By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 05:27 am: Edit

These things keep you on your toes.

Set the stage:
95 disco, automatic, 85kmi.

Problem:
I have two distinct engine noises. (exhaust leak doesn't count).

One of them is clearly the power steering pump. it is not happy, I just noticed the fluid is a bit low and I will be fixing that in a bit.

The second one scares me.
It is a low almost grinding sound and is causing a vibration through everything, the pedals and steering column. When under the hood, seems to be coming from the front of the engine, but don't hold me to that.

Seems to be worse right after starting, and definitely worse if the engine is cold or sat for a while. I don't like this either, as it may be related to oil, or the lack of.

Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks.

-josh

By Ron on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 05:35 am: Edit

Water pump? This would be among the easier to deal with problems.

Use a mechanics stethescope and check around to pinpoint? Any sign of coolent leakage or play on the shaft.

shot it dark


Ron

By TMS on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 05:47 am: Edit

How about a broken engine mount? I have seen broken mounts allowing the exhaust manifold to touch the frame. That would transmit a great deal of vibration throughout the vehicle. If you do not have a stehoscope, use a long screwdriver and touch it to the suspected component, and then press your ear up to the handle. BE CAREFUL OF THE FAN BLADE and other rotating components! Waterpumps, alternators, drive belt tensioners can transmit their noise through the engine block- a little deceptive!
Good luck!
Trevor

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 06:52 am: Edit

Where would I purchase a "mechanics stethescope"? This sounds like something I should have had all my life.

-josh

By Ron on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 06:57 am: Edit

http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductModelDetail.cfm?ProductModelId=2178

Ron

PS I think for 11 it is time for me to replace my piece of metal rod.

By Jon on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 07:43 am: Edit

Ah, so you used one of them too, huh? LOL Hey, the 2-foot long piece of 1/2" copper tubing I use has never lied to me :-)

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 08:26 am: Edit

Well I just went outside for a bit just to get some fresh air. I figured
since I had the time I would look a little closer then I did last night and
this morning. I crawled underneath and found that the belt had slipped
about the width of two of the little ridges toward the front of the car. It
moved off the main pulley on the bottom. There was quite a bit of oil
spread around down there, (not that I was surprised, the only thing that
doesn't leak is washer fluid) so I wiped it down then started the engine. I
crawled back under the truck and found the main pulley to be wobbling a bit
and it started bleeding oil from just behind the pulley. Now I'm depressed.
What are the scenarios, best and worse case?

Thanks.

-josh

By Ron on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 08:39 am: Edit

Best case senerio:

Bolts are loose, tighten bolts (are there any around there?) and all is well.

Moderately bad: worn bearing

Worst: check best and moderate first.

Someone else was saying they had a similar problem recently.

Ron

By Ron on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 08:45 am: Edit

"Ok, I may have found the culprit. One of the pulleys coming off the crankshaft has a wobble -- maybe due to failing bearings? It appears that, once loosening the belt tension, I can just unbolt the 2 lower pulleys as one unit. Correct? If so, what am I looking for? If the bearings are bad, is this an easy fix?"

Someone posted this on the D90 list, I will let you know if anyone comes up with an answer beyond tighen the bolts. The wear on the bearings could be because the belt was on too tight. I would check for play in the waterpump and everything else down there as well.

Ron

By John C. on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 09:20 am: Edit

Hey Ron, you are spending too much time on these bulletin boards.....

Just kiddin' we appreciate all your input...thanks alot.

John C.

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 09:26 am: Edit

Yeah, thanks for the help.

-josh

By Ron on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 09:33 am: Edit

I am but there is nothing at work to do. I have to sit here 12 hours a day (face time) when I have nothing to do so rover stuff it is. Computers have games blocked figure I should do something productive.

Ron

send me a deal! I am poking my eyes out.

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Thursday, April 05, 2001 - 03:23 pm: Edit

OK. The saga continues. Armed with the knowledge that the crank shaft pulley is wobbling a bit, I decide to head home via the back roads. keep the speeds down and just take it easy until I can get the truck to the shop tonight. I get about a mile from work and pop. Oil and smoke all over, and my battery light comes on (the first indication that I have no belt) after I pull over and shut her down I look to find that the crank shaft pulley is resting comfortably on the pan hard rod, and the belt is all bunged up after having taken 1/2 a dozen blades off my fan. I work the pulley out from under the car and discover that half the collar on the back of the harmonic balancer is missing, but more than that, it looks to have been missing for quite some time. The crank shaft pulley bolt is no where to be seen.


I know the obvious parts that will need replacing, but what else is lurking back there to get me? What kind of seal is there in front of the main bearing? Have I screwed up anything else?

Thanks.

-josh