strange rattling noise from the engine bay

[shananigans89]

strange rattling noise from the engine bay started last night. the only time i hear it seems to be at idle, parked, A/C off. i made a youtube video of it so anyone can hear it. it comes and goes at random.

anyone have any ideas? it seems to come from around the serp belt area[YOUTUBE]http://youtu.be/7OOk5uNDoZo[/YOUTUBE]

[ViperThreat]

possibly your catalytic bracket.. Its on the back of the engine. they rust out then rattle.

[shananigans89]

yea thats a thought, except that when i replaced the cat for my new highflow one, the bracket was already broken off. just left the screws in there, they were still tight. the bracket had just rusted apart.

lol thanks, but it can't be. the new cat doesnt have a bracket

[shananigans89]

bump, i'm wondering if it is a pulley/pulley bearing or tensioner. i just had the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, and water pump replaced at 99k roughly 3 months ago. i'm hoping that hasnt gone bad yet, but i guess something could have been overlooked or done wrong by the shop.

the i still think it could be something with the serp belt. i don't know if/when that has ever been changed.

[SVTFocus noob]

Take your Serp/drive/Aux belt off then start car up if the noise is gone you know its there if the sound is not gone then it has to do with timing belt. If you say you just got new water pump check the pulley could be missing one or two of the three bolts holding it to the water pump. Reason I say that is because I literally just fixed this. I had a similar sound coming from engine bay like you and some how those bolts got thrown out while driving!!! Had to replace them and sound went away. Hope this can be helpful to you!!

Jake

[Jmoorer5]

Originally Posted by SVTFocus noob

Take your Serp/drive/Aux belt off then start car up if the noise is gone you know its there if the sound is not gone then it has to do with timing belt. If you say you just got new water pump check the pulley could be missing one or two of the three bolts holding it to the water pump. Reason I say that is because I literally just fixed this. I had a similar sound coming from engine bay like you and some how those bolts got thrown out while driving!!! Had to replace them and sound went away. Hope this can be helpful to you!!

Jake

I also had mine replace about 3 months ago and now I have a racheting sound as well. My guy seems to think it is the tensioner for the timing belt. He said if it is not set right it will make that noise. Now comes the headache with dealing with the shop that did the initial work.

[shananigans89]

Jmoorer5 thats what i was thinking of doing. it hasnt been but a few months since i had the work done and the guys at the shop where i had it done were real nice.

i'm glad to know i'm not the only one with this phantom noise. i may try SVTFocus noob's suggestion next week. im currently out of town away from the car for this week but as soon as i get back i'll be working hard on this issue.

if anyone else has more thoughts or experience it would be much appreciated!

[SVTFocus noob]

Originally Posted by Jmoorer5

I also had mine replace about 3 months ago and now I have a racheting sound as well. My guy seems to think it is the tensioner for the timing belt. He said if it is not set right it will make that noise. Now comes the headache with dealing with the shop that did the initial work.

Yes it very well could be tensioner I failed to me to mention I replaced that as well but the sound was still there after I replaced tensioner so I matched bolts for water pump pulley and put those in a sound went away. But first make sure this sound is from your serp belt so you don't Chase this sound with money!

Jake

[Chris_HT]

first investment: one ft of garden hose, clean ear, and 5 to 10 minutes of your time, and you should know where it's coming from

[shananigans89]

FOUND IT!!! i had gone to do my oil change and met a friend at the shop (auto shop on post -- do your own work type thing) i turned it on while waiting for the shop to open and we saw what/where the noise was.

its coming from the A/C clutch! the outermost plate is loose/rattling when the A/C is off. when the A/C is on, the clutch engages and the piece isnt loose anymore. when its off, i can touch the piece with my finger and move it around a bit.

i got the old guy at the shop to look at it and told him what it had been doing and he said yep thats it. now i just need to replace the A/C clutch.

any pointers or how-to's for this task?