I don't post on here much, but I'm about giving up hope in locating the sound of my problem. I nailed it down to three things, the timing belt, alt. or water pump.
I'll try to describe the sound. When I get in my car and start it up I hear a skiting sound. It sonds something like if you were filing a knife. Sorry, just trying to describe it best as I can.
Anyway, when I start the car I hear it and when I lay on the gas I hear louder and faster.
I open the hood the sound can be heard really good at the passnager side tire and right in the timing belt, alt. water pump area.
I have a lil over 100,000 miles on my car....Timing belt is going to be changed soon and a turbo kit i brought is going on. I just want to get my car runing the best I can before I put the turbo on.
Any advice, opinions will be aperciated.

I'm sorry for the long post

I think I know what you are talking about My car makes the same noise sometimes. I was told it could be the throw out baring on the clutch? Once ups brings me my timing parts I think I can rule out timing for you. If mine is still making noise after. clutch is next after timing.

I had the same noise and others were telling me that it could be the throw out baring on the clutch just as you said. But upon closer inspection i relized i had an exhaust leak and when i replaced the gasket, applied anti-sieze, and put new bolts in the noise stopped. So check for any exhaust leaks, it just might be your problem.

I put on a header and it still make the noise if you have ever taken a piece of paper and fold it in half to make a whistle it sounds close to that. I thought exhaust too but it sounds like its coming from the tranny side?

I have a centerforce stage 2 waiting to go in So I can rule out my TOB In a month or two.

Throw-out bearing noise usually goes away for the most part when the car is warmed up. My throw-out bearing made a lot of noise when it was cold out (30* and lower), but would go away when the car warmed up. It doesn't make any noise now that it's warm out (50* and up).

My eclipse would make annoying noises after it rained out or was wet out. Like a small whistling noise towards the belt area. Get the timing belt changed and change out water pump, tensioners, etc. to rule out those things and see if that fixes it.

It sounds like you're describing the noise of a bad bearing. If you can't tell which bearing it is, take off the alternator belt, check for play, and spin it by hand. If it checks out okay, it's safe to say you need to take the timing belt off, and check the idler pulley, tensioner pulley, and water pump, by hand the same way.

If you wait, and a bad bearing causes the timing belt to fail, you'll be looking at a hell of a lot bigger repair than if you prevent that.

Oh! I know that sound.

I had been hearing it for a while when, as I was driving to work, that sound got worse and all of a sudden I heard a pop and my engine died. I pulled over and tried cranking it again, but my car wouldn't start so I had to tow it back home.

When I took it to my trusted mechanic, he looked at it, and was amazed by what he saw.
The timing belt was broke, the belt tensioner was completely worn, and the belt tensioner pully and idler pulley had ground to the point that nearly all the bearings were gone.
He had never seen a mess like that before so I guess that's a first for me, unfortunately.
However, I lucked out because there was no damage to the valves so he got all the new parts, including new P/S and ALT belts, and replaced everything.
I figure I'd be looking at somewhere around close to $900 in repairs, considering dealers and service centers charge $400-$500+ just to replace the timing belt, but he charged me $660.
Its still a lot $$$, but I can afford to live with that.
He did a great job and its running great now.

My car had just over 100,494 miles when it happened.
Get yours checked ASAP before it gets any worse.

JT

Originally posted by jt14894
Oh! I know that sound. I had been hearing it for a while when, as I was driving to work, that sound got worse and all of a sudden I heard a pop and my engine died. I pulled over and tried cranking it again, but my car wouldn't start so I had to tow it back home. When I took it to my trusted mechanic, he looked at it, and was amazed by what he saw. The timing belt was broke, the belt tensioner was completely worn, and the belt tensioner pully and idler pulley had ground to the point that nearly all the bearings were gone. He had never seen a mess like that before so I guess that's a first for me, unfortunately. However, I lucked out because there was no damage to the valves so he got all the new parts, including new P/S and ALT belts, and replaced everything. I figure I'd be looking at somewhere around close to $900 in repairs, considering dealers and service centers charge $400-$500+ just to replace the timing belt, but he charged me $660. Its still a lot $$$, but I can afford to live with that. He did a great job and its running great now. My car had just over 100,494 miles when it happened. Get yours checked ASAP before it gets any worse. JT

Thats about right 600 for timing/water pump replacement.

Mine makes same noise but calms down abit after warmed up.

Belts squeel loud when it rains but will stop few mintues later.

Everyones DSM will have this happend,. Next you underneath your car look at where your belts are at on the passenger side There's No Cover. on it to protect it from rain snow etc.

My trusted mechanic sprayed some lube on the pulleys it stop the squeeling. The stock pullys will do for now but will be tossed out, new ones will be installed.

have your mechanic spray lube on them but do change them by all means, this is one other tip for you to deal with squeeky belts

Originally posted by dalesmitsu
Everyones DSM will have this happend,. Next you underneath your car look at where your belts are at on the passenger side There's No Cover. on it to protect it from rain snow etc. My trusted mechanic sprayed some lube on the pulleys it stop the squeeling. have your mechanic spray lube on them but do change them by all means, this is one other tip for you to deal with squeeky belts

Not everybody's car will do this.

Why would anybody put lube on belts or pulleys? If you have a squeaky belt, check the belt to see if it needs to be replaced (cracks/glazing), check the tension on the belt, adjust if needed.

Originally posted by dalesmitsu
Thats about right 600 for timing/water pump replacement.

Mine only costed $350 at a shop to do on the Eclipse. Got it back later that day.

Originally posted by WickedESi
It sounds like you're describing the noise of a bad bearing.
...
If you wait, and a bad bearing causes the timing belt to fail, you'll be looking at a hell of a lot bigger repair than if you prevent that.

You got lucky.

Originally posted by WickedESi

Originally posted by WickedESi It sounds like you're describing the noise of a bad bearing. ... If you wait, and a bad bearing causes the timing belt to fail, you'll be looking at a hell of a lot bigger repair than if you prevent that.

You got lucky.

Oh yeah!!
Very lucky.