How a "rip off" could happen.
02-14-2009, 05:37 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How a "rip off" could happen.
I have a 1989 S4 160k miles car that started making a squeaking noise from the front of the motor about a week after I got it. That was about four months ago. When I got it I took it to a local repair shop for inspection. I was told except for the motor mounts all is good,car runs great "but that squeak has me worried could be a timing belt, maybe a water pump bearing, maybe worse" So for four months I was planning to give them the car in the spring. And wait for the news. Well just 10 minutes ago for the heck of it I removed the belt to the air pump and the noise is gone! Now I'm not saying for sure if I took the car back to the same shop they wouldn't tell me the same thing, but you can see how easy it would be for a shop that needs business could get business.Boy I'm happy! For months I was thinking maybe big $$$ in the spring. All I need is a new air pump ( The bearing is shot) Just can't beat Doing it yourself .In fact I'm going to do the mounts myself.
Good save
02-14-2009, 08:52 PM
#5
Under the Lift
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I'll admit I've had the air pump noise fool me for a while into thinking it was possibly the water pump. The noise transmits rather well into the block, as using a hose "stethoscope" it sure sounded loud right above the water pump. It was very hard to track the source of the noise until we cut the air pump belt and it went away. So, don't blame the shop if they weren't sure. You'd think the noise would be loudest right in front of the air pump, but chambers within the block can amplify the sound and make this pretty hard to isolate. So, removing the pump belt may be the most definitive test, although perhaps a dowel rod on the air pump body would identify it.
02-15-2009, 06:36 PM
#6
Pro
I'll admit I've had the air pump noise fool me for a while into thinking it was possibly the water pump. The noise transmits rather well into the block, as using a hose "stethoscope" it sure sounded loud right above the water pump. It was very hard to track the source of the noise until we cut the air pump belt and it went away. So, don't blame the shop if they weren't sure. You'd think the noise would be loudest right in front of the air pump, but chambers within the block can amplify the sound and make this pretty hard to isolate. So, removing the pump belt may be the most definitive test, although perhaps a dowel rod on the air pump body would identify it.
02-15-2009, 06:41 PM
#7
Bill, I had the same issue on my car except it was the A/C belt doing it. Both Roger and I narrowed it down to the water pump on the '88 and I prayed that was not the cause.
A couple of days later I figured it out.
A couple of days later I figured it out.
I'll admit I've had the air pump noise fool me for a while into thinking it was possibly the water pump. The noise transmits rather well into the block, as using a hose "stethoscope" it sure sounded loud right above the water pump. It was very hard to track the source of the noise until we cut the air pump belt and it went away. So, don't blame the shop if they weren't sure. You'd think the noise would be loudest right in front of the air pump, but chambers within the block can amplify the sound and make this pretty hard to isolate. So, removing the pump belt may be the most definitive test, although perhaps a dowel rod on the air pump body would identify it.
