Puzzled by loud knocking from engine

1989 TOYOTA CAMRY
180,000 MILES
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SICKMICK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
G,day, Just finished replacing my leads, distributor cap, rotor and coil on my 2L 89 Camry sv21 3s-fe, already did the plugs a few weeks ago. Fired the old girl up only to hear a loud mechanical knocking noise from the top end which mirrors the RPM's. I have a reco 3s-fe motor which has done 60000km and there was no noise before carrying out the work. While re-installing the dizzy which i'd cleaned my markings off (idiot me!) i relised i was trying to install it 180 degees out of wack with a light tapping of a hammer, before spinning it 180 and installing corectly. Hopfully thats not the cause of my troubles. I've tried advancing and retarding the timing with no change. Iv'e taken the valve cover off and cann't see any obvious signs of damage to the dizzy or camshafts. Any help would be much appreciated, cheers!



Mar 9, 2012 at 10:32 PM
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FIXITMR
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 9,989 POSTS
use a tube to ear or stethescope to isolate location.
Mar 10, 2012 at 3:09 AM
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FIXITMR
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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what was it?
Mar 11, 2012 at 12:52 PM
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SICKMICK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for your addvise and sorry i haven't got back to you earlier, been working like a dog. It sounds like its coming from the number 1 cylinder but cann't make out weather it's top or bottom end. Checked the firing order of the distributor and when the crank shaft pully is lined up at 0 degres the distributor rotor is firing number 4, as an amateur it seems to me to be 180 degees out? yet there's only one way to fit the dizzy back on, i haven't touched the timing and besides the knocking the old girls running real smooth. Also when inspecting under the valve cover i noticed a few small pieces of what i think is carbon(black grity and could brake to nothing between my fingers) don't know what the hell its doing in that part of the motor? I did do a STP chemical oil flush about 3 weeks ago before changing the oil and filter, prior to the recent works but the noise wasn't present before stating the works. Thanks for your help and much appreciate any ideas as this is starting to do my head in! Cheers
Mar 12, 2012 at 12:32 AM
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FIXITMR
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 9,989 POSTS
there are 2 0 points for crank. 0 and 180. sounds like you just picked 180 by luck. go around again and bingo. the noise, maybe something is not getting enough oil? hope it's not a rod bearing?
Mar 12, 2012 at 9:09 AM
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