Most liked posts in thread: A new owner and member with a big problem!

Have you checked the engine oil? That's all I've got without more info. Good luck.

 

Jim, I can't offer you any type of help. I'm in Arizona and I have no idea what your problem might be. I can only wish you good luck in getting out of this predicament.

 

A loose spark plug perhaps ??

 

Sounds are funny & often times very hard to tell where they are coming from. Good on you for checking the oil, you'd be surprised how many folks don't. You are in a tough spot. Does your insurance cover towing? If so have your car flat bedded to the dealer. Without knowing what the noise is I'd be afraid to continue the journey.

You can take a long screwdriver & use it as a stethoscope to see if you can narrow down where the noise is coming from. The handle goes to your ear & the metal end touches various places to try & isolate the noises. Be careful of any moving bits & pieces.

 

I almost forgot ..... Welcome to Motoring Alliance !! Hope everything works out for you and you make it home ok.

 

I had that same thought.

CD

 

Welcome to M/A, Jim!

There are a lot of people here who might be able to help you with your problem, but I'm certainly not one you would ask. :nonod:

That said, however, I wish you luck in finding how to fix your car and get back home safely.:fingerscrossed:

 

Your YouTube recording is not playing well on my computer. I can only see/hear a few seconds of it. What I do hear sounds like some kind of compression leak noise. It doesn't sound like valve-train noise -- but, it is a few seconds of what appears to be a cell-phone video.

If there is a valve-train problem, it seems like it would get louder with the oil fill cap off. The R56 "death-rattle" is noticeably louder with the cap off.

At this point, I would think that ANY shop with a good mechanic would be better than no shop, even if the mechanic doesn't know MINIs. Ask the locals who the mechanic is who seems to be able to fix anything.

Other than that, it seems that your only other option is to have the car towed home. I wouldn't drive it sounding like that.

CD

 

A good mechanic is a good mechanic. If the Chevy shop is recommended, I'd say give it a shot. More than likely, there is someone there that will will have the mechanical experience needed to diagnose the problem, even if they don't have MINI experience. Really good techs/mechanics can work on any car -- and the best actually enjoy the challenge. Hopefully, you can find one of those people at the Chevy dealership. :fingerscrossed:

The rental truck and dolly is another viable option. It certainly beats driving it home without knowing what's wrong.

I'll be following this thread, and look forward to your post that says, "I'm home, and my car is fixed."

CD

 

A bad timing chain tensioner can create a lot of noise, similar to what you're hearing.

 

I like you am not a mechanic just have been working on cars a long time.

From what you have described of the noise, where you're hearing it, and that it gets louder as the engine warms up it is going to be something that is effected by oil viscosity. My first thought would valve slap or a sticking valve or lifter. Do you have any idea of the maintenance of the car? How often the oil was changed? If the oil wasn't changed very often and cheap oil was used it could have gunked up (technical term) the valve train

Any good mechanic can work with you to take the valve cover off and check out the valves. Then clean them if necessary.

Did you notice any change in power when the noise started? If not I don't think it would be ignition related.

I don't think your exhaust trick would have shown a leak ahead of the cat, but I could be wrong. So I would check the exhaust manifold for tightness and any cracks.

I hope I've been some help or at least help others think of other ideas.

Welcome and good luck.

 

Welcome to M/A, and good luck with your MINI. Rust on terminal 3 of the coil is a common problem. If you do eventually replace the coil and wires, genuine MINI is the only way to go.