mx5cartalk.com

Hey guys,

I've just completed an oil change on my NC and have noticed a noisy lifter-like noise coming from the engine bay on cold starts. Don't know if my memory is playing up but I've only seemed to have noticed the noise after the oil change. I put 10w-40 penrite and used an OEM oil filter for the change. my bad if this has been covered already, I've done a search and couldn't find anything relating the the NC model specifically.

solid lifter. before and after oil change wont make a difference.

you put in 4.5L right?

It could be the VVT actuator. Listen to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mBIh6ONVDw
Google NC MX5 VVT actuator for heaps of hits.

Yep 4.5L put in.

May be the VVT, mine definitely doesn't sound as severe as some of the ones that are on the internet. Seems to be intermittent though, cold start this morning sounded fine and car drives a lot better than it did before after changing fuel. Low end was feeling slightly sluggish before but feels fine now. Will update if it comes back tomorrow morning

The serpentine belt tensioner pulley and idler pulley can also rattle intermittently and can be heard at idle. I had to replace mine at 65,000km.

It could be that, sounds a lot more likely than a VVT actuator. Will have to have another listen on the next cold start. How much did it cost to replace yours if you dont mind me asking?

It cost me $332 for the parts (tensioner $220 and idler $112) and I fitted them myself. Easy to do once you get the battery out of the way.

DIY is here: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=54540