Hi all, 1st posting so please be gentle :-)
I've a Mondeo, 1996, Series 1, 2.0 litre 16v engine which now sounds like an old typewriter at all RPM's. A distinct clicking noise is evident from start (hot or cold) and remains evident up abaove 3500RPM.
I'm led to believe that the hydrauluc tappets could be the cause - anyone with more knowledge than me able to confirm this or indeed offer possible alternative causes.
The car has just been in for a service at a Ford garage last week and they stated that the noise was due to the timing belt tensioners needing replacement (causing the timing belt to 'slap' against the timing belt cover). Well guess what, I've just collected the car yesterday after having the tensioners, timing belt etc changed it's very apparent that the noise is still very much there - seems the noise was not casued by the timing belt.
Anyway, before the engine is opened, I'd now like some small reassurance that the cause is indeed tappets related. BTW, the garage stated that the engine oil level was very low at the service - could this be the cause of the tappet noise. If so, should the noise have ceased once the oil was replenished?
Thanks in advance for any replies.