Noticed this sound today:

Idle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STZk...ature=youtu.be
Some revs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k17...ature=youtu.be

Ignore me talking to myself.

Seems to happen on startup, hot or cold. Sound appears to be random. Revving to around 1.5k will cause it to be more frequent and more pronounced. Above 1.5k seems to go away entirely.

2003 w/ 86k, never had the TCT replaced.

Thoughts?

 

That doesn't sound like a TCT to me. Try removing your serpentine belt and run the car for like 30 seconds see if the noise goes away.

 

Sounds like the belt tensioner bearings going bad and pulling on the tensioner. You can buy new bearings cheap and swapping them out is really easy. Like suggested above, run it without the belt, bet it goes away.

 

I just replaced my tct yesterday. Having fresh ears with the same problem, i can tell you it doesn't sound the same as the noise my engine was making. Below youtube is what mine sounded like before the tct replacement.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sBnrkfiCjw8

 

Well shoot.

Also, I did just replace two bearings in the serpentine belt and the other pulley with the same bearing.

-Greg

 

Thank you guys very much for your assistance. I just did some experimenting and I'm now fairly certain it's something to do with the serpentine belt tensioner-> which I just replaced the bearing on.

My belt may be stretched, I need to learn how to read the tensioner indicator. Failing that, the bearing I installed myself spins buttery smooth when the belt is off.

The lower pulley, not sure it's exact name (the smooth one the belt rides on) I also replaced the bearing and it too spins buttery smooth but I did nothing some slight lateral play to it.

If I put a little pressure off the tensioner the sound goes away, same if I put a little pressure on it. Any idea what part of it may be failing?

Greg

 

EDIT: Just popped off both pulleys to make sure they were spinning freely - both are spinning smooth and straight. Re-torqued to spec. Noise is still present. I think it must be the actual tensioner. I can see it moving a little but under load and when it returns to the original setting is when the noise occurs I believe.

 

Also, belt seems in good shape. The single line indicator on the tensioner is exactly lined up to the left of the box- which I believe means it's perfect. (It wears to the right?)

 

Shame because the tensioner is the most expensive part even a used one runs around $80, which is retarded when you can get a brand new one with pulley bearing and new bolt for $120 shipped. Look around the forums, or post in WTB maybe someone can hook you up.

 

Yeah bit of a bummer, but I'm somewhat relieved it's nothing something more serious. Engine tapping noises terrify me.

Pretty sure it's the tensioner, so I guess I'll go ahead and get one shipped out.

-Greg