I have just looked at a 20VT. It has 102k on the clock but had a new engine at 70k (recipted). the car looks great and drives great. Only concerns are-its slightly 'ticky' from the cam area on idle (when warm too) and also theres a wirring noise from the aux belt area. May be PAS pump. Any way of telling and could it be something else?

The wirring noise gets louder as you rev it too.

My advice , leave this coop alone , you have not bought the car yet but you already have a headake.
There plenty nice coops for sale , so get one that have no noises , especially in the engine compartment , as it is very expensive unit to sort out.

Hope it helps

Ticking sound could be the injectors??? When you turn the steering wheel does the wirring sound change or get louder?

When driving it it doesnt seem to make an difference to the noise, but on idle it does seem to make it slightly louder when you turn the wheel which mke me suspect the PAS pump. How hard are these to change? Is there anythin else which could cause this? dont want to be buying into a load of trouble!

its possible that its just the PAS fluid is knackered.
Was getting all sorts of creaks and groans from mine a couple of years ago, changed the fluid and all was well.

I think its supposed to be changed every couple of years but most people dont and it becomes black sludgy stuff.


Paul

ps ticking is probably injectors, coops seem to have the loudest injectors in the world

The ticking will probably be the injectors as mentioned above but check the oil level is correct, low oil level will cause a noisey top end as these run hydraulic followers.

The 20vt engine does have a whine to it from the belt area, both mine have had it. If it's more of a screeching noise then it could be the belt tensioner, they do this as they age and it's more apparent on damp cold days.
The PAS pump will make some noise on full lock, they all do that, check the fluid though, I bet it's a nasty grey colour instead of the red it should be !

Can you here this whine when driving the car? this is aaparent when driving and gets faster/louder as the revs increase. At idle it not to noticable, only when driving really. If this is normal, I may go and buy it!