A rattle in my engine sound!

H8machine · Jul 28, 2009

Hello out there

I buyed a 1996 Cobra Convertible with around 60'000miles and I found a strange sound when I start the engine and drive around. Like a rattle... I guess the I guess hydraulic valve lifter is not OK. It really sounds horrible.
The seller told me it's no urgent or heavy problem... but why can this happen? Does anyone have information about this things? Is it really just a bad sound? It really kills my love to the V8 sound so it must be repaired...

My car will go to a garage soon but I want to check it with some other opinions.

oemracing · Aug 1, 2009

knocking sound? Rattling? Location of noise? Sound similar to a diesel at idle? Numerous things come to mind. If you could describe your issue a little more specifically we can pitch in some more info.

Traidmarx · Aug 3, 2009

does it have aftermarket headers??

oemracing · Aug 6, 2009

sound must have gone away.

TxCobrA98 · Aug 6, 2009

lol, sounds pretty quiet in here to me. more info is needed other than, loud annoying rattle.

top end? bottom end? knock? ping? tick? wuddup?

H8machine · Feb 12, 2010

Hello there

I am sorry for that late answer... I forgotten this Forum. :violent1: I am sorry.

The sound it is on the left side (drivers seat)... it's coming out of the cylinder head. I changed the lifters (1200Dollars) but the sound is as weird as before.

It's a rattle-ticking. Between 1000-3000RPM you hear it really good. It does not matter if the engine is hot or cold.

silver 4.6 · Feb 12, 2010

exhaust leak? take a flashlight and look at where you (exhaust manifold/header) bolts up to the engine and see if there is any carbon around where it seals.