Its a 98 Amigo, 3.2 V6 5spd with about 80,000 miles. It gets full synthetic every 3300 miles.

Last saturday it started with a diesel like knocking/clacking sound when I started it. At first it was worse around 2500 rpm +/- under light or no load. Under load such as accelerating the noise was much quieter, and often not present at all.

Reading up indicated that a timing belt tensioner could be a likely suspect. I replaced the timing belt and tensioner tonight and the noise persists. Unfortunately its also getting worse. It is now sometimes notceable at idle and through out the RPM range.

I added some sea foam tonight and I'll see if that helps at all tomorrow.

DO the 98 V6's have adjustable lifters? Would one suddenly be out of adjustment? Or might something have broken?

Any ideas of other things to check?

Any similiar problems?

Thanks,

Mike W
(still planning on Moab! )