Hi everyone =)

I have a major problem with my 96 GS, when I start the Car, It makes an awful loud rattling\grinding sound. I had my friend start it while I looked around the engine to pinpoint where it is coming from, and it is coming from underneath the timing belt cover. I took off the little "window" to look at the belt while the car was running, and it moves "up and down" between the Cam Gears...is this normal? I have never looked at it while it was running fine.

The timing belt was replaced about 5 months ago and the car ran fine until last Thursday when I came back from a trip. I have not let the car warm up, as it sounds really really bad =(

Any help is greatly appreciated =) A friend of mine thinks it might be the water pump for some reason, but he has not looked at the car.

Thanks in advance =)
<J>

this might be a nooB response but are you sure it's not your throw out bearing. the noise of the throw out bearing is often mistaken for other things. it makes a rattling/grinding noise. i know my throw out bearing sounds like shit, it's shot. when i start my car up it rattles, grinds, pisses and moans for like 5 mins till my damn car is warmed up. I think it might be worth letting it warm up because my throw out bearing makes horrible noises until my car warms up. If your car is still making a nasty noise after the car is at normal operating temperature then you've atleast eliminated the throw out bearing as your "mystery noise maker". you might want to try bending the timing belt cover out of the way and look and see if something is rubbing, i dunno. that's all i have. good luck dude.

does your car idle like it should? what do you mean the belt goes up and down? also give it some gas or just move the throttle by hand under your hood and see if the noise gets louder? There are so many things it could be that is why I am asking these questions. To make sure it is a rattle not a knock. Peace

~STV~

It is more of a grinding sound, but I will have a friend of mine come to the house tonight and listen to it and see if he can describe it better =)
Thanks for the quick replies, I will try those things out tonight and post my findings in the morning =)
I appreciate all the help =)
<J>

maybe its ur waterpump...when mine went it masde this sick grinding noise for like 3 days...then stop....coolant all over the ground.... Was this and the tensioner changed when you did your timing Belt?

I eat emo kids for breakfast

1995 Eagle Talon (SOLD)
72' SuperBeetle
72' Standard Beetle
56' Deluxe Beetle

I've got a '95 and mine started doing that before Thanksgiving (grinding noise). Checked the belt and it was intact, but loose. Got into a motorcycle accident and was just now recently able to wrench. Turns out, both pulleys, idler and tensioner, gave. Took the timing belt cover off and all the ball bearings fell out. Lucky me, no valves are bent. Will be putting it back together when the head comes back this Friday. Had to pull it off to replace a leaking head gasket anyway. Is it throwing any codes. Mine threw out timing off by one tooth, I beleive code 32.

I heard that noise from the same area awhile back. I pulled my t-belt off and my idler pulley just fell off the car. The bearing inside the pulley was no more than dust... I would check it just to be safe.

John 96 GS

I am thinking it is something to do with the idler\tensioner pulleys and the water pump. I already bought a water pump, but Auto Zone says that the idler and tensioner pulleys are dealer parts only.
where did you guys get the pulleys at? I drive a 96 Eclipse GS.

Also, how hard is it to change the pulleys and put the timing belt back on without screwing something major up? The car is in my garage and I am afraid to try and move it :/

Thanks again for all the help!
<J>

PS> The local mechanic shop wants $223 labor just to change the water pump out, is that normal?

If you are going to put a new timing belt on and pulleys, then you can do the water pump. That is pretty normal I guess for the price, b/c that's what mechanics do. My friend was charged right at 300 for his, that's before I knew what I was doing though. The timing belt uses a pulley or gear on the waterpump, so do it all w/ one shot. There are vfaq's about it and posts everywhere, also the chiltons and the online manual tells you. Timing is very simple. When you have everything in, hit me up on aim (rawdawgstv) and we can get it fixed in about an hour probably. I have the torque specs also. DO NOT turn the crank pulley if the timing belt isnt tight on your cam gears. You will for sure fuck up a valve. G'luck

~STV~