Land Rover Repair: Rattling, squeaking, clicking noise, land rover discovery, noise question

Question
QUESTION: Hello John:

I have a 2001 Land Rover Discovery with about 127,000 miles, I just changed the engine oil, as usual, and I serviced the tranny and and transfer case, about 6 months ago with no issues or problems. Last week i started hearing a rattling, clicking, or maybe a squeakin noise???, I thought it comes from the pulleys or maybe the water pump, but I cant really identify where the noise is comming from, it kind of sounds also like its comming from the oilpan, or tranny? i can hear it when i start the truck, and when i am at a stopped at a  light, it does not get louder as I accelerate, i'm a m worried as I dont want it to be the tranny  or the engine or maybe even the transfer case, i always try to keep it running as smooth as possible can u please help??? or ask me questions to maybe determine what that noise is??? Thanx

ANSWER: Hi Mario,

best way to check is to open hood, position yourself carefully above the engine and listen to your engine at idle. Is the noise front or rear, from above or below?  

Bearings usually give a whirring sound, the sound you describe is more like a timing belt but it could also be a lifter or maybe carbon deposits -  hard to say from my keyboard.  

You could remove the serpentine belt, start the engine and listen for the noise.  Does the noise disappear?  If it does, then you know it's an add-on component to the engine (air compressor, water pump, alt, PAS).

IF you DO remove the serpentine belt, make a careful diagram of how the belt was originally installed BEFORE you remove it.  Even experienced mechanics can install the belt incorrectly if they are not familiar with LR engines.

Best of luck
JohnMc

NB:  send me a follow-up and tell me what your investigation reveals.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Where is the timing belt located? What's a lifted and where is it located?. The sound is kind of confusing as far as where it comes from, when I open the hood it sounds like its coming from the pulleys, but if I get under the truck it kind of sounds as if it was coming from where the oil drains, from inside of there, but noy sure as noise travels through metal.

ANSWER: Hi Mario,

your timing belt (chain in your case) is located behind the crankshaft and coolant pump pulleys.  IF this is the problem, it is best left to a LR experienced mechanic to remove the various pulleys, cover and gasket to reveal the state of this area.

Lifters or valves are found on the top of the engine, beneath the valve covers (2 long narrow boxes on top of your engine).  They allow gases in and out of the combustion chamber and can make noises when they are worn or damaged. It is quite common for LR engines in Disco II to have carbon deposit buildup on these valves and a complete valve job is needed to resolve this problem.  Again, an experienced LR mechanic should be able to determine this problem by inspection and could cost you upwards of $2500.

If the noise is coming from the front (as you describe) your best bet is to have an experienced LR mechanic do the diagnostics quickly before the damage increases or compounds other problems.  Noise from under the engine is usually more serious, so let's hope the problem is front and center.  Besides, it's hard to isolate engine noises from below.  You'd need an experienced ear for that.

I was thinking, it could also be a crankshaft position sensor problem.  Best to have a LR mechanic, who has access to a Testbook diagnostic device, perform the necessary probes into the many sensors that your Disco has. Otherwise, it could be very expensive replacing sensors, pulleys, ....  trying in vain to find this problem.  

Do you have the Service Engine Soon light on?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No the service engine light its not on, I will take it to an experienced land rover tech, let's say the noise comes from indeed the bottom, what do u think the problem might be? I doubt the problem are the valves, since I had the head gasket replaced and they did a valve job as well .

Answer
Hi Mario,

lower engine noises may require the mechanic to some major work to reveal the problem.  Noises could be caused by something as serious as failing main bearing (5), crankshaft oil seal(2), or as simple as the knock sensor or crankshaft position sensor.

Making a guess reminds me of the bad experiences I had with my dealer - it's just too expensive and it brings back too many bad memories.  The 1000's $  I wasted .. or should I say gave away...

Take it to a reputable LR shop and make sure no one guesses.  Guessing is expensive.

JohnMc