Saved from the scraper - Sounds like rod knock what could it be

2010 1.8 petrol Vauxhall Zafira and it is currently making a knocking and rubbing sound which originally sounded like rod-knock. So today I investigate to see what the issue is and so see if I can fix it and get another few years out of it. If it is something serious like rod knock then it would be cheaper to scrap the car, but as buying a car is a big expense I'm hoping to fix this on the cheap.
For this job I had to purchase a set of torx impact sockets to undo the crank bolt as I didn't want to shatter my regular socket. The socket set I got is this amzn.to/3SWbMeJ from amazon.
The timing locking kit amzn.to/41OiRCj
Engine oil Flush Wynns amzn.to/3L291qj
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[@Envy701]

Hi mate. I have the exact same problem on my 10 plate Elite 1.8. Had a new Timing Belt Kit, both Cam Pulleys and both solenoids, Aux Belt, new oil and filter but still the knock is there albeit not quite as bad as your one. I'm going to change the water pump to see if this makes a difference. Nothing to loose now as I have spent just under a grand to sort out what I thought was a VVT pulley knock. If that fails its off to the scrapper. Shame as its been a great care up until now (120k) Many thanks for this Video. It has given me a little bit of hope

[@mohitl1697]

Only just started the video, but sounds like the intake and camshaft VVT pulleys, its a common fault, especailly if its not had regular oil changes

[@quakerphil]

Definitely that noise is the cam pulleys.

[@REPORODGE]

Vauxhall comes out the factory like this!!!

[@neildean7515]

God job and very entertaining, i would recommend to customer changing that oil every 6 months for 2 or 3 years just to clean that engine, if they plan on keeping it, get that sump cleaned too.. great job

[@leeosullivan4036]

I remember you changing the water pump about a year ago. You also said Tim had paid for a cam belt and water pump previously. Looks like it wasn’t done! 🤬

[@leeosullivan4036]

That water pump should be under warranty with euro’s if it needs changing. Never seen that much crud in a rocker cover before 😳

[@tonydalton6756]

@@leeosullivan4036 I once worked on an old ford 2.8 v6 & no oil was getting to the top end at all. The engine was rusty on the inside of the rocker cover. I removed the oil filter & the paper insides were missing. I found them throughout the oilways through the engine. The oil in the sump was like greece. It had been driven for at least 3 years in this condition apparently, I reckon even longer. You get some right idiots out there.

[@TwiggsT4]

I need to find Tim’s receipts, I remember doing a water pump myself, but looking at previous videos I think it was a few years ago. Yeah I’ve never seen an engine that bad before, only on KZbin 😂

[@shanehogarth6373]

Nice video. I have the exact model and have a nasty top end rattle, particularly from cold. It has been neglected and when I pulled the oil filter it had collapsed in exactly the same way as yours. I am now wondering if my top end is full of crap like yours was. 🤔

[@TwiggsT4]

👍 have you done much investigating into the noise? Before spending any time or money on it, do a check that it’s not rod knock by removing the spark plugs, then using a long screwdriver and rotating crank check if there’s any play in the pistons going up and down, hopefully the journals aren’t worn out. Although no harm in removing the rocker cover however I’m sure the gasket would need to be replaced at the same time

[@shanehogarth6373]

@@TwiggsT4 thanks. Mine is sounding more like a top end rattle, like a sticky lifter. The car is in Romania at the moment and I won't be back out there for a month or so, just got back. It's a UK model I took out a few years ago. But as soon as I saw your collapsed oil filter I recognised it as being the same condition as mine was, and wondered what I might find if I took the rocker cover off after seeing yours. Will post back up in a month or so and let you know the outcome.

[@TwiggsT4]

Yes definitely mate I’d be interested to see how you get on 👍 hopefully like you say just a sticky lifter 🤞

[@quakerphil]

​@@TwiggsT4 VVT Cam phaser pulleys is the noise mate. Need replacing.

[@markf4720]

​@@shanehogarth6373 yes, will be the cam pulleys as above. Before changing them, check for error codes... Sometimes worth swapping the inlet and exhaust sensors and solenoids with each other to see if the code changes. Solenoids can be taken out, cleaned and the little filters taken off (not needed after run in). Also oil and filter change with flush as the VVT system is sensitive to dirty, low or incorrect grade oil. Worth getting the correct GM stuff or Shell Helix AG rather than cheap stuff.

[@DIGGER-D12]

Great Video, mate what is that dampener called that you changed as i need one but dont no what the part is called to order one. Many Thanks 👍👍

[@tonydalton6756]

I hate working on the Ecotec engines, especially the old Corsa. They were designed by the devil. My son has all the milwaukee stuff & it's the dogs. It laughs at the T4 crank bolt.

[@TwiggsT4]

Yeah I really need to save up and get some decent tools. To be fair doing the cambelt etc wasn’t too bad, still a bit of a ball ache tho. I feel like I’ve been wasting money on regular tools/breaker bars I should had got one of these 👍

[@Vanadeo]

1.8 in my Sri corsa was sweet as a nut.. It was the gearbox that was failing in that :( .. .

[@TwiggsT4]

Yeah, they are weak boxes 😞

[@normanroberts5573]

Well done

[@mcjjordan]

Baby casey says scrap it 😂

[@TwiggsT4]

😂

[@quakerphil]

VVT cam Pulleys that noise.

[@TwiggsT4]

Yeah they won’t be getting changed anytime soon

[@quakerphil]

@@TwiggsT4 they'll rattle on start-up for ages till they need changing.