Re: 4ksq Noise after timing belt and water pump replaced

[Robert W Obrien <rwo@u.arizona.edu>]

On Tue, 13 May 1997, WILLIE FONG, SMF1 ENGINEERING, (916) 888.4631 wrote:

> 
> Just got my 85 4ksq out of the shop for the timing belt and water pump. The 
> engine now makes this god awful noise in the front when idling. Sound like 
> it's coming from the water pump and somthing is rubbing. Noise goes away 
> when you increase rpm's. The mechanic is not sure what is causing it and 
> the car is going back in friday. Anyone out there experienced anything 
> like this or know what might be the cause?....Any help would be 
> appreciated. Thanks in advance.
> 
> Will
> Auburn, Ca
> 
I had the same problem with my 5000CS last year. What brand pump did you
use? Is it a howling noise or a grinding noise? Mine howled. I had just
spent $400 on the job, and had supplied the pump myself. So they wouldn't
pay to have the (defective?) one replaced. Well, it turned out that the
new timing belt was tensioned too tightly. Correcting this reduced the
howling, but did not eliminate it. Tech said bearing was a bit tight. As I
mainly drive in town, and I simply could NOT afford to do it again, I kept
it in. After a few months, the noise almost vanished. Still will sqawk a
bit on very rare occasions, but I've ran 30k since then. I'll put in
another pump when I do the timing belt- that horrendous job now seems
possible with my past experience w/hydraulic trouble (be glad you have a
4000). I gave up on mine. If the shop supplied the part, they should, in
good faith, replace it since the new noise was immediately apparent. Or,
it might be the same "tight bearing" I had...

Regards,
Rob