08 MS3 Still clicking after VVT replacement.

Chaz Landers

Chaz Landers

Greenie N00B Member
New to this board so bare with me. I have a 2008 MS3 that I have owned since new. Not many mods except suspension and some mounts. Car has 135k on it.

I started hearing ticking from the timing chain area on startup. Would go away after a bit. I also started to notice on hard acceleration, the engine would tick some. Only way I know how to describe it is it sounds like pre-detonation. Did not have the VVT replaced when Mazda was doing it because they couldn't find a problem with it at the time. So I decided to take on VVT job as I figured it would have to be done at one point. Used all OEM and researched all the things that could trip me up. Original chain was a little loose but didn't seem as bad as I've seen online. Did get the job done but still getting some bad clicking then calms down again after about 15 seconds. The car hesitated pretty bad at first but I think it was just the ECU reset. Better now on the hesitation. Still makes that crackling noise when pushed though. I do have an OBD reader/app to get logs of something, just not sure what to log.

Not sure where to look next. I'm sure the hesitation and clicking are different problems. Injector seals? Getting ready to get some more bolts and washers and deal with the timing again.

Any help would be awesome. Sorry for the meandering post.
 
Chaz Landers said:
New to this board so bare with me. I have a 2008 MS3 that I have owned since new. Not many mods except suspension and some mounts. Car has 135k on it.

I started hearing ticking from the timing chain area on startup. Would go away after a bit. I also started to notice on hard acceleration, the engine would tick some. Only way I know how to describe it is it sounds like pre-detonation. Did not have the VVT replaced when Mazda was doing it because they couldn't find a problem with it at the time. So I decided to take on VVT job as I figured it would have to be done at one point. Used all OEM and researched all the things that could trip me up. Original chain was a little loose but didn't seem as bad as I've seen online. Did get the job done but still getting some bad clicking then calms down again after about 15 seconds. The car hesitated pretty bad at first but I think it was just the ECU reset. Better now on the hesitation. Still makes that crackling noise when pushed though. I do have an OBD reader/app to get logs of something, just not sure what to log.

Not sure where to look next. I'm sure the hesitation and clicking are different problems. Injector seals? Getting ready to get some more bolts and washers and deal with the timing again.

Any help would be awesome. Sorry for the meandering post.
Click to expand...
Any video of said sound? You can use the torque app to log but it is VERY SLOW. Any check engine codes? I would check your STFT, LTFT , AFR, IDC, KNOCK, BOOST and maybe something else I am not thinking of.
 
I will try those sensors. I'm using OBD Fusion. Seems fairly responsive. The car didn't throw any codes at all. I'll make a video of the sound.
 
When I opened up mine, the valve cover above cam chain showed chew marks from chain slap. Complete replacement of cam drive? Or just vvt? A cheap if possible, laptop + versatune (free) + 50$ USB to obdII cable to check valve timing...that's what I used for first diagnosis of destroyed vvt on mine.
 
I didn't see any marks on the valve cover. I replaced most of the parts except the exhaust sprocket and crank sprocket. What do you look for when you log with Versatune?
 
The best way is once you have VersaTune, or a AP not sure your path to troubleshoot. Idle rpm valve timing is 0' and below 2000 should not change from 0' the VersaTune scan point is called Actual valve timing. So if everything is working properly then should not bounce... My bad vvt was allowing timing to jump all ( 0-20'!!) over until ecu would flag a error and shutdown engine. I can't tell by listening to a sound file you will need to others more experience than me to help there. Edit1: I forgot to ask, lets get on the same page>>> What parts did you replace?
In my case was chains (both), sprockets All, chain guides All, new bolts, new washers, VVT & oil control solenoid (new Exhaust cam but that was another issue) 10 out of 16 valve lash buckets. This was a 150k motor unknown history.
 
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Thanks for the info. Used versatune and the timing wasn't jumping around much. I'm thinking might be the VVT oil actuator. I did not check that. I replaced the VVT, chain, chain guides, tensioner, all new bolts and friction washers. I think the lean mix is a different issue. Have new injector seals that I need to put in. Will look into the HPFP internals too.
 
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