v6 sounds like ratchet
 

V6 auto making a noise described the same as a very loud ratchet (so I imagine a fast whirring noise). Noise so bad (apparently) that it sounds terminal. Historically I'm told that the engine has been using coolant.



The timing belts have been checked (main belt dated 2010 and appearing in good condition).



Any educated guesses as to the source of the noise?

Inlet manifold
 

Stick your ear near the black plastic inlet manifold...my money would be on that is what is rattling.

Common issue with the V6 but not terminal for the engine. Very annoying and means that something inside the manifold ( balance flap etc) is worn or broken

Chris

If it is the inlet manifold cheapest option is to gut it and run it like that until you can get a decent one.

I take it from this that you haven’t seen and heard the engine yourself. I’d suggest that if you do, we’ll all be in a much better position to help. This is why:
All this means is that your correspondent has no idea what’s wrong and so, naturally, expects the worst.
That’s nothing unusual with a KV6. It’s probably leaking ‘O’ rings in the ‘V’.
Oh really? Given that the only front cover that can realistically be removed is the upper RH, it is impossible to make a ‘check’ of any value. But if there was a problem here it would be with the tensioner pulley and/or idler wheel, not the belt. Were these renewed in 2010, that is the most pertinent question.
There’s also the ancillary belt tensioner and idler wheel which might be responsible.

More information is needed. It’s pointless to make wild guesses at this stage.
I hope that’s of some help and guidance.

Simon

Thanks for all the responses. In answer to questions - No I haven't heard the noise myself and likely won't have the opportunity for a while. Although clearly loudly audible from the interior of the car.



I'm hoping to have compiled a list of things to check when I do get the opportunity.


True that only the condition and date of the main belt has been checked.

Not heard many "ratchet" noises, but consider perhaps one of these which might be described thus by someone without access to the specific terminology as used on this august organ:

Fuel purge valve: Correct description "ticka-tacka-ticka-tacka" (foreign market spec vehicles and Cowley-built cars sometimes have this referred to as "irritating random clicking").

Intake manifold upper chamber: Correct description " a bag of nails". Addition of certain interchangeable parts from the E46 BMW allow it to also be described in service literature as "clattery-whirry-rattly type of noise".

VIS motor butterfly: Factory literature almost always refers to this as "annoying rev-related ticking". This was originally "clicking" but was changed when production switched to Longbridge in order to avoid confusion with the fuel purge valve which is only a couple of feet away.

Anything which may involve the use of the word "squeak" please look under either "Suspension - Section 2 "Bumpety Thumpety Squeaks" or "Fascia - Section 9 "A good old splurge of silicone will do the trick".

See, now that is what we need, proper common sense language which is so much more accurate than 'Public convenience sanitary engineer' type of non-speak. Love it, excellent post :bowdown::}:bowdown::D

:D That gave me a laugh to read it. At the root though is a truth - one mans 'loud ratchet' might be a (rapid) tick or a click to another pair of ears. We'll wait and see - I'll be immensely relieved if it does turn out to be the purge valve and the car just needs an Italian tune-up!

loflmao :d