KenD Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 I've been trying to trace a growling noise for about the past 5 months. I thought it was my a/c compressor and had the bearing changed, but no difference. I took it to a cadillac dealer and they diagnosed an alternator bearing noise and the a/c compressor bearing noise. Go figure. So today I tried again to isolate the noise. It's more prominent when it's in gear such as drive or reverse and not so much when just idling in park or neutral. So I took my 1/2 inch breaker bar and proceeded to undo the tension on the belt and lo and behold as soon as I released a little tension, with the belt still turning, the noise went away. I released the bar and the noise came back. I put more tension on the belt by pushing the tensioner on the belt more and there was more growling noise. Now, I had this tensioner assembly replaced along with an idler pulley about 5 months ago to get rid of a whining/screeching noise. The screeching went away with the new components on there, but not the growling. Is there an adjustment on the tensioner or should I just replace it again myself and see if this solves the problem? 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caddyman Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 I think it is th Power Steering pump / and or seal. Try using a stthescope(sp?) to isolate the noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted May 15, 2004 Report Share Posted May 15, 2004 There is no adjustment. If infact it is the tensioner, then the only fix is replacing the bearing or the whole assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 16, 2004 Report Share Posted May 16, 2004 If you replaced the tensioner its unlikely the cause, lets assume that for a moment. Besides the tensioner you will notice that there is a second stationary pulley. Its possible that when you take the load off, you are quieting the bearing in that pulley or your alternator front or rear bearing. I am chasing the same type of noise you describe and am interested in what you find. I have not done it yet, but try taking the belt off altogether and spinning the accessories by hand and see if you get any roughess, looseness, wobble or dry metallically sounding rotation. Its driving me crazy also, and I am thinking that its my front alternator bearing. I just need some time to get under the hood, which I have not had. For your information, my AC compressor was loud it had a metallic sound and I put 2 oz of an oil charge and it sounds much better now. Let us know what you find out, I would look at that idler pulley and alternator bearings, you are taking load off all accessories when you let the pressure off the tensioner. (it is SO embarrising that noise, the car looks great, and here comes my whinner last week that was valet parked at a wedding, it just doesnt fit!!!) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenD Posted May 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Scotty, I'll pull of the belt this weekend and see how it goes. I hate the noise it makes. Car drives awesome, lots of balls, but that incessant growling noise is driving me up the wall!!! I'll keep you posted here or by PM. 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 17, 2004 Report Share Posted May 17, 2004 Scotty, I'll pull of the belt this weekend and see how it goes. I hate the noise it makes. Car drives awesome, lots of balls, but that incessant growling noise is driving me up the wall!!! I'll keep you posted here or by PM. DITTO THAT, ITS DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful car that sounds like CRAP! AND it has times when it is REALLY bad, I need to get on it this week myself. let me know what you find out! Good Luck, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyG Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Well, I'll say you are in the right area. I'm with Scotty on this. You need to take the belt off and feel each and every bearing that turns with that belt. Do this by hand and see if you can feel any roughness. Give each bearing some wiggle to try to detect any wear. This would be most pronounced toward and away from the direction that the belt pulls axially, as opposed to radially. Never underestimate the amount of a persons greed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Hatfield Posted May 18, 2004 Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Ken: Don't forget the tensioner for the water pump belt. Don H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenD Posted May 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2004 Don, checked that and actually replaced the belt a couple of days ago, greased the tensioner and all is well on that side of the car. I'm leaning towards my alternator making the noise like Scotty said, but it so hard to actually figure it out. The noise resonates throughout the area and to try and pin point one piece is difficult. Thanks for the input though. 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry94 Posted May 19, 2004 Report Share Posted May 19, 2004 Don, checked that and actually replaced the belt a couple of days ago, greased the tensioner and all is well on that side of the car. I'm leaning towards my alternator making the noise like Scotty said, but it so hard to actually figure it out. The noise resonates throughout the area and to try and pin point one piece is difficult. Thanks for the input though. With the belt removed you should be able to spin each individual pulley and hear a "dry" noisy bearing. It won't be loud like it is with the load on it, however you should hear/feel the guilty party. Barry 2008 STS V82016 Colorado Z711970 Corvette LT-1 Coupe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msilva954 Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 I have the same problem and the dealer said they want $45 to find it. Mine sounds like a "ewewwewewewe" and it keeps on going and going and going. Looks great but sounds like crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenD Posted May 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Scotty, I think I may have something. It could be my power steering pump or pulley that's making the noise. Caddyman may be right. When I turn the steering wheel the noise goes away. I haven't had time to pull off the belt, but I'm now leaning in this direction. I checked the fluid and it's topped up but smells kinda funny (not sure if there's supposed to be a distinct odour or not with the fluid). I'll pull the belt of this weekend if it doesn't rain. 