Hi,

I am new to diesels. If one of you gurus could help me I would appreciate it.

My truck is making a rattling noise from around the right rear of the engine - right near the starter. It is audible at idle and gets a lot louder with RPM. It sounds like a harshness to the motor.

The motor pulls ok, does not smoke, does not use engine oil, and gets ok fuel mileage.

Any ideas what I should look at?

Thanks,
Rob

check your starter bolts and the L shaped bracket that connects to the starter.

Also look at the heat shields and exhaust. Basically with a rattle get underneath and shake everything you can get your hands on...

Unless you mean like an engine rattle, like a louder diesel knock. That could be a fuel injector. Might want to take the back couple of injectors out and check them or get them checked if that's the case.

Also look at the heat shields and exhaust. Basically with a rattle get underneath and shake everything you can get your hands on...

Unless you mean like an engine rattle, like a louder diesel knock. That could be a fuel injector. Might want to take the back couple of injectors out and check them or get them checked if that's the case.

I guess it could be described like a diesel knock. I'll check this too. thanks.

flexplate ?

flexplate ?

errrrm what's that?

errrrm what's that?
its the conection between the end of the crankshaft and the torque converter.a realitively thin round disc covered with gear teeth to which the starter gear meshes.prone to cracking and making wierd noises.can be inspected with flashlight through inpspecton cover.

flexplate if your truck has an auto, flywheel if your truck has a manual tranny.

flexplate if your truck has an auto, flywheel if your truck has a manual tranny.

has the 4sp. Does the flywheel have a history of failure on this engine?

Not likely. With the manual a flywheel failure would be catastrophic. Flexplate with an auto might cause this type of thing if it cracked, but with the manual it isn't an issue. Don't ignore throwout bearing noise though... Does the noise change if you press the clutch?

Not likely. With the manual a flywheel failure would be catastrophic. Flexplate with an auto might cause this type of thing if it cracked, but with the manual it isn't an issue. Don't ignore throwout bearing noise though... Does the noise change if you press the clutch?

Well, hard to say at the moment. The noise varies with RPM. I'll have to try varying the RPM with the clutch pressed in. This is a little noise from the thowout bearing that I can hear. Suposedly, this engine had a new clutch 20,000 miles ago.