Physical Knocking Sound

Hi,

I think I'm in deep crap. Was on the M1 to my sister's place - cruising along- no problem. Then there was a metallic knock. I thought I hit a scrap metal on the road. It went again and again. I pulled over - looked at the front and back. Nothing underneath. Then kept on driving. No problem. Then it started rattling like something was caught in the wheels. Then stopped. I could still go at 60mph and all seemed fine. After awhile it started again.

I was close to my sister's home - about 10km away so I kept on going. The last 2km was fearful as you could feel the engine trip up like it was hipcuping. I then realized it was probably an engine problem. Going slowly seemed to help. Trying to go faster on 3rd gear made the problem worse.

On 4th gear it seemed ok.

I've got the VW Beetle in my sister's home and plan to get it towed to my mechanic's place on Monday.

The 1641cc engine was built by my mechanic - an old reliable VW shop - about 5 years ago. Almost immediately the engine had problems - the super valve springs were too strong and kept on damaging the (rockers?). It eventually got pulled out and replaced with ordinary springs.

I hardly ever drive the car except on special occasions...

I'm not sure what the problem is - but I suspect one of the rockers has gotten loose?

This sounds very bad and expensive. Any advice on what the problem might be?

No oil or red light warning signals... btw.

Difficult one to diagnose without being there, but you could be right with topend issues, you can hope. If you want to drive it again and take a vid of the noises (I'd just let your mechanic check it out so no extra damage occurs).

flip the valve covers off and take a look. It should be pretty obvious if it was making that much noise.
Do you know how to set the valve clearances??

Im sure the info is either on here, or the samba or something. You should check the clearances, and if one has gone way out, then you need to find out why.
I would check it before driving it again, as a broken/dropped valve could take most of the engine/case with it if you are unlucky!!

When you sat still did the noise seem to be coming from the motor (if you revved it) or elsewhere in the car? As it says that you check the front and back of the car, and haven't pinpointed it yet.

If only when driving, check something simple like your wheel nuts first off

squizy wrote:When you sat still did the noise seem to be coming from the motor (if you revved it) or elsewhere in the car? As it says that you check the front and back of the car, and haven't pinpointed it yet.

If only when driving, check something simple like your wheel nuts first off

Hi. Something has gotten loose in the engine section. That much is certain. Initially i thought a piece of scrap metal bar was trapped under the wheel or something like that.

The sound seemed to come and go when it started. But now you can hear it quite distinctly when the engine is going. A clattering sound -esp in 3rd gear.

I don't dare drive it. Its sitting at my sisters house - and I've arranged for a towtruck to take it to the mechanic later.

A few years back the rocker arm came loose. Probably the same thing. Very disappointing - as the car engine was rebuilt by the mechanic in 2003 and has not done more than 30,000miles.

It turns out to have been a push rod problem. It got loose.

I haven't been driving the car for awhile - so it just got sticky and came out.

No serious damage done apparently.

Good news. Keep on top of the valve adjustments.