Kurt V

'86 Carrera. This noise is tough to describe, but I hope someone has an idea for me. This morning when I started the car, for just a few seconds I had a noise that sounded like a wire or stick clipping the edge of the fan blades. Not the chain dragged across the trash can sound of doom of a collapsed tensioner, but more like an stick or wire hanging in front of the fan and intermittently being sucked in and clipping the edge of the fan blades. Only lasted 3-4 seconds then gone. No noise after that. After I had been at work a couple of hours I went out and started the car. Same sound again. Before I could open the engine lid up, the sound was gone. Had a friend come out and start the car. It is definitely a metallic "ping" noise and only last a couple of seconds. Is not consistent with the turning of the fan. Just "ping". . . "ping, ping" . . ."ping" I can duplicate the noise with the car off by lightly tapping one of the fan blades with the tip of my key. I hate the obscure noises!
I can't find anything hanging loose around the fan. Is it possible to have a tensioner lose pressure and partially collapse and then repressurize on start up? The whole thing is making me nervous!

Chris Martin

My suggestion is to look at the fan shroud very closely. When my alternator was going south the fan would touch the shroud on occassion. I think the bearing was loose and caued a little wobble in the fan, causing it to hit the shroud. New housings arent cheap, ask me how I know, so if this is the problem do wait to fix it.


Hope this helps

A Quiet Boom

Also check that your fan belt is tight, it can bang into the shroud and cause a ping if it's to loose. This drove me crazy for several days until I found this problem on my car.

Kurt V

Chris, you got it right. Took off the fan belt and could wiggle the fan and alternator shaft. New alternator for me.

Buffalo

I had this happen when I added to many spacers on the pulley