Unusual noise....

[Gogso1]

Hi all,

I've a 1981 2l Aircooled (CU) camper, with no engine mods whatsoever.

Over the course of the last week or so a new and rather strange noise has appeared (and is getting slowly and progressively louder / worse). It's really hard to describe, kind of like a cross between a light metal ball being shaken around in a metal box and a demented sparrow. It doesn't happen when the engine is idling, and doesn't appear to be affecting how the engine is running. It's at its loudest when I'm accellerating in 3rd and 4th, but passes once I'm doing a decent speed (over 35ish). It can also rear its head when I lift off the accellerator in 2nd, 3rd or 4th. Also, it's intermittant, so sometimes when I'm trying my best to make it happen it doesn't.

It seems to be coming from the left hand side of the engine (as you look at it from the back of the van) and also seems to be at its worst when the rear left wheel is bearing more weight than the right. It stops completely when I'm turning left.

Doesn't sound tappety, or like pinking, and I cant find anything that's loose and might just need tightening.

My inclination is to just turn up the radio, but you know what it's like when there's a new noise you can't get to the bottom of.......

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing it (or maybe I'm missing something really obvious, I'm not exactly savvy when it comes to engines and the likes......)?

Grateful for any thoughts on stuff I could check, or any other ideas!

Cheers.

[Gogso1]

Please...........its driving me roond the bend!!!

[sunny]

Best to start at the exhaust and work back, check all the sheilds, they expand under heat and can start making noise.

I took my van to the garage after a noise developed and the mechanic told me is was my bling exhaust cap...!!

I have just rebuilt my engine after a valve guide dropped onto the piston and caused major damage...

Start with the basics and get it checked before the worse happens, it sounds like its heat sheilds to me, but without hearing it its hard to tell.

Steve

[Cruz]

CV joint?

[ade700]

CV joint?

+1

[dugcati]

It seems to be coming from the left hand side of the engine (as you look at it from the back of the van) and also seems to be at its worst when the rear left wheel is bearing more weight than the right. It stops completely when I'm turning left.

Wheel bearing/brake binding/CV-driveshaft all on left side.... I'd be checking these

[Mocki]

stone in the hub cap?
wheel nuts?

[pionte]

It doesnt sound like engine to me, from your description I would check everything relating to the drive of the left wheel, my initial guess would be wheel bearing as the noise is directly related to weight transfer onto and of of the near side wheel.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted !