fmartinez1897

Sigh... Here's another one for you guys. I noticed this metal tapping noise as I was driving the car this morning. It Does NOT stay consistent with the speed of the sound. It's a constant at any speed. I noticed it seems to stop WHILE i'm turning the steering wheel. Tried to pinpoint the sound and can't for the life of me figure it out! I'm going to post up a video of the sound. Maybe you guys can help.

fmartinez1897

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuMu3c8Ik7Yhen

This is the vid with the noise. Maybe it can help Someone. But I'm thinking maybe a belt that's finally on it's way out? I just checked them both and they seemed fine when I did.

dkdm

Wow that sounds bad!

So in the video where you turning the steering wheel or moving the wheel by hand? Hard to tell but I think you have something very loose. Confirm the noise doesn't change with RPM increase/decrease. If not, I think since it changes with pressure on steering and you checked the power steering belt (rules out pump flopping around) could be anything from sway bar mounts, steering rack, a-arms, cross member.

Did it drive any different when you drove it, pull, shimmy/shake?

Crawl underneath seems like might be somewhat obvious.

GL

fmartinez1897

Yeah I was turning the steering wheel. That noise stays constant (ie doesn't speed up or slow down.) I noticed it on my way to work. ( I took the video right before coming into work.) So I'll have to get underneath it when I drive home tonight. I know the car needs an alignment done. But for sure it doesn't speed up or down with the rpms.

fmartinez1897

Recently I replaced the power steering hoses and popped off the pulley to gain access. I had to check my camshaft belt as well but that seemed to be in pretty good shape so I haven't messed with it until i can buy a tension tool. It didn't seem to go away when in any gear, just hid behind the engine's noise. lol

dkdm

Did you loosen anything else besides the pulley?

It wouldn't have to do with the alignment (or needing an alignment). After you said you removed the pulley I thought it might be a loose pulley but that should change with RPM.

Did you have to loosen the pump bolts to install the belt?

If you just pulled some covers to check the timing belt I can't see where that would make a non rpm changing clatter (scientific term)

I still think it is something so loose the engine rotation is causing to to vibrate but when you put pressure on the steering system it tightens.

fmartinez1897

dkdm you are right. The bolts that hold the pulley came loose. Perhaps I hadn't tightened them enough. 1 of them backed out completely and now I have 2 bolts holding the pulley in place. Properly tightened of course.However the noise did stop. So that's what it was.

dkdm

Great!