wds928

With nice weather the past couple of days, I drove the shark to work. Started the car and could hear some intermittent "chirping" coming from the engine compartment.

Not sure if it's accessory belts or not, so I sprayed some belt lubricant on the moving belts at the pullys, which quited some of the noise.

Drove to work, ran some errands and couldn't really hear anything from inside. When I drove home and stopped to open the garage door, I could hear a "chirping" again. Not constant, just intermittent.

Opened the hood and I can hear it more clearly. It sounds like it's coming from the waterpump area. Not a constant chirping, not a grinding, not a shreeking, just an occasional, intermittent chirping that lasts for a couple of seconds, then goes away.

I'll have to see if I can record the sound and post it, but does someone know what the soon-to-be waterpump failure sounds like? Or is it timing belt or tensioner issues?

Thanks

AO

EXPENSIVE! Just kidding....

Seriously though, if you have a stethescope that will tell you where it's coming from. When was the WP last changed? Do you still have your airpump? How's the engine temp?

Gretch

Inspect your timing belt through the inspection ports with a flashlight, or for a more fullsome inspection, take the passenger side belt cover off. Usually a coolant leak will accompany a h2o pump failing (but not always). look in the engin bay, especially on top of the belly pan for signs of coolant. also look at the bottom of the belly pan after the car has wsat for a bit, for a couple of drops of coolant.

Usual questions.....how many miles since the last timing belt change, was the pump replaced at that time, as well as rebuilding the tensioner.......

wds928

Still have the air pump. No noticable coolant leaks, will try the stethescope this weekend.

WP/TB and presumably the tensioner done about 40,000 miles ago by PO. Belt was tensioned about 10,000 miles/15 months ago.

Thanks guys

Jim bailey - 928 International

If you do not have a copy of the last "about 40,000 miles ago" work order listing what parts were changed and the car now has 133,000 miles it seems to me that you are probably ready for the timing belt change and quite likely new rollers maybe even cam gears depending on wear. At a minimum it makes sense to remove all the accessory belts and run the engine to determine if the noise is coming from the T-belt probably best to visualy inspect the t-belt by removing the passenger side distributor cap rotor and belt cover look at ALL of the belt by rotating the engine.

worf928

What JimB said. Also, does the chirp come or go when the A/C clutch is engaged/disengaged?

SharkSkin

What JimB said -- though I would amplify that, and say that taking the belts off one at a time and running the car after each belt comes off will help identify which accessory (if any) is making the noise. Still sounds like you may be overdue for a TB.

wds928

Jim, Dave C and Dave A.......

Thanks for the input. I'll start by taking belts off, one a time, then go from there. Looks like I shouldn't plan any long trips anytime soon before I get this sorted out.

Now, if it would just snow like crazy for a week or so, I wouldn't be so tempted to drive it.

heinrich

It sounds like this: BANG!!!

sweanders

I have had the chirping sound when a roller was worn out.

blau928

I have just changed my WP/TB.. The bearing on the WP was shot, and the car was overheating. There was a slight shrill of a noise that makes sense as after I took the pump out, it was bearing squeak.

Now, this pump was 2 years old, and it did not leak one drop of coolant. I drove about 75-80,000 miles with the pump.

My theory is WP every 2 years irrespective of use.... After doing the entire job myself, I think one weekend of piddling with the car is great insurance for 2 years of trouble free driving...

I have to also say that I had the lower rollers go bad last year, and they were changed along with the TB....

So, concluding, what Jim said.... Unless you know exactly when it was done, you should do it..

HTH,