I'm looking to buy a 2002 ts 2.5 wagon automatic and the car is nice with only 60, 000 Kilometers but there is an engine noise that goes along with the engine rpm but only when the engine is under load, anyone have any ideas what this could be. I talked to a friend and he mentioned that because they have a short piston skirt the pistons tend to slap against the cylinder walls.

I went for a test drive and it did the noise all the time even once the temp gauge went up but maybe the oil wasn't quite fully warmed up.

I am going tonight for a longer test drive to see if it goes away when it is warm.

anyone have any ideas as to why it is making this noise.

thanks for any help

James