I had a '94 Cadillac with a Northstar.  (Concourse deVille.)  At 85K miles, it made a noise which sounded for all world like a noisy lifter.  Sometimes it could be heard at idle, sometimes not.  One day I took a piece of heater hose and stuffed one end down the outside of the engine block, the other in my ear.  There it was!  Apparently, bad wrist pins was a common problem on the early (pre-'95) Northstars.  And unlike piston slap, you can't just let ignore it; if left too long, they will let go and the engine will self-destruct.  Ooh, that was expensive to fix!  And I mean just for the parts!  I did all the work myself....

Mark in Westminster

> Volks, especially engine volks,
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> A friend has a 85 van with less than 30k on a rebuilt engine.  Mechanic s=
ays
> that the new noise in it is wrist pins, dump it.
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> What are the chances it is wrist pins with that many miles?
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> Is that an engine killer with van engines, or like piston slap in the ear=
ly
> Audi 5 cylinders, let them slap?
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> TIA
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>=20
> Mike
>=20
>=20

Would like to know how he is diagnosing wrist pins. I have never seen a
wrist pin failure.

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jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
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