3pt1lumina Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 On my 99 Regal I have acquired a noise at idle. It's hard to describe, so I'll describe what I've done thus far in terms of diagnosing. First off, car runs/shifts perfectly fine. RPM's are good, and it is not acting weird. No SES, no loss of power. It is an intermittent noise when warm. It sounds like a bad tensioner/bad pulley rattling around. It's really loud underneath the car, but it seems to be echoing off of everything and I can't pin point it further. The noise does not change with RPM's either. One thing I do notice, if you get back in the car after it makes the noise, put in gear and move back and forth, the noise will subside. Sometimes it will come back, sometimes it wont. This leads me to thinking I have some sort of a transmission issue. That being the case, checked the fluid. It's clean and smells normal. Thoughts?? I'm stumped and with a baby on the way, this may get parked and I'll deal with it/sell in the spring depending on what the wife lets me do. Any input is appreciated. I really don't want to take it to a shop. TIA:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topless94style2 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 First thing that comes to mind, supercharger coupler. They rattle pretty good when gone bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3pt1lumina Posted September 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Looked closer last night. Checked the supercharger/coupler; that is all good. I did find the S/C tensioner will need to be replaced, but I'll do that in the spring. Spun the rest of the pulleys by hand, all seem fine. Also did the famous listen through a screw driver test to all of the components spun by the belt. I was able to check all but the A/C compressor and PS pump. All seemed fine as well. Had to drive the car to get the noise to occur. Took it on a 7 mile ride for fuel. Got to the gas station, and it was making the noise. Tried diagnosing there, definitely coming from the pass side, lower. Drove it back home, and it stopped doing it so I couldn't even jack it up to see what the deal was. I'm honestly leaning towards transmission. It seems as if the problem occurs before the transmission hits operating temperature. Maybe it's an input shaft, or possibly the trans pump. Whatever the case may be, I may have to let a professional look at it to diagnose this properly...I can't do anymore without a lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainman61 Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 Take off drive belts for engine and supercharger. If its still there its the balance shaft in the top of the motor.You will need to do an upper and lower intake gasket set replacement to access this part,should consider valve cover gaskets while your there and you will need the coolant elbow from tensioner to lower intake,the metal side of the tensioner has a seal thats with the lower intake gasket set.You will also need a timing cover gasket set as it needs to be removed for this repair.The balance shaft comes with front and rear bearings,is available from Oreilly Auto parts or from the dealer,take your vin with you.Time consuming as it is this is a sound motor worth the time and money.However this repair indicates the engine oil hasnt been replaced with the filter and the air filter cleaned and or replaced also at 3,000 and 30,000 respectively or that a coolant to oil leak from the intake was ignored.Drain oil 20 minutes at least and dont heat up the car past room temp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 I've had a bad SC idler pulley sound EXACTLY like a bad powersteering pump/trans pump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3pt1lumina Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Did pull all of the drive belts off and ran car. Noise still there when at operating temp. I just dont have the time/money to deal with it now. It's going into storage and I'll either mess with it in the spring or sell it. I'll look at these when I diagnose in the spring, thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9lumina6 Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 My vote is still something tranny related....especially because that tranny pump has been making noise ever since I owned the car. Remember....If you make the decision to sell it come spring I got 1st dibbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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