New Noise after Timing Belt Change - Ideas?
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Timing belt and water pump change complete. Drove about 80-100 miles so far with zero noise (like any well running LS, hard to even tell when car is idling its so quiet).
Then on the way home last night, I noticed an ever so slight dull ticking. Now keep in mind when I say ticking I do NOT mean an internal engine tick, more of a "something is clipping some hard plastic" kind of tick.
When I come out this morning to leave for work, I still hear it, very faint but instantly can tell (IMO) it is not an internal engine noise. However by time I get to work, 50 miles later, the tick is more pronounced.
Info I have:
1. The noise sounds external
2. The noise/tick still sounds like something is clipping plastic
3. The tick/clipping speed does increase with acceleration
4. Other than the noise, there does not appear to be any impact on performance/running
I am going to take it in tomorrow, but any ideas what the sound might be and where to start looking?
Then on the way home last night, I noticed an ever so slight dull ticking. Now keep in mind when I say ticking I do NOT mean an internal engine tick, more of a "something is clipping some hard plastic" kind of tick.
When I come out this morning to leave for work, I still hear it, very faint but instantly can tell (IMO) it is not an internal engine noise. However by time I get to work, 50 miles later, the tick is more pronounced.
Info I have:
1. The noise sounds external
2. The noise/tick still sounds like something is clipping plastic
3. The tick/clipping speed does increase with acceleration
4. Other than the noise, there does not appear to be any impact on performance/running
I am going to take it in tomorrow, but any ideas what the sound might be and where to start looking?
#2
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Update:
After going out and taking a look, let me revise the problem. It is definitely not internal and really is not even a ticking noise. I am pretty sure at this point the noise is not a lifter or the timing being off.
It appears to me that something is "loose" perhaps the fan? It appears to have a slight wobble when idling and there is a slight vibration. It could also be a tensioner is my guess.
Given that the sound nor vibration were apparent after the install or the first 50 miles or so I drove, I am more than a little nervous that something is coming "loose" and could fly off on the way home causing a much larger issue.
Scary part is I have to drive it 50 miles home after work, so I will be babying her the whole way.
After going out and taking a look, let me revise the problem. It is definitely not internal and really is not even a ticking noise. I am pretty sure at this point the noise is not a lifter or the timing being off.
It appears to me that something is "loose" perhaps the fan? It appears to have a slight wobble when idling and there is a slight vibration. It could also be a tensioner is my guess.
Given that the sound nor vibration were apparent after the install or the first 50 miles or so I drove, I am more than a little nervous that something is coming "loose" and could fly off on the way home causing a much larger issue.
Scary part is I have to drive it 50 miles home after work, so I will be babying her the whole way.
![Crying](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/Peace.gif)
#3
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Might help to use a mechanic's stethoscope or something similar to pinpoint the noise, just be careful where you place it. Not likely an idler; those spin at about 4x crankshaft speed, and it would sound more like a buzz. Best way to check is to take off the serpentine belt, then see if the sound is still there. If it is, then you at least know that it is internal, probably a lifter.
#6
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Update # 2
The "noise" has gotten progressively worse from when I arrived at work this morning and by the time I got home tonight. Full on scary noise now lol.![Sad](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/sad.gif)
Below are two videos I took, first is this morning, the second is after i get home 35 miles later.
Hoping someone has some ideas but my thought is if it is progressively sounding very different, then that tells me its not lifters or even timing, right? This sounds like something is coming loose which may be good or bad but I would love to hear from the Lexus wisemen that roam these forums!
Needless to say its not getting driven anymore, going to a Lexus certified shop on Wednesday so it sits until then.
Sound this morning
35 miles later... yeah i know BAD
The "noise" has gotten progressively worse from when I arrived at work this morning and by the time I got home tonight. Full on scary noise now lol.
![Sad](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/sad.gif)
Below are two videos I took, first is this morning, the second is after i get home 35 miles later.
Hoping someone has some ideas but my thought is if it is progressively sounding very different, then that tells me its not lifters or even timing, right? This sounds like something is coming loose which may be good or bad but I would love to hear from the Lexus wisemen that roam these forums!
Needless to say its not getting driven anymore, going to a Lexus certified shop on Wednesday so it sits until then.
Sound this morning
35 miles later... yeah i know BAD
Trending Topics
#11
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
once again, remove the drive belt, that takes like 1 minute of work!!
if the sound goes away, you have instantly narrowed it down to either fan bracket, alternator, power steering pulley, A/C clutch pulley, or drive belt idler or drive belt tensioner
if the sound goes away, you have instantly narrowed it down to either fan bracket, alternator, power steering pulley, A/C clutch pulley, or drive belt idler or drive belt tensioner
![](http://i.fixya.net/fixya20/uploads/Images/C91819F.jpg)
Last edited by LScowboyLS; 12-17-13 at 10:55 AM.
#13
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Wow the fan bracket seems like a bit of work... question. Since I have narrowed it down to one of the following:
Fan bracket
Alternator
Power steering pulley
A/C clutch pulley
Drive belt idler
Drive belt tensioner
Are any of these something that should keep me from driving it 3-4 miles to a (new)
mechanic?
Fan bracket
Alternator
Power steering pulley
A/C clutch pulley
Drive belt idler
Drive belt tensioner
Are any of these something that should keep me from driving it 3-4 miles to a (new)
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#14
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
So I just noticed after taking off the serpentine belt that the crankshaft pulley mark - which I believe should be set to 0 is actually set at something approaching 9 or 10 o'clock! That is to say the white mark is so far left its off the 10-0 gauge.
That cant be right... right?
Before I do anything though, is there a chance that this dumbass mechanic had to set it there because of some back *** way he setup the timing belt?
Any advice on next step?
That cant be right... right?
Before I do anything though, is there a chance that this dumbass mechanic had to set it there because of some back *** way he setup the timing belt?
Any advice on next step?