water pump or chain tensioner?

[blackbuick87]

Just got done putting in my fan switch and Tcc lockup switch tonight, went for a ride, and now my car sounds like a hooptie

It is rattling from the front of the motor, I am pretty sure its the water pump but I want to make sure its not the chain tensioner everyone talks about. I dont see any water leaking anywhere, and if I try to wiggle the pully it will move a tiny bit back and forth.

What are the symptoms of a bad tensioner?

 

[LTNG KLLR]

Hey mine rattles to does it happen at idle or in gear, mine does it in both and it makes me mad to, wish i knew what it was

 

[blackbuick87]

It does it all the time and just started tonight. I dont even want to drive it like this. Is a water pump a PITA on this car? I was hoping to go to the track next weekend and this is pissing me off

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

i've had one car that came for work that the crank senser had come loose in the bracket and was ratling

the tensioner on the timing chain will be more of a noise that you hear best around 2000 rpm


take the belt off and start it up to check for any accesery being the noise

 

[FinGN]

I also had a huge rattle in my car at idle with the trans on drive. If I put it on neutral it almost went away and when getting the car on the move there was no rattle at all. I also thought it was the timing chain tensioner, but when i changed my cracked header the sound went away completely. Turned out it was one of the brackets keeping the a/c compressor and alternator in place. Even though mine made the sound at idle, you might want to check that the brackets are fastened tight.

 

[blackbuick87]

Well I ordered a new water pump ($20 after core) and was planning on running it for a few seconds with the belt off to see if it still rattled. Any tips on making the water pump swap go easier?

 

[machinegun]

Remove the belt first. Start car and see if sound goes away. If so check the idler pulley. Very rare to have a water pump make noise with out leaking.

 

[MSDGN]

Check all the bolts for the accessories..especially the AC...the bolts that hold them to the bracket can come loose and rattle...

 

[blackbuick87]

You guys were right, it was the intercooler bracket. The drivers side bolt worked its way out. I borrowed one from the other side and the sound is gone completely. Thanks

BTW now I need a bolt. It has a 13mm head. Can anyone tell me what the thread size is?

 

[crs]

noise rattle

My 87 limited is doing the same thing. I also thought that it was my water pump, (bearings) so i changed it even though it was never leaking, and later found out that it was not the water pump. i still dont know what it is, but a friend of mine told me that it might be the cam sensor. My car makes that rattle noise all the time( idle and in gear). i also need help!!!!!!

 

[blackbuick87]

Or it could be the timing chain tensioner, or one of the accessories. Take the belt off and start it (only run it for a few seconds) and see if it still rattles. If it does you can rule out all the accesories