For about the past month I've been hearing a strange tapping/knocking noise usually at idle/just above idle. Initially replaced the timing belt tensioner since it was coming from that area but the noise persisted.
I ended up putting the P2R tensioner in to eliminate that possibility but no dice, noise remains.
Noise is not consistent and I can only really hear it at idle, hard to tell at higher rpms due to exhaust noise.
My next step is to pull the valve covers and see if any valves are out of spec and inspect for wear.
Car runs perfectly otherwise no misfires no codes no shaking no nothing.
Any insight is appreciated thank you in advance!

 

MB7,

That is an unusual noise. A valve out of adjustment or a worn cam lobe would give you a consistent knocking or tapping noise most likely at a higher frequency. Did you try just taking your drive belt off and running the car to see if the noise was still there? Is the P2R tensioner the drive belt tensioner?

I would get an automotive stethoscope and try to pinpoint the noise further. Could it be a broken exhaust bracket bouncing the exhaust around?. Loose/broken motor mount? You would need to get under the car with it running to further troubleshoot. I admit I'm just guessing after just listening to th video.

 

I actually checked both front and rear cams in between the past two days, all lobes looked nice and shiny and no pitting or wear on those. The rollers on the rockers looked clean too, note I didn't remove the rocker bridge but I did spin the engine by hand and looked at as much as I could. As for valve adjustments I re-did the rear head but that didn't improve anything. I checked the front head when I did the timing belt a few months back and that all seemed fine as well. I did take the accessory belt off to verify if the sound remained and it did, so it's not that. And yes the current timing belt tensioner is the P2R one, belt feels right no slop at all. I never felt any looseness on any of the timing belt pulleys either when there was no tension on it.
I secured the AC lines, some heat shields, anything that could be vibrating and still nothing. I even removed the lightweight crank pulley and no dice.

After listening to the sound more it definitely does follow engine RPM, so it's something other than the cams it would seem. Once again the engine's performance is still the same, no loss in power or any misfires or anything, just that tapping that can only be heard intermittently at idle/slightly above idle before it gets drowned out by engine noise. If the car is idling low at around 600 I can't hear it at all. It's so weird.
My next guess would be maybe check the water pump, but It'll probably be a bit before I have the proper time to get some coolant to go through that process.