New to me sound on a D1

mastercamper

Well-known member
Nov 18, 2006
934
20
Erwin TN
95 D1. I have a noise that sounds like a bearing that’s going bad. Does not get louder when under load and only seems to start after it’s warmed up. I was hoping idler pulley or tensioner but it doesn’t squeak like others I’ve replaced. Runs great no smoke no other issues. It sounds like it’s coming from the front of the motor. It’s just a constant sound.
Thanks,
Eric
 

4Runner

Well-known member
May 24, 2007
660
110
Boise Idaho
I would pull the serpentine belt and start spinning things by hand to see if you feel anything in the bearings. I also have great luck with using superlube ( not the kind that most everyone is thinking about, but the industrial spray ) and carefully lubricating a bearing while in place. Then start the engine with everything put back together and see if the noise changes. When you get one to change the noise then that is your culprit. Please do not get the spray on your belt or the belt surfaces. If you do, don’t start the engine, spray the offending area with brake cleaner first. I probably wouldn’t try and lubricate the rear alternator bearing but you can do the front one. It could also be a bearing in your distributor, so don’t forget about that if you can’t find it in the belt system. Be careful when removing your rotor, I don’t have Rover distributors but apparently there is something that people mess up when doing that on a genuine Rover dizzy. Good luck.
 

mastercamper

Well-known member
Nov 18, 2006
934
20
Erwin TN
When I cut it off this morning the sound kinda wound down slowly kinda like cutting a fan off. So I’m fairly certain that it’s something driven off the belt. Did a little reading may be water pump. So I’m going to check everything.
 

KAC

Active member
Aug 10, 2020
29
7
Virginia
Interesting post. My 95 makes a similar noise only when hot and at a low idle RPM. I wasn't sure if it was a vacuum leak or a front end belt driven noise. Recently completed a head gasket job and reseal of the engine including all rubber hoses. The belt tensioner was replaced as well, the serpentine belt was reused since it was a recent replacement. The noise remains, but not as frequent or as loud as before. When it makes this noise, I haven't been able to open the hood and probe with a stethoscope quick enough before it stops.
4Runner is correct about pulling the rotor off the distributor, I messed mine up thinking it was just like any other small block GM. That's why I'm now running a Pertronix distributor now.
Hopefully one of us can figure this out.
 

mastercamper

Well-known member
Nov 18, 2006
934
20
Erwin TN
Would the rotor make a noise? I’ve never had one. One a side note it has a hard time starting. Last time it did it it made a lot of noise then fired up. It runs fine though
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
The most common bearing to fail up there is probably the pully on the serp belt tensioner. Then the alternator after that. Take the belt off and see if it's gone.
 

mastercamper

Well-known member
Nov 18, 2006
934
20
Erwin TN
So pulled the belt everything turns very smoothly. The pulley on the AC has a little play in it I’m guessing that’s where it engages. Power steering pump I can feel it move if I push and pull on the pulley very faint plus it’s only about. Year old. That leaves the water pump and fan I can feel quite a bit of movement when I push on the fan and a little when I do the same to the pulley. So I’m guessing water pump and or fan may be my culprit.