Click Click Bang Bang

[GTI]

Ok so I have had this rattle banging type noise coming from my engine when I am in the drive gear under the following conditions:

Headlights are up and on, with fog lights. If I turn one on and the other off, it gets better, but still clicks loud.

Sometimes without my headlights up and in drive when my cooling fan is on.

When my air conditioner is on, which I think is because of the fan going on.

When I put into neutral or park, the rattle stops, regardless of headlights up or down, or a/c being on.



Me and sch1220 (schizzo) have been trying almost everything we can do to stop this rattle, and so far have jsut came to the conclusion of changing my tensioner, possibly the idler pulley as well, and te alternator. Now I want to see what you guys think, as far as whats causing this rattle.

[S.Bretz]

Feel the tension on the belt. If its feels tight, change the serpentine belt. If its loose, change the tensioner.

[GTI]

Feel the tension on the belt. If its feels tight, change the serpentine belt. If its loose, change the tensioner.

it feels kinda normal. not too loose or tight. But would the headlights going on have to really do with the belt?

[slowion2]

when the lights are on or the a/c is on of you raise or lower the windows, you put more electrical strain on the system, and in turn load on the engine. so I'm thinking that is why it's intermittent.

Sam the tensioner is an autozone gimmick that was put on in december. it didn't make the noise all the time, but seems like it wore in and does now. I had the wheel off on the pulley side and removed the splash guard, and had him put it in drive with the brakes on, and you could see the tensioner jumping all over the damn place, and the sound seems to eminate from right there, as if it's striking the timing chain cover for whatever reason. If the belt is worn could it cause the pulley to "walk" under load?

[S.Bretz]

And let me guess. You give it a little gas while its in gear and the noise goes away.


Replace the belt.

[GTI]

And let me guess. You give it a little gas while its in gear and the noise goes away.


Replace the belt.

I am, and the tensioner too.

[S.Bretz]

Spend the cah on a real tensioner. the a/m ones suck.

[slowion2]

yeah that's the plan

thanks Sizzam, I don't know why I didn't think of this when we were working on it. damn sometimers.