athenian

On my '91 S4 w/68K miles....no records of belt or water pump changes....No records period!!!

After driving the car on and off for a year now with NO PROBLEMS whatso ever, I've developed a knocking, grinding, clanking sound(s) coming directly from the front of the car....I can not pin-point the exact source of the noises, but there're certainly more pronounced when the car is COLD....I can even hear the noises sometimes from inside the car while idling!!! Can't hear any noises while driving...

The water pump is NOT leaking anything (yet)....No fluids on the floor...When I put my hand on the water return hose housing (on the front of the engine where the temp thermostat is housed), I can feel the vibrations on cold-engine start up....

I've driven the car for a few days now with no overheating or leaks but the noises are still there....I know it's not going to get any better by driving the thing....But I'm not sure if the noises are coming from a failing bearing in the water pump....or something else. The power steering pump seems to be working okay and the alternator is working well..

Is there a trick to check and eliminate the obvious sources of trouble and noise?? I heard about the "bar of soap on the belts"

Any suggestions ??? ideas??? Comments??

VK

Tom. M

Could still be the waterpump....grinding sound could be the metal impeller (if so equipped) grinding on block. Look in the holes at the top of the cam belt covers....watch the belt while engine is running....if it walks forward and backward...sure sign of waterpump going...

Good Luck,
Tom
Midlman@rennlist.net
89GT

Garth S

VK,
You've already aced several of the critical thresholds that no 928 owner should either ignore, or "drive on by'!
Don't drive another mile , IMHO, would be my position. If the noise is as you describe, the water pump bearing will fail, tilt the shaft, and eat your timing belt!! - and not leak a drop of coolant in the process.
At the very least, lift the air feed tubes and peer in the cam cover breather holes to see if the outer edge of the timing belt is still intact (1" wide is the spec.)
Make up a stethosope ( tubing in your ear, long screwdriver, etc as a 'listening' device - and prod/listen to each location to pinpoint the noise; however, as you describe, no good can come from this.
I noted your other post - yes, until you provide more data, you are due now for a H2O pump/TB/rollers/tensioner rebuild. This is a good DIY. My timing belt just arrived, and I'm starting to 'close the incision' after this same surgery. Consider doing it.
Did I mention -"now!".

athenian

Thanks for the advice and warning guys.....I looks more and more that the time has come to "face the music" so to speak....Time to park it for a while and work on it....

All the best - VK

Jim bailey - 928 International

V K ..... You have been in Atlantic City standing at the crap table with between $4,000 and $7,000 on the line rolling the dice so far you have not LOST .... the next time you turn the ignition key you could very well crap out ...the belt jumps and you scramble all the valves . That can happen with absolutely no warning , no noise , no nothing . Your car has been trying to warn you that something is wrong ....listen to it . If it were my 91 928 I would NOT drive it until it had a new timing belt . You could remove the accessory belts ..A/C , ps, alt ,air pump and IF it still makes noise it HAS to be timing belt but you would need to run the engine to find out and that is very , very risky ..

Greg86andahalf

If you have an airpump (smog pump) on the car, check it. Use the mechanic's stethescope.

Greg

Matteo

Athenian, You have just described (to a T) the sounds that my car was making. I thought it was a bearing going bad. Turns out it was the rollers. Replaced the T Belat it last weak with h20 pump and new rollers. Purrs like a kitten. Do it now.

Gretch

"she canna take na more captain...........she's gonna blow!"