Loud Noisy Clacky ALH motor

[2nsane2005]

Loud Noisy Clacky ALH motor *SOLVED*

*SOLVED*: Retarded the pump timing. Completely got rid of the clackyness. Thanks for the help!

Hey guys I bought my 2001 Vw Jetta Tdi with 326k kms on it and its always been really loud compared to my other mk4 tdis and my buddy's. I checked the timing with Vagcom and it was way out of 255 mark so I got the timing belt done for piece of mind and hopefully fix the noise but its still loud.

Ive recently changed the oil with Royal Purple 0w40 too. I'll take a video as soon as I can. Thanks

 

[Votblindub]

What spec oil is it? Not the weight, but is it a 505.00 or a 507.00 or what's in it?

 

[2nsane2005]

What spec oil is it? Not the weight, but is it a 505.00 or a 507.00 or what's in it?

Good question just did a quick search and it doesnt look like it meets vw specs :s Ive just always used RP in my diesel car and trucks. I get it for a good price. Besides my 2002 uses same oil and its quieter

 

[yatzee]

that oil has no diesel spec of any kind - i'm not a stickler for the VW specs, but you at least need to run an oil that has SOME sort of diesel spec (like a CJ-4 or something)

But... with that said...

Your injectors could be making way more noise than they should. Maybe try doing a diesel purge? That made a difference on my 2002 years ago

 

[2nsane2005]

I upgraded the injectors too with some DLC1019 nozzles. Fully balanced. Still loud

 

[BobnOH]

Could just be exhaust got some holes in it.
Also worn IPs can clack pretty loud.

 

[Enabled]

Royal purple 0w 40 and 5w 40 meets ACEA A3/B3-4 (European oil certifications for cars and vans, gasoline and light duty diesel, including direct injection diesels) for both gasoline and diesels, no need to be too worried about that, especially for the cause of your noise.



When I had PP520 nozzles my engine got more "clacky", and when I did some advance it got a little louder. Any chance of that?

 

[FlyTDI Guy]

Every loud TDI I've ever heard boiled down to tired IP. It could be lifters/cam but IP should be near the top of your list. Not sure what you're talking about when you use the terms 'timing' and '255' together. ALH series ECU's use 5 digit numbers for dynamic timing and static should be in the 50-70 range.

 

[2nsane2005]

Every loud TDI I've ever heard boiled down to tired IP. It could be lifters/cam but IP should be near the top of your list. Not sure what you're talking about when you use the terms 'timing' and '255' together. ALH series ECU's use 5 digit numbers for dynamic timing and static should be in the 50-70 range.

It should be between 50-70 but it was at 255.

 

[50harleyrider]

An easy check for valve train abnormal wear is to remove the cover and closely inspect all the cam lobes for wear. You'll have to slowly rotate the engine by hand but well worth it.

 

[maxmoo]

An easy check for valve train abnormal wear is to remove the cover and closely inspect all the cam lobes for wear. You'll have to slowly rotate the engine by hand but well worth it.

^ this and installing a manual oil pressure gauge would be my first steps then start worrying about the inj pump....assuming all the timing is correct.

 

[Danarm]

Noisey ALH

Fast and easy, pour a few OZs of 2stroke oil in the fuel. If it gets quieter, IP could be it. No ash 2 stoke oil. Maybe it sounds silly, but have found it to quiet a few loud I pumps.

 

[BobnOH]

Just got off the Royal Purple site. Their only oil that is rated for diesel is their 15w-40.
The oil may be fine, but I would definitely switch to something with the CJ-4 or CJ-5 or 50x.xx rating like it says in your owner's manual.
That oil could have contributed to noise.
The advice in the last several threads seem right on point.

 

[Bob_Fout]

Just got off the Royal Purple site. Their only oil that is rated for diesel is their 15w-40.
The oil may be fine, but I would definitely switch to something with the CJ-4 or CJ-5 or 50x.xx rating like it says in your owner's manual.
That oil could have contributed to noise.
The advice in the last several threads seem right on point.

Their 0w40 and 5w40 "are" ACEA A3/B3-04 (B3 is a diesel rating). The HPS 10w40 "is" CI-4. The 15w40 "is" CJ-4.

