eyeball kid

Sometimes--no discernible pattern re. temp or time driven, my car will emit a low, but clear howl from right front of engine bay. Turning the wheel has no effect on pitch, but revving engine does. It's quite intermittent--1 out of 4 times driven at most. My guess is a balance/timing belt issue, but I have no experience with either. Car has 85k on it, belts replaced at 72k. Thoughts appreciated.

Dan

Mark944na86

Power steering pump. Check your power steering fluid level (dexron III).

eyeball kid

Done... level is fine. Turning wheel, even hard lock doesn't affect pitch.

Chris White

Does it howl only during a full moon?

If it not the power steering system (remove the belt to test that theory) then it could be a balance / timing belt roller about to fail – which would be a very bad thing. Drive at you own risk….

Swagger93

Check the reservoir to pump hose. Mine degraded and plugged partially with no outward visual indication.

Swagger93

Or a roller. Eeek.

eyeball kid

PS line is interesting suggestion. Roller is scary, but isn't "Drive at your own risk" the official motto of this car? What should I look for on the rollers to confirm or deny said suspicion?

schip43

You know I just remembered! I would park the car and pull the covers on the belts asap! It was a couple of years ago...well 10! On my N/A I don't remember if it made a howling noise. But it did something weird, I pulled the covers and found the balance shaft belt laying inside the covers! I'd just done the belts and "assumed" I'd done something wrong.
I ordered new rollers and when they came I called the company because the new rollers did not look like the ones I had. After further discussion it was determined that mine did not look the same because the bearings I had were separated! The bonding between the metal and rubber came apart!

Can't hurt to take a peek anyway.

Swagger93

You might not be able to tell until it's too late if you rely on visual inspection. I'd get an ear under and then over the engine while someone runs it through the rev band and comes off the throttle in different ways. Listen for screeching or HUUHHHHHHGGGHHH (seriously) noise. Could be anything rotating with bearings failing. Power steering starving for fluid will be a more low growly noise (it's the same for most cars), so I'd say if you know what that sounds like you can check that off right away.

eyeball kid

Yeah Huuuggghh is pretty much the sound. Crap. Intermittent (1 out of 4 times driving it) at best--does that sound right?

mikey_audiogeek

My experience is that power steer "groan" does not change pitch with revs, but revs will make it go away.

por4ever

Check those belts and rollers.

https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turb...ge-inside.html

eyeball kid

Damn. So after I open up the cover and what am I checking the rollers for? If the car is making the noise, I guess it should be easy to isolate, but if not, are there any telltale signs I should be aware of/look for?

por4ever

Actually it was more like a rattling from under the cover when my roller went out but I am sure there are different failure modes. Shouldn't be any play in the rollers. If in doubt replace 'em. The alternative is VERY painful.

eyeball kid

Best source for replacements?