My first post as a new member! Knocking noise on my `94 440.....

[Daniel M]

Hello All.
This is my first post as an official VOC member! I already know Chris B via Brickboard, but hello to all you new people. You can see a pic of my 440 in that new free gallery thingy, for those of you who havent seen it(incase your interested!). I`ve read a few articles here about peoples love of the 440`s-good call i say-very underated cars. But, to my question. I have a `94 2.0i SE (Same model as Dan F). Its been a good car so far, and has only done just over 66k with a fVsh-but there is one problem. Early mornings-or anytime come to that, that the car has been sitting for a long while, on starting the engine up, it makes a strange "knocking" noise. If you pop the bonnet, it sounds like a wooden door knob is being consistently tapped on the top of the inlet manifold, and it gets quicker when you rev it. It really doesn`t sound like the tappets, its too much of a solid sound. Any ideas? The car has been pretty neglected despite the history in the past, and when i first got it, it was a right state-it needed a new injector as one had become permanantly stuck open, and was flooding the engine when starting up. Its fixed now, but the knocking still continues. Is this a problem any other owners share? Does anyone have any ideas? Let me know.

Cheers in advance, Dan M :)

They are very underated cars, I didn't realise just how underated until I brought my girlfriends dads 440 when he got his V40. Very comfortable, quiet and relaxing drive.

My 96 1.8i 440 made the same sounds, I took it to my dad (whos a mechanic by trade) who said it was probably a worn biscuit in one of the tappets, but as fixing is a major job to do right (you need a whole selection of new bisuits to make sure you get the right size) and it wouldn't cause any problems (apart from the noise) ignoor it. Even the Volvo dealer in Hoofddorp (who looked at it before my dad) said ignoor it - and didn't charge me for the experience. It may be worth just going down to a dealer and asking if there is a mechanic free that can have a listen to you, if the garage is any good they shouldn't charge for it. Or, get a long screwdriver, pref with a wooden handle, but platic will do, and place it on the engine over each cylinder, with the handle to your ear. This allows you to pin point exactly where the problem is. But don't get too scared by the noise. The cylinders that are working well should be nice and quiet, but the one with the click sounds like a bag of bolts with the screwdriver.

Stu

[Daniel M]

Hey Stu.
Thanks for the advice. Ive done the old screwdriver listening trick already and located the the area. Im glad to no im not the only one! On speaking to my Dad a while ago, he said he saw an old chap reversing his car out of his house and his car was doing it too. Design fault there then-my last 440 went forever, with double the mileage and it was much quieter! Oh well, perhaps when im feeling flush, i`ll do it. Cheers for the help, Dan:-)