuilds are kind of funny as some people will change a few parts and others will completely overhaul. Pull valve cover and look for followers to be worn on cam as that may be the noise and pull top part of timing cover off and check belt and tensioner that may be the noise as well.