Hello, I recently changed my timing belt and front main seals. After getting everything put back together I was rewarded with a fantastic whistling sound coming from what appears to be the cam sprocket. It is most noticeable at idle after the car has been running for a while. Aside from the noise the car runs great, the timing belt is not slipping and the car is not overheating. I just have this dang noise to deal with, and it is rather concerning. This is the exact noise I hear:


credits to abrokenframe6 who originally shot the video.

 

Do I just... freaking sender?

 

Did you replace the tensioner for the timing belt or did you use your old one. When they go bad they will give a high-pitched whine. The sound in the video is so poor I can't hear any whistle.

 

Use your $5 stethoscope to isolate the noise - or a rubber tube pointed towards various possibilities (listening on the other end) or a long screwdriver or thin metal object touching possibilities touching near your ear on the other end. Or loosen v belts, and change tension on the timing belts until something changes. I trust you used the correct timing belt for your engine - early cars have square teeth, later have round teeth.

 

Thank you for the replies. I replaced the tensioner when I put the new belt on, and I used a continental belt with the correct teeth. I will use a piece of hose to try and accurately diagnose the location of the noise, but I am pretty sure it is coming from the cam sprocket area. Sorry about the quality of the audio in the vid, it was just the only thing I could find that really displayed the noise I am experiencing and I dont have a camera to record my own engine.

 

i saw and heard your video that you posted. i would first spritz some water on those alternator / power steering/ ac belts with engine
running to see if sound changes and go from there...

 

+1. Belts sometimes develop bizarre sound effects. I had water pump belt once on a 740 that sounded like a rod knock! Spritzing some water is good to see if briefly the sound changes.

 

Ok, so here's where I'm at. The noise sounds a bit more like a sort of rattle/rubbing sound. I used a rolled up newspaper which worked pretty well to locate the sound. I also used water spritzing to determine that it is probably not belt noise. It appears to be coming from the cam sprocket center (where the bolt is). It appears to, as of now, only occur at low rpms. The bolt is torqued enough, so I am not sure why I would be hearing a rattle from that area, I think I might have to pull the cam sprocket and get a better look at everything? Thank you for the responses so far.

 

Have you changed the tension on the timing belt? (loosen then tighten the tensioner lock nut)

 

Yep, thought maybe that would do something but it was to no avail.

 

You eliminated the belts. So then you are looking at a bearing of some type, probably accessory related like water pump, alternator, power steering, A/C compressor. You may want to take off a belt thus eliminating its accessory function. I doubt it is the head itself, you'd be having a bigger problem then. Keep in mind that sound travels in weird ways around a motor and a rolled newspaper is not an ideal tool...

 

Thanks Lev, I dont really need the ac belt anyway I guess since my ac is completely shot and I dont plan on replacing it anytime soon, I could get rid of that and route the power steering pump directly to the crank pulley. And I will get a more proper tool to locate the noise again. In the event that the noise is indeed coming from the head, could camshaft wear cause vibration which would be more noticeable from the cam sprocket area?

 

Well, possible but I don't think it's likely. Never heard of that happening, besides this noise started after you did something. Some type of wear would be happening progressively over time. You did something while changing the belt, retrace your steps, check your work, concentrate on things you just replaced... It's a minor thing.

 

So, I listened with some pvc pipe today. Confirmed it was coming from the cam sprocket area. I took off the cam sprocket made sure everything was groovy, and then put it back on as instructed by the manual. Still made the noise when i fired the car up, so i figured: "screw it, I'll just drive the thing." I drove the car for maybe 20 miles going up to 60 mph and then took er home. I parked and listened and it sounds like the sound is getting a bit better, so maybe I am just stressing over something inconsequential. I think Im going to drive er around for now and see if the sound continues to get better. I'll update in a week or so to let you dudes know if anything bad happens.

 

sounds like a plan! so many positive waves!

[QUOTE=limmons;509976]so i figured: "screw it, I'll just drive the thing." QUOTE]

 

Sorry for the late update, I know you all were waiting with bated breath. Car runs fine after about 280 miles. The noise is still present at a certain rpm but it seems quieter still. Thanks for everything.