Dear god my car is eating itself

[LeftVentricle]

Sometime yesterday it started making a noise. In and of itself, a noise is not cause for concern, since my car has made all sorts of different noises for a while now. This one, however, sounds like there is an imp of some sort trying to force its way out of the engine. It's kind of hard to describe, so I made a video of it.

Here is a terrible youtube of the sound.

As I said in the vid, it will only make this sound at idle and just off idle. Once I accelerate and cruise, it goes away and sounds like its normal self. It was exacerbated last night by turning the steering wheel, as I attempted to show but was made a liar. The fact that it goes away at higher engine speeds leads me away from internal component damage, since the sound would happen either all the time or only under load. Am I wrong? This is a terrible sound and I would like to know what it is and how to make it go away.

[sil]

sounds kinda like crank or rod bearing
prolly goes away when revved becuase oil pressure goes up when revved
i dunno

[RedBird]

any loss of power? it does sound vaugley like something trying to claw its way out LOL. i've heard noises liek that before but they were only in the few seconds between parts inside coming apart, and the motor quitting. like gravel being thrown around inside the motor.

[LeftVentricle]

No loss of power. It gets louder when I shift into gear, but sometimes it doesn't make the noise at all. Cranking the starter also produces a similar noise.

[Azrael]

When's the last time your did a compression test? I wonder if it could also be lack of lubrication on the cyl walls.

[ForcedFirebird]

Sounds like someone is making popcorn.

[asylummotorsports]

Sounds like someone is making popcorn.

Sounds like someone needs a new motor.

Is that thing rust free?

Be a great DD!

[jmgtp]

Sounds like an exhaust leak but if it only does it at idle that doesn't make much sense.

I'd start by pulling the accessory belt and eliminating the accessories as a cause. Then I'd prolly be checking for a loose rocker maybe.

Then I'd be checking eBay for a sweet deal on a 3x00.

[60dgrzbelow0]

Bam Bam!

Call me crazy... but its sounds like something has broken loose inside the Catalytic Converter. Some of them a have a brick-like material tucked inside designed to absorb and holds heat to keep the CO destruction of the exhaust passing over the Platinum Screen high enough to work (around 900 degrees F).

On occasion... when going over a big bump and bottoming out the car...that brick like material will break up and rattle around inside the CAT making more racket than a Chihuahua Shitting a Peach Pit!. Again...the "Crazy" way to make a diagnosis of this problem is to elevate the car on stands and give the bottom of the CAT a few raps with Dead-Blow Hammer. If you hear The Flintstones running for cover inside and the sound of "Rubble" Bam-Bamming around in there...you've zeroed your problem.

The reason this awful sound goes away when you're "Go at Throttle Up" as they say in NASA...is because the exhaust pressure at higher RPM is sufficient to keep the little broken"Briquettes" pressed hard against the S/S CAT Casement... but when you let off of the gas...they can move around more easily and will also react more to the lower frequency vibrations your engine generates at idle. Hope this turns out to be the problem...and nothing more drastic!

[asylummotorsports]

Did you ever think to check oil pressure/compression, the usual stuff?

Sounds scary, but as suggested it may not be the engine.

[60dgrzbelow0]

I'd bet even $$$ that "Vent" is in the driveway right now... with a Jack, some stands and Ball Peen Hammer... getting ready to test this idea out...

[ForcedFirebird]

Are you using a ratchet strap as a motor mount?

[60dgrzbelow0]

Are you using a ratchet strap as a motor mount?

Something to watch while we wait for him to come back inside and say what happened...one way or the other...

John...Seriously...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff-SEUcD-jM

[60dgrzbelow0]

This is what the diagnosis sounds like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0EKkzdcfwc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvviBzphthQ&feature=related

[LeftVentricle]

Something to watch while we wait for him to come back inside and say what happened...one way or the other...

New video forthcoming.

Here it is, and it's just as fun as the last one.