What a roller coaster ride
05-20-2002, 11:01 AM
#1
Track Day
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What a roller coaster ride
This weekend I drove 1.5 hours to Cincinatti to my buddy's brother's shop to do some work on my 87 944S. The plan was to replace the control arm ball joints and motor mounts. When I got the car up in the air I saw the right front sway bar bushing was decayed and had slipped off of it's mounting bracket. I'm thinking cool- maybe the ball joint isn't the cause of my clunk! I put the bushing back and took it for a drive - no clunk! I just saved myself $175 in parts (SSI ball joint kit) and several hours. So I started on the motor mounts. Following directions I found on Rennlist I got them done in about 3 hours. No problems- got done by 3:00 am, drank a beer and hit the sack. Several hours later when my buddy and I are ready to trek back to Columbus I start the car and am welcomed with a strange rattling noise. A trip back to the shop finds nothing loose. A stethescope confirms there is a bearing bad in what appears to be my lower cam belt pully (near the power steering pump under a plastic housing). I decided to drive it home anyway and I made it fine. Now I don't know what to do. If the noise is coming from where I think it is it looks very hard to get to. Any one have any advise or ever replace this part? Am I mis- diagnosing? Why can't my work on this car ever be done???!!!
<img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />
<img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />
05-20-2002, 12:29 PM
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Although hard to diagnose, there could be a few things in that area that could make noise similar to a bearing failing. 1st thing that comes to mind is the water pump. When was the last time it was replaced? Balance shafts also have bearigs that could fail, but not very normal. Also, bearings in the power steering pump could go as well.
Get the records on the H2O pump and let us know.
Get the records on the H2O pump and let us know.
05-20-2002, 02:41 PM
#3
Track Day
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After doing some research and looking at pictures of the engine I am sure it is the water pump. The thing that sucks is that the guy I bought it from replaced the timing belt 10K ago w/out replacing the pump, and now I have a $1,000 repair bill looking me square in the face. I have no choice but to do it myself. Any advice/offers for help???
05-20-2002, 03:12 PM
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Track Day
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You can say that again. The saddest part of all of this is that I have to sell the car. I'm just trying to get it right for the next owner. I don't want him/her to face any surprises like I am.
05-20-2002, 07:57 PM
#6
Drifting
I just faced that $1000 repair bill you're talking about, on top of another one for a leaking radiator R&R (that pissed me off). And it was the same scenario as yours: The PO didn't replace the waterpump with the belts. You're not the only one in this situation, so I hope that makes you feel better
I just wish I had the garage space to do the repairs myself - or I should say with the help of a seasoned DIY'er like the guys here on the 'List. We should have one of those "Barn Raising" events here in the NYC Metro Area
I just wish I had the garage space to do the repairs myself - or I should say with the help of a seasoned DIY'er like the guys here on the 'List. We should have one of those "Barn Raising" events here in the NYC Metro Area
05-20-2002, 09:10 PM
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My PO didn't replace the pump with the belts either, and i'm afraid its gonna go soon. I just hit the 68k mark and i've heard they go about every 30k miles. Pretty much i'm just waiting for the bill to come. How much does the pump itself cost?
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05-21-2002, 09:37 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
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Guys, if you're able to DIY your pump & belts (hardest thing is getting the front pulley off, I think), but don't want to tackle it because of the belt tensioning issue, here's a sugestion:
Do the job; tension the new belts by 'feel', using the old belts as a guide (check 'em several times before you pull 'em, so you'll know what you're aiming for). Leave the upper part of the plastic belt cover off when you reassemble. Have an appointment already made at a good shop that has the "magic tool." Drive straight there & have them set the tension correctly. Probably won't run more than 1 to 1.5 hours of labor cost. Re-install the upper cover yourself afterwards (10 minutes?).
I'm pretty sure you can find step-by-step instructions for the whole process on the 'net; ISTR that even the "Mr. Crappy" Haynes manual has this in it.
Jim, hey, free advice is worth at least as much as you paid for it....
Do the job; tension the new belts by 'feel', using the old belts as a guide (check 'em several times before you pull 'em, so you'll know what you're aiming for). Leave the upper part of the plastic belt cover off when you reassemble. Have an appointment already made at a good shop that has the "magic tool." Drive straight there & have them set the tension correctly. Probably won't run more than 1 to 1.5 hours of labor cost. Re-install the upper cover yourself afterwards (10 minutes?).
I'm pretty sure you can find step-by-step instructions for the whole process on the 'net; ISTR that even the "Mr. Crappy" Haynes manual has this in it.
Jim, hey, free advice is worth at least as much as you paid for it....
