motionbroker

Dear all;

I know this is a long shot but could someone with a good ear take a listen to the attached file. i am hearing a new sound which does not sound good. its hard to isolate where it is coming from. Seems strongest in the front and top of the engine but of course it isnt easy to get your ear anywhere else. Ive done the best I can to record it but the file size limitations of the board are tough to work with. if someone is really keen to help I can email the full size file. Its a deeper metallic ringing sound that is fairly clear in the recording but of course I know what I am listening for.

I know its a long shot but I am a long way from a good mechanic here and in any case I trust the experience of the people in this forum.

Thanks for taking the time.

MB

fabric

Can you give some more details on your car? Looks like an S4 or later from the pic, but exact year and transmission would be good, and if you have any modifications.

I'm certainly not an expert, but I'm going to go out on a limb - you have an auto. If so, when was the last time the flexplate tension was released on the torque tube?

Bernie

I had some really strange noises coming from the front of my car. When I went to do the TB/WP job, I found that the cam gears were worn and the belt had some rubbing on one side.
After I replaced all of those components and buttoned here up, all of my front end noises disappeared!
Of course, now that the motor is running so quietly, I can here (and be irritated) by the rubbing sounds of belts running airpump, ac compressor etc. A classic case of a problem moving downstream I guess.
Use a stethoscope around the engine (buy it for cheap at a autoparts store) and try to isolate exactly where the sound is coming from. I could clearly hear with mine that it was coming from the camcover region.

HTH's?

Cheers
Bernie

Airflite40

OMG that sounds horrible......for your sake I hope its not thrust bearing failure.

If I were you I would not drive the car anyfurther or even start the engine until you check/release the flexplate tension

Schocki

Sounds like a bearing to me. I would remove all the accessory belts and start the engine. If the noise is gone it could be the PS pump, alternator, ac compressor or air pump. If it stays would first inspect the timing belt and WP.

Is the noise present in all gears?

When my TC bearings failed it sounded first like the air pump failed. The sound tramsittted through the tourque tube into the engine compartement. A mechanics stethoscope found the faulty part...

BrettStrikes

Had my torque converter bearings replaced in June and that is the sound....RPM's change the pitch but it was always there...in gear...out of gear...all the time

Steve Cattaneo

Were do you hear that whine the most, front or rear, +1 for loosen /relax the front flex plate.

motionbroker

Sorry for the failure to give info

Its a 93 GTS.

I have had the car for about 9 months and the first thing I did when I purchased the car was to have the flex plate tension released. The car has under 30000 miles on it and there was not a lot of deflection in the flex plate so I doubt this is the problem. I could be wrong since I am far from being an expert on any of this stuff but it does not have any of the classic tbf symptoms (stalling when hot, sluggish starts as if the battery was weak etc) but still I am going to check the flex plate tension again.

More likely I guess would be something to do with one of the belt driven devices since some of the belts were looking dicey and I replaced the whole lot of them in the last major service. My guess is that one component did not appreciate the new belt tension and has failed. I will try taking them off and see when the sound disappears.

Thanks a lot for your help all! I truly appreciate taking the time to help me out.

MB

Charley B

Probably TT or TC bearings. I hope you get lucky and find it under a belt. Let us know.

Mrmerlin

do as the other have suggested remove all the V belts and the Alt belt , if the noise is still there after doing this then dont run the engine till the Cam belt is checked, I hope its not a tensioner bearing going bad, more like a bad alternator bearing. Also spin the accessories to see if any dont turn smoothly

ErnestSw

Make sure a wiring harness is not rubbing on your cooling fan. It's a simple check you can do while the engine is off. Just spin the fan by hand and listen for a noise.

michaelathome

I listened to the audio and it doesn't sound that much different than mine. I have a LOT of pully noise from the belts but less now since the AC pully froze and threw the belt

I do still get some noise from the smog pump but none from the alternator. I will eventually get in there and take a look just haven't had time. I would love for it to be a bit quieter but unless I replace everything up there w/new I am not going to get quiet. Come to think of it I do have an new alternator and a new AC unit to put in, might as well look into pricing the smog pump while I am in there.

Good luck!!

Michael

JHowell37

It sounds like the airpump. Save yourself some time and check it first.

motionbroker

Thanks to all of your for your time in helping me diagnose this problem. I think I have narrowed down the likely components. I guess the leading contender is probably the TC carrier bearings because the sound seems to be coming from everywhere in the engine compartment and perhaps a bit more from the rear of the motor. We will definitely check the airpump first though to see if that is it since the belt was just changed and the extra tension could have caused a failure. I will definitely keep you all posted.

MB

BrettStrikes

I am not as dumb as I look...*L*