Clack Clack Clack

[wilde108]

Going on for quite some time now my belt pulley system seems to be making a clack clack sound that is quite loud. Im sure its not coming from the engine. No leaks and oil is always okay. Does anyone know what I can do to get rid of this noise or has anyone experienced this before on their car. My car is a 92 3.1 Cutlass Convertible.

[95oldsVan]

Going on for quite some time now my belt pulley system seems to be making a clack clack sound that is quite loud. Im sure its not coming from the engine. No leaks and oil is always okay. Does anyone know what I can do to get rid of this noise or has anyone experienced this before on their car. My car is a 92 3.1 Cutlass Convertible.

 

Is your tensioner making the noise?Can you narrow it down?

 

[wilde108]

Definately appears to be coming from the tensioner.

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

the tensioner costs about 30 bux and will take about 15 minutes to change...go get one

[GP1138]

the tensioner costs about 30 bux and will take about 15 minutes to change...go get one

 

Even less if you find a low-mileage engine at the J/Y. It's easy as hell.

[94CutlassSLCoupe]

for $30 i wouldn't even waste my time...buy a new belt at the same time.

[fender2082]

What he said... tensioner flopping around will wear your belt in a hurry. Do both... $50 max.

[cutlass1991]

13mm socket and a 19mm wrench is all you need.

[wilde108]

Here is a little MPG file of the sound and video of the tensioner.

 

http://www.photoshopchop.com/randomimages/CLACK.MPG

 

[ns87]

Thank god!! my 3300 does it on my Ciera, I was wondering wtf that noise is

[GP1138]

Ahh the wonderful whining of a 3.1 at idle.

 

These engines sound terrilble at idle.

[wilde108]

Ahh the wonderful whining of a 3.1 at idle.

 

These engines sound terrilble at idle.

 

Its almost embarassing. You drive around in this cool looking car, but it just sounds like ass at idle. Thank goodness my dual Borla's drownd it out half the time.

[DaveFromColorado]

the 3300's are way different then the 3.1's

 

here's the problem with the GM rubber vib dampeners... the rubber rots out, and allows a LOT of excess space, which causes that clacking - I've heard that noise a few times.

 

Grab the belt, and see if you can roll it either driction freely, making all the pully's move too. If you can, then I'm sure you'll see where the problem is.

 

--Dave.

[wilde108]

So I ended up stopping the serpentine from moving at all. The clack continues. Took it into my mechanic and he put the stethascope on the car. He figures its a lifter, but not a big deal. He said just put in some oil addative next oil change and it should go away. Has anyone had this issue before?

[NeonKnight]

I had the lifter issue also, it is not a clack sound. It is more of a Ticking sound.

 

I used that oil addative... and thats didnt do anything, drove it around for about 500 miles and now my engine has a rod knock.

 

The machine shop that i am taking my engine to, the guy told me that when you hear a lifter making noise, the problem is that the bearings are starting to go bad.

 

this is something he said they do not teach you in books. but he said from all the engines he has seen and worked on, that is the truth.

 

hes a shop teacher, and a machine shop guy. but your best bet would to get it all looked at.

[DaveFromColorado]

I've seen lifters die many times - but putting in some aftermarket stuff to try to cure the problem will only hide the noise, and not actually resolve the issues.

 

(I'm a HUGE anti-Addative person)

 

--Dave.

[wilde108]

I had the oil changed today and yes I did put in some additive. The knock or tick or clack or whatever it is is gone. But it only seems to happen after some hard driving when the engine is hot. When oil needs to be pumped through.