# VTC failure also present in S14 silvia's

Posted by jim (93se 5spd, 90gxe, 95 240sx 5spd.) on September 08, 2002 at 15:59:44:

Taken from http://www.200sx.org/faq_4.html

4.6 Something in my engine "rattles" when I take off sometimes.
Check the symptoms carefully. The issue referred to here is very specific:
The car needs to have been sitting, engine off for an extended period (30+ minutes). The first time you try and move off (or just put the car in gear, hold the clutch in and blip the throttle), you will hear a sharp "metallic" rattling sound from somewhere in the front of the engine.

Always consult your dealer, but we have found on several cars, there is a problem in the variable valve timing actuator and inlet cam sprocket, that causes this noise. Nissan have a fix for it, and the job is done within a day.

So what causes it? It's the variable valve timing actuator. This is a hydraulic piston which moves the inlet cam sprocket slightly. The problem is that when you start the engine, oil pressure does not come up fast enough to hold the actuator firmly in place, so it rattles. Because this assembly is mounted on the cylinder head, it seems to reverberate and amplify the noise.

We've only seen the problem on the S14 and S14a cars, but scanning newsgroups and talking to folks in Japan indicate it may also affect any Nissan engine with variable valve timing.

Replys:

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: Taken from http://www.200sx.org/faq_4.html : 4.6 Something in my engine "rattles" when I take off sometimes. : Check the symptoms carefully. The issue referred to here is very specific: : The car needs to have been sitting, engine off for an extended period (30+ minutes). The first time you try and move off (or just put the car in gear, hold the clutch in and blip the throttle), you will hear a sharp "metallic" rattling sound from somewhere in the front of the engine. : Always consult your dealer, but we have found on several cars, there is a problem in the variable valve timing actuator and inlet cam sprocket, that causes this noise. Nissan have a fix for it, and the job is done within a day. : So what causes it? It's the variable valve timing actuator. This is a hydraulic piston which moves the inlet cam sprocket slightly. The problem is that when you start the engine, oil pressure does not come up fast enough to hold the actuator firmly in place, so it rattles. Because this assembly is mounted on the cylinder head, it seems to reverberate and amplify the noise. : We've only seen the problem on the S14 and S14a cars, but scanning newsgroups and talking to folks in Japan indicate it may also affect any Nissan engine with variable valve timing.