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Scotty, I think I may have something. It could be my power steering pump or pulley that's making the noise. Caddyman may be right. When I turn the steering wheel the noise goes away. I haven't had time to pull off the belt, but I'm now leaning in this direction. I checked the fluid and it's topped up but smells kinda funny (not sure if there's supposed to be a distinct odour or not with the fluid). I'll pull the belt of this weekend if it doesn't rain. Oddly enough it sounds like its power steering in mine also, but does not vary with turning the steering wheel at all. I have to pull my belt off this weekend also and spin everything and install the new tensioner, will advise. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Thanks Bbobynski, I had read here that the power steering pump could be misaligned before but was unsure how to determine if it was. Your description of how to inspect it is terrific, Thanks, Mike I had eyed it up and it looked good, but I did not realize how sensitive it was that a tiny misalignment could cause trouble as you describe, Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rek Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 In "Automotive Speak", is it generally understood, that reference to a "side", be it right or left, is from the vantage point of a "Seated" driver, behind the steering wheel? Ie: left side is the drivers side, right side is the passenger side."slide it rearward on the engine (towards the left side of the car)" Sometimes, On a Saturday Morning, out in the sun, bent over, under the hood, facing the car, "Left Side" can become the one on your left, instead of the "other" left side... IF you still have the"Warm, Space Cadet Glow"... rek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted May 22, 2004 Report Share Posted May 22, 2004 In "Automotive Speak", is it generally understood, that reference to a "side", be it right or left, is from the vantage point of a "Seated" driver, behind the steering wheel? Ie: left side is the drivers side, right side is the passenger side."slide it rearward on the engine (towards the left side of the car)" Sometimes, On a Saturday Morning, out in the sun, bent over, under the hood, facing the car, "Left Side" can become the one on your left, instead of the "other" left side... IF you still have the"Warm, Space Cadet Glow"... Yes - that sums it up. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenD Posted May 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2004 Okay, I'd like to put an end to this beaten horse thread, so here it goes. I yanked the belt off today, well just enough to pull it off the PS pulley and then the alternator pulley. The alternator pulley seems to run smooth when I spin it. You can hear the bearings click when spun from a stand still. I can get a good 3-4 rotations on the pulley before it stops. The PS pulley on the other hand is a different story and I need your help to tell me if this is proper or not. When I spin the pulley backwards it rotates maybe a full turn plus. If I give the pulley a couple of spins forward in succession, I can spin it, spin it, spin it, and then stops. I try to spin it again and I can get maybe an 1/8 of a spin on it. Now, if I rotate it rearwards again it spins like normal, I stop it and spin it forward and I had a 50/50 chance of it spinning a full turn or a stiff 1/8 of a turn again. Now, would this be something in the pump that is stopping it or is it the bearings in the pulley that are being a PITA? I've also ruled out my new tensioner pulley and idler pulley as the noise. 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msilva954 Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 Just did the test today too and I have the same problem with the powersteering one...I actually think that it is normal. I get a horrible noise just from spining the idler by hand and I think I also have a bad bearing in the alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95SLS Posted May 31, 2004 Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 I had this same problem, And I had a terrible time finding the source of the noise. Being in cemente makes the noise bounce all over too I noticed, It sounded like the AC clutch I had just replaced, I almost went there! Turned out, that it was the tensioner, I got really good at removal and instalation because mine needed to be shimed as compared to the old one. A very slight shim, Soon as I got it right whala! Bobynsky suggested anew belt, and I did that, but I also cleaned the pully's with like brake cleaner. I was foolish enough to use some ole belt dressing in trying to locate the noise, Well, I located the source but drenched everything in something o too good for that area. I never did figure out (And it is not in the manuels from factory) how to adjust PS pump, but good think because 2 months later still quiet as a mouse. Oh, I also changed the idle pully. Why not? I tried the lube the bearing trick but where aluminum meets steel, It was locked down and I could not get into it. After doing it like 15 20 times I got it down to like 15 minutes to remove belt, Idle, and tensioner and re install. Not bad eh? MC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenD Posted May 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2004 What did you shim the tensioner pulley with? 1994 STS Pearl White 260,000 KM (163,000 miles) <img src="http://img45.photobucket.com/albums/v137/caesar/caddycaesar.jpg" border="0" class="linked-sig-image" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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