KingKurt

Hi, I've recently noticed a strange noise coming from my engine compartment... I think. I noticed that when I was at a stop I could hear a noise almost like a light grinding... or a clunking/knocking seemingly coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment. When I start driving again the sound seems to go away. Either that or it gets quiet enough that the road noise overwhelms it. I originally thought it was coming fom the area of the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, etc. None of those belts are going bad, none are leaking and all SEEM to be working fine. Also, I noticed the noise getting a LOT louder when I put the car in reverse from a parked position and back up slowly (I have a manual shift car). Also, the car has been missing a little lately in high acceleration, or high speed turns, but I thought this was just because it needs a tune-up pretty badly. A couple of days before I noticed the noise I hit a curb with the passenger side wheel, but not very hard, and I am not sure if it has anything to do with it at all.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Steve

LunaticSVT

Look at the belts again, but look at the pullies as well.

KingKurt

Thanks... are you thinking crankshaft pulley, power steering pulley, ac pulley or altenator pulley. The altenator was replaced last July. I don't get why it's so much more prevolant at idle and in reverse.

LunaticSVT

It could be any of them. What I would do is get your other half or even a friend to get in the car and put the thing in reverse and start to put a load on it while maintaining braking. Yes I know not too safe, but you can then have the hood up and get a full load on the car itself. I would chock the wheels to be safe.

When he is doing this have a listen and you should be able to tell which one it is. ALL Of them have a tendancy to fail. None are more likely than others. You say you replaced the Alt. I would look at that even though you replaced it. If it was an aftermarket piece or rebuilt unit then you can expect a certainty of failure with them.

With your statements that it is occuring under highspeed turns makes me think it is a steering pump or steering pully issue, but happening under reverse would not explain that load issue all too well. Try the load test and then try to crank your steering hard or should I say have a friend do it while you have the hood up and listening.

ebxr8240

Didn't these engine have issues with timing chain ????

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