i have a 1.5 gxi 97 and heres my problems.....

1) when i turn the key to start the engine it takes like 3 seconds to start the engine after turning it... that compared to other cars seems far to slow... any ideas why?

2) the engine is very noisy when it shouldnt be.. what can i do to make it sound like new and alot quieter... would changing the oil etc help?


3) i hear loud clunking noises when turning my steering wheel at very slow speed

4) say im doing 30mph (for example) and i stick it in 5th... then accelerate the engine makes a funny noise, kinda like a shreiking / whirry noise till it catches up the speed. it does this at any gear if at a slower speed, like if im doing 10mph and slip it into 2nd gear and accelerate it wud still make the funny noise... very embarasing! (hehe has any one seen the old cartoon "the jetsons" kinda like the flintstones but set in space inthe future.... my car sounds like their space mobiles when they hover past )

[img]http://www.wingnuttoons.com/jetsons.jpg[/img]


stats about my car... 1997 ba gxi 1.5 , lowered 40mm, 17's , universal japstyle backbox, no engine mods!

When was it last serviced ?
When was Cambelt changed ?
How many miles it done ?
Get your steering checked, could be CV joints

You shouldnt be driving in 5th gear at 30mph ... it puts strain on the engine

:P

no that was just an example!

its was services a month ago the day before i bought it...
cambelt i will check the MOT certificates for ya....
its done 80 000 miles...

its had 7 services... last one was 17/5/05 when the mileage was 80266

the cambelt was last changed 7/7/01 when the mileage was 54860

1...could be the ignition.... i.e sparks etc

2... sounds like Constant Velocity Joints worn

3...i'd guess its loose drive belt

[quote="ezee_gee"]i have a 1.5 gxi 97 and heres my problems.....

1) when i turn the key to start the engine it takes like 3 seconds to start the engine after turning it... that compared to other cars seems far to slow... any ideas why?[/quote]

Knackered ignition motor? old battery? Ignition sparks?

[quote="ezee_gee"]2) the engine is very noisy when it shouldnt be.. what can i do to make it sound like new and alot quieter... would changing the oil etc help?[/quote]

What kind of noises?

[quote="ezee_gee"]3) i hear loud clunking noises when turning my steering wheel at very slow speed[/quote]

CV joints or wheel bearings... more likely to be CV joints.

[quote="ezee_gee"]4) say im doing 30mph (for example) and i stick it in 5th... then accelerate the engine makes a funny noise, kinda like a shreiking / whirry noise till it catches up the speed. it does this at any gear if at a slower speed, like if im doing 10mph and slip it into 2nd gear and accelerate it wud still make the funny noise... very embarasing! (hehe has any one seen the old cartoon "the jetsons" kinda like the flintstones but set in space inthe future.... my car sounds like their space mobiles when they hover past )[/quote]

Slipping drive belt or clutch perhaps?

the engine noises are just overall loud... cant really explain it but it just doesnt sound very healthy, like an old rusty nova lol.

yipppeeee i guess ill be saving over summer hols to fix all my probs..... are CV joints expensive?

well wen i listerned to ur engine on the video's its sounds like the tappets r makein all the noise, the belt could jus need tightning as well but most of the time its the fan belt that makes the squeelin noise, the steerin is probs as said b fore cv joints, they arent to expencive to buy but i think they r expencive to put on. Hav u checked ur oil level since the service and for any leaks as they tappets could b makin a noise from lack of oil.

Belts probably the power steering one, be careful adjusting it tho as it can snap off!!!!

Knockin is most likely CVs but check both ball joints too, and the bearings, ticking is unlikely to be tappets as the Z5 engine has self adjusting shims, ticking could be fuel injectors, these can be quite loud on the Z5 for some reason.

New plugs might help, and defo bin the HT leads and get high spec replacements like Magnecor or Formula.

Make sure the oil used at the service was the right grade, i've found alot of garages just chuck in what they bulk buy, not always a good idea!

my car does the same feels like a few seconds before it starts and its a bit tiky then calms down and sound smooth. are 1.5 just like that?tkes slightly longer to start

Mazda recomend you use an oil flush before oil changes like Forte for instance it helps keep the tappets sweet

sounds like a typical car sales service to me

the alternator bearings can make a noise sometimes.
and as andy said, a good quality oil is essential.
if there`s clunking when the wheels are turned then its likely to be the CV joint.
find a big car park and go in circles on full lock to determine which one is noisy.
if you right turn and the noise is there then its the left CV joint and vice versa.

new developments... when accelerating hard there is no more sqealing... the mechanic sprayed some stuff at the belts and sum other areas in the engine bay and hey presto...

thats 1 prob out the way

OK THis is B*llocks!!! thought i'd dig this thread up again as i dnt wanna start a new one!

My Engine is too bloody noisey, its quite embarrasing... sounds like a skeleton havin' a w**k in a tin !

tappets! i know they are.. what type of prices will i be looking at to buy sum new tappets and have them put in? roughly?

Before you do that, check you oil level, failing that try an engine flush. Let it idle for 15 minutes or so and then change the oil.

Is it always rattling, or only just after startup?


Mark

my engines got a barely noticable tingly noise and iv been told why, the pulleys are going to need replacing soon. the ones that the timing belt go on. iv been it doesnt need doin for a while yet but the noise will get worse and when its noisy they need changing. the guy who serviced my car told me this, u reckon it could be the same thing? av a listen to where the timing belt is when the engines running

They must be talking about the tensioner pulley ....

i had a full engine fllush 2 weeks ago and topped it up with fully synthetic. still made no impact to the engine

when i start the engine theres a huge rattle but theat soon dies down after say 2 seconds, thereafter its just overall a noisey engine. its really hard explaining it. But the noise is deff in the engine itself and not around it ie the belts ect..

[quote="Smotter"]They must be talking about the tensioner pulley ....[/quote]

that sounds about right smotter, is it just one part that needs replacin?

Isn't that for the V6 though?


Mark

[color=blue]With the slow starting, mine does it all the time, though I do at times leave it standing for days, all the cars I've owned take a liitle time to fire up.......

As for rattle, may even be worth while trying a slightly thicker oil, (if you haven't already) same goes for V6's, thin oil, specially in higher mileage engines ain't always the best things..........sometimes mine rattle and sound terrible, other times it sounds - well, it doesn't sound!![/color]

[quote="ezee_gee"]i had a full engine fllush 2 weeks ago and topped it up with fully synthetic. still made no impact to the engine

when i start the engine theres a huge rattle but theat soon dies down after say 2 seconds, thereafter its just overall a noisey engine. its really hard explaining it. But the noise is deff in the engine itself and not around it ie the belts ect..[/quote]

can i ask if there`s a specific reason for using synthetic?
you might find its a bit thin for the engine.
sometimes a thicker oil, say 15w50 or even 20w50 would pump up the tappets much better.
my alternator bearings seem to make a bit of noise in the morning, but after a while the noise goes away.
injectors are a bit ticky at times too.
all these wee noises go together to make one big old racket!!!