Clicking sound

HELP!

A new noise today from my Defender90 (P - reg). Sounds like a clicking / slapping sound. Only happens when the engine is running. Worried that it might be something to do with the belt at the front of the engine which is looking frayed in places and there are bits of fluff comming off it.

According to the service history it had a "new tensioner and belt" in April this year, and since then has done less than 5,000 miles but I don't know if it was that belt or something else.

I know it is virtually impossible to diagnose problems like this - but do any of the more senior members know if this sounds like a drive belt or a fan belt problem, and whether the clicking sound could be a belt disintegrating? If this is the case - then how safe would it be to drive? Out friendly garage is about 15 miles away.

Thanks in advance for any wise words, hints suggestions etc.

If you cant see any damage to the belts then its more than likely the wear cap on the end of a valve stem busted, quite common for collapsing and then giving you a large gap between the bottom of the rocker and the top of the valve, hence the clicking or tapping noise.

marky_mod said:

If you cant see any damage to the belts then its more than likely the wear cap on the end of a valve stem busted, quite common for collapsing and then giving you a large gap between the bottom of the rocker and the top of the valve, hence the clicking or tapping noise.

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Which sounds really bad? There is some damage to the belt, bits missing ad fraying.

I replaced a wear cap on cylinder number 3 exhaust valve on an engine this week due to a clicking sound. the vehicle had probbaly been running like it for a while so 15 miles to your local garage shouldn't be a problem. i assume you're not very handy with the spanners?

adding top that, get the belt replaced as it sounds pretty shagged anyway, see what it sounds like then.

marky_mod said:

I replaced a wear cap on cylinder number 3 exhaust valve on an engine this week due to a clicking sound. the vehicle had probbaly been running like it for a while so 15 miles to your local garage shouldn't be a problem. i assume you're not very handy with the spanners?

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You are right - total bozo when it comes to things mechanical. If you see my earlier posting I was getting excited about fitting a cubby box...

marky_mod said:

adding top that, get the belt replaced as it sounds pretty shagged anyway, see what it sounds like then.

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Had another look this morning and it is clear that the clicking sound is bits of the drive belt hitting on the top bolt. It looks like the belt is running out of the centre of the pulley wheels, and is hitting on the vanes of the small fan (right hand side as you look in the engine bay from the front). This has resulted in lots of chunks being taken out of the belt and a fine covering of rubber dust on anything next to it.

As someone who is not that good with a set of spanners, do you think that any local garage could fix this - or should I go to someone who specialises in Land Rovers?

Hi,

If its the drive belt, very easy to change; theres a tensioner wheel at the top, the little wheel thats got a single bolt in the middle, find a good length socket/spanner, lift the wheel and take off the belt.

fitting a new one is just the reverse, just make sure you get the right one and the gooves line up, there are 2 different sizes, buy 2 and carry a spare.

and get a haynes manual of fleabay, useful.

Thanks for all the good advice. Back and running just fine with a new drive belt fitted. Feel a bit of a wimp, but the work was done by our local garage Whatlington Garage on the A21 in Whatlington as I was travelling with work Tuesday / Wednesday.

They ran my wife back home after she dropped the Landie off, fitted a new belt and checked and tightened where necessary and then dropped the Land Rover back, and all for the princely sum of £46!

Really good guys and happy to give them a plug - even if they do mainly work on VWs.

Good price, the belt must cost half of that.

Marky Mod - This sounds very like the problem developing in my engine.
Tried all the usual suspects, brake vacuum pump and tappets etc. Noticed a big gap on one of the rocker clearances when I checked them last,and wondered what was going on.
Are the wear caps difficult to replace ?

The wear mark for the belt is when the two lines in the tensioner body line up,other than the obvious signs

Wear caps couldnt be easier to replace....rocker cover off,wind off locking nut on rocker adjuster screw,replace,reset to 0.2mm gap....its in haynes et al.The nasty thing is where did the cap or bits of go?Invest a quid on one of those pen size telescopic magnets.

Many Thanks for the info shocker, I,ll check that out