valve clatter

[serape]

Has anyone (other than my husband & myself) noticed a valve clatter?
My '03 GT has developed one. It was noticed in town and really showed up on our run up north when we needed the car to "scoot". We use Mobile 1 and this was w/out the air on (Ariz.). The trip is a uphill with a couple of long pulls. I have over 25,000 mi on the car and have used synthetic since the first oil change...

[Frank O]

Yes I am having the same problem. Does anyone have any information. I am on my second computer system that Donavee in Fullerton CA had determined was the problem. It is not. What is the solution.

[JohnM]

serape - What you are describing sounds like it could be detonation, due to pre-igintion rather than valve clatter. Detonation is also sometimes called "pinging". If you heard it when you were accelerating, thus putting a load on the engine, that is when you will typically hear a clattering due to detonation. Detonation can be damaging so you should have it checked out. It could be related to gas quality. Were you using premium?

[Gary04GT]

quote:Originally posted by Frank O

Yes I am having the same problem. Does anyone have any information...

Could this possibly be the sound you are hearing? [:I]
http://www.ptcruiserlinks.com/forum/...?TOPIC_ID=3426

There now is a "fix"...

NUMBER: TSB 09-007-04
GROUP: Engine
DATE: March 2, 2004
SUBJECT: Irregular Engine Snapping Sound
OVERVIEW: This bulletin involves chamfering the bore radius on cam bearing caps
L2 through L5 and R2 through R5.

[serape]

We are using premium gas....91 octane is the highest we can get in Phx. My hubby agrees it could be detonation...I took it in today to have it checked out. I even asked to have the spark plug wires checked since some of you have found them to be failing around 20-25 thousand miles. I was told there were no codes to indicate the engine was missing or misfiring and that the wires were fine. Do you think I could duplicate it this morning at the dealership? Nah! So we are going to drive up north on Mon. afternoon and will check this out...again!