 

[Votblindub]

2nsane2005, can you record a good video with good sound and post a link to it for us to see/hear?

 

[2nsane2005]

2nsane2005, can you record a good video with good sound and post a link to it for us to see/hear?

Yea no problem I'll shoot a quick video!

Also, Im pretty sure I didnt do an oil change on this jetta yet! It was my 2002 that I did the oil change :s Sorry for the confusion. Could be as simple as changing the oil to bring the noise down like you guys have said!! Im going to use a VW spec oil too that meets 505.00

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Our Mk4 was loud and smokey at 275,000 miles on the original injection pump. Upgrading to an 11mm injection pump made it quieter, run smoother, no smoke, and better fuel economy. Oh, and it hauls ass, too.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Our Mk4 was loud and smokey at 275,000 miles on the original injection pump. Upgrading to an 11mm injection pump made it quieter, run smoother, no smoke, and better fuel economy. Oh, and it hauls ass, too.

 

[ffemtp]

OP - any luck with that video yet? ...and... if you changed the oil in the mean time did you notice any difference?

 

[Curious Chris]

255 is often an injection pump issue or the timing belt is off by a tooth. Until you get the timing back between the upper and lower lines changing the oil is a good idea but I bet it won't quiet it down.

You need to loosen the 3 bolts on the injection pump pulley (13 mm socket), then using a 23mm open end rotate the pump towards the back of the engine. Retighten and check timing. Oh since you have a 2001 you might need to change the the 3 bolts. With luck it will come down into the chart.

255 is a full scale number (2**8) so you really have no idea where your timing is only that it is pegged. So you are probably running full advance and that will cause noisy engine as the full is arriving late.

 

[dremd]

Yeah, you need to get the duty cycle in the reasonable range first.

That said,for the searchers, the only time I've had an ALH "run terriable" it was a failed flywheel.

 

[2nsane2005]

So sorry gents. uploading video in 5 minutes!

 

[2nsane2005]

OP - any luck with that video yet? ...and... if you changed the oil in the mean time did you notice any difference?

Changed the oil and no change

 

[2nsane2005]

255 is often an injection pump issue or the timing belt is off by a tooth. Until you get the timing back between the upper and lower lines changing the oil is a good idea but I bet it won't quiet it down.

You need to loosen the 3 bolts on the injection pump pulley (13 mm socket), then using a 23mm open end rotate the pump towards the back of the engine. Retighten and check timing. Oh since you have a 2001 you might need to change the the 3 bolts. With luck it will come down into the chart.

255 is a full scale number (2**8) so you really have no idea where your timing is only that it is pegged. So you are probably running full advance and that will cause noisy engine as the full is arriving late.

Thanks for the tips Chris. Im a little worried about playing with the pump. Sounds simple enough though!

 

[2nsane2005]

Video!!

Heres the link to the video! Dont know how to embed sorry. Its way more clacky and annoying going thru drive thrus. This was in a parking lot.

http://vid74.photobucket.com/albums/i280/konartis2005/IMG_1478.mp4

 

[Enabled]

Heres the link to the video! Dont know how to embed sorry. Its way more clacky and annoying going thru drive thrus. This was in a parking lot.

http://vid74.photobucket.com/albums/i280/konartis2005/IMG_1478.mp4

Is that on warm engine? If not, does it change (for the better) when the engine is warm?

 

[Seatman]

Heres the link to the video! Dont know how to embed sorry. Its way more clacky and annoying going thru drive thrus. This was in a parking lot.

http://vid74.photobucket.com/albums/i280/konartis2005/IMG_1478.mp4

Is the noise the same in warmer weather?

Mine is a clackety sounding beast but it has been for the last 5 or 6 years, definitely louder in cold weather and more diesel knock with the bigger squirters too but it doesn't bother me.

Yours sounds like diesel knock too but just a lot more of it them I'd expect.

 

[fossill]

Thats noisy, Sounds like a tractor. I'd check the exhaust system at the turbo area if adjusting the timing dont quieten it down

 

[2nsane2005]

Is that on warm engine? If not, does it change (for the better) when the engine is warm?

Yes engine was warm!

 

[maxmoo]

have you checked the injector balance (group 13) on vcds?