Injectors. Nearly all GSRs have that same problem. Mine did that and I adjusted the valves 3 times trying to eliminate it. Don't worry about it, it is just a cosmetic sound. No harm done.

 

yes, but i have an LS & that's a completely different beast.
how could it be the injectors making a clicking noise?

 

on the GSR the injectors are fairly noisy so I've heard.

 

yes, i can vouch for that....
but my intake makes it all better...

 

I've got the same noise, except that its all time. Here's what I replaced and found out its not: the intake manifold, fuel rail, vtec system, head gasket, rods and pistons, rod and main bearings, and the oil pump. I also took the belts off the alternator and power steering pump and ran it (with a battery booster) and it was still present. The water pump and timing belt tensioner pulleys don't clank when I spin them either. I've adjusted the valves countless times, taken the head off and inspected all of the springs and retainers, then lapped the valve seats. The only time the noise went away is during cranking when I pulled the F/I fuse, and removed the oil pan, baffle plate and oil pickup.

Good luck! :thumbup: If you end up taking it to a dealer, would you mind sending me an email when they figure out what it is? The address is boon_doggy@yahoo.com. This has been a six month project for my buddy and I, and after several shops just about destroying my engine, I'd rather do it myself than have someone look at it.

 

Can you take a look at this Mpeg I made of the knocking to get your opinion on it? My buddy and I figured out the phasing of the sound and its inline with the #1 Injector... but I don't want to spend the 1800 bucks on a new set and computer (which I planned on, just down the road further), if its not going to get the car back on the road with 100% certainty. This sounds identical to what juiceweazel is describing, and I've noticed the same thing coming from a few Miatas recently. Video #1
Video #2

 

I had the standard rattle. Took off cat heat shield. Fixed. Got catback, rattle back. Took off more heat shielding. 3 months later, rattle came back. Took off header heat shield. Rattle still there. Next step: header. HTH.

-Andrew

 

hey rooster...

that sounds conspicuously like a cam bearing surface
being oil starved... ask me how I know..>? if you have
your valve cover cut or have the upper timing cover removed
look at the frequency of the knock and watch the cams. I
bet you have a cam that is loose. I changed mine and didnt
tq them to the proper spec. The bearing caps got wiped
and the intake cam stopped. that knock sounds like what I was
getting I thought it was a timing belt w/o proper tension...
with you going boost, I dont know if you ever had the cams
off the motor... with the R&R work you did chances are you did.
luckily my motor stopped at idle with a seized intake cam at very low speed at BDC... no valve contact =) I got lucky. we took emery paper to the cam journals and bearing surfaces and suprisingly we were still within spec. the car ran happily until the other day when I developed a knock in the motor again but thats something different. I think I have a bad LMA or two or four. Its definately coming from the Intake side.

Good Luck man, I would check the cam bearings. 20lb/ft on the 12mms and 8ft/lbs on the 10mms

=)

 

well my noise is nothing that bad. that noise is very constant, mine sometimes doesn't even come around. the dealership is busy for the next few weeks. how much does the tool cost to do the valve adjustment? not that hard to do is it? i've had the valve cover off a few times already.