Strange idle noise coming from driver's side--VIDEO!

smills1840 · Sep 30, 2012

Hey guys. I have a strange noise coming from my driver's side of my engine. I think it's either the crank pulley/harmonic dampener, or from the camshafts. It's really bad at idle, but ALMOST goes away when I give it some throttle.

I don't think it's the Lower Timing Cover. It sounds like a bad bearing or something. The noise is hard to describe, so I took a video. It's kind of hard to hear it over the normal engine noise, but if you listen at the very end of the video it's pretty loud.

Another quick question: How tight should my valve cover bolts be? They weren't very tight, but I'm not sure if they are supposed to be or not.

Here's the video:

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Thanks guys!

smills1840 · Dec 15, 2012

So it's definitely that A/C belt idler pulley. There is a ring cut into the lower timing cover from the pulley/belt. The question is..what do I do about it?

EDIT: I moved the A/C idler pulley away from the timing cover, and it was still making the noise. I had the panel behind the driver side front wheel off, and now it sounds like this may be the crank pulley. Would it make this kind of noise if it was going bad?

smills1840 · Dec 16, 2012

Anyone?

born2tune · Dec 16, 2012

I figured you could come up the the decision yourself, either pull all the belts off and replace the covers. or remove the messed up part and move on.

now if you are thinking it might be the crank pulley you must check the bolts holding it down are tight. and look at the pulley's condition overall and the belts condition.

last resort is one of the pulleys are not straight, basically look at the belts from above and ensure the belt is tight and straight along with the pulleys being aligned if not then there is a problem

awd_92laser · Dec 16, 2012

Sounds familiar check for a bad water pump

greekgodchaos · Dec 16, 2012

If you could supply some pictures of the blets and pulleys that would GREATLY help, also a few questions for the OP:

1. Is it just me or is your intake cam gear out farther than the exhaust? Or is that the lighting in the video?
2. The condition of the Crank Pulley: If the rubber is separating from the metal ring, then its time for a new one, but again, pictures would help the diagnosis.
3. It could be that your belt tensioner bearings are going out, as you have stated that your AC tensioner pulley is making that noise, but it could also be your timing belt tensioner or idler pulley as well and both may need replacing.
4. Since you are bone stock, Balance shaft tensioner pulley?
5. How many miles are on the car? Engine? How many prior owners? Receipts or any documentation for past services? If the car has never been serviced than that would be a biggy...

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Best of luck mate, we are here to help, but our knowledge is limited by what information we are given.

Oh and any parts that will need to be replaced (Aside from belts [excluding timing belt]) should be replaced with Mitsubishi OEM parts ONLY, otherwise this will [more than likely] keep happening on a regular basis. I highly reccommend http://www.jnztuning.net/ as they have the largest and best selection for the lowest price for any NEW GENUINE MITSUBISHI OEM parts.

smills1840 · Dec 16, 2012

greekgodchaos said:
If you could supply some pictures of the blets and pulleys that would GREATLY help, also a few questions for the OP:

1. Is it just me or is your intake cam gear out farther than the exhaust? Or is that the lighting in the video?
2. The condition of the Crank Pulley: If the rubber is separating from the metal ring, then its time for a new one, but again, pictures would help the diagnosis.
3. It could be that your belt tensioner bearings are going out, as you have stated that your AC tensioner pulley is making that noise, but it could also be your timing belt tensioner or idler pulley as well and both may need replacing.
4. Since you are bone stock, Balance shaft tensioner pulley?
5. How many miles are on the car? Engine? How many prior owners? Receipts or any documentation for past services? If the car has never been serviced than that would be a biggy...

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smills1840 · Jan 26, 2013

Sorry I never got pictures, and sorry I keep bringing this back up. But it's driving me absolutely crazy.

I pulled off the harmonic dampener, and it looks fine. So I ran the engine on a cold start with no belts attached, and it still made the noise. It seems like it is coming from the crankshaft sprocket on the timing belt, but I'm not sure.

Now what?

EDIT: Now it sounds like it's coming from the cam gears. Here's another video. There are no accessory belts on the car, so it has to be timing/balance belt related.

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smills1840 · Jan 29, 2013

Anyone have any ideas? It sounds like it's coming from the exhaust cam gear area.

smills1840 · Feb 2, 2013

I hate to keep bumping this, but I'm really lost here. Anyone have even the slightest idea?

born2tune · Feb 2, 2013

ok. maybe your timing belt is waaayyyy to tight. or one of the pulleys or even the cam gears are bent. its clear that the noise is the timing belt and you said there is no other friction against it so it boils down to that.

Lou98GSX · Feb 2, 2013

you have to remove the timing covers and look inside there . it does sounds like something is rubbing some where or a bad pulley.

obsidian · Feb 2, 2013

man they've told you so many times. Take off the timing belt cover! It's 10mm bolts.

Take them out and leave the timing alone and then start it with no cover.

smills1840 · Feb 3, 2013

But doesn't the lower timing cover usually get destroyed when you pull it out? And isn't it a pain in the ass to remove?

born2tune · Feb 3, 2013

smills1840 said:
But doesn't the lower timing cover usually get destroyed when you pull it out? And isn't it a pain in the ass to remove?

its not a pain in the ass and it never gets destroyed when you pull it off. it only comes off destroyed if its destroyed already.

its only a few 10mm bolts and falls off.

smills1840 · Feb 3, 2013

born2tune said:
its not a pain in the ass and it never gets destroyed when you pull it off. it only comes off destroyed if its destroyed already.

its only a few 10mm bolts and falls off.

You are talking about the lower timing cover, correct?

obsidian · Feb 3, 2013

Yes he is. It's just like a "valve cover" so to say in how stupid easy it is to get off, especially with you at the point you are at already

smills1840 · Feb 3, 2013

obsidian said:
Yes he is. It's just like a "valve cover" so to say in how stupid easy it is to get off, especially with you at the point you are at already

Well damn. I've read plenty of threads with people saying they can't get the timing cover off, or they destroyed it while taking it off etc. I'll see if I can pull it off later this week and let you guys know what I find.

obsidian · Feb 4, 2013

I'll make this real easy. If the part doesn't "fall" off then you missed a bolt. That thing literally falls off once you've gotten them all off so if it's stuck on then you missed one. Keep searching for it until you find it.

smills1840 · Feb 9, 2013

Well I got the lower timing cover off. Now what? I ran the car for a second without any belts (so no water pump) and I heard the noise but how am I possibly supposed to tell where it's coming from? I also thought I heard a ticking/knocking sound so I shut it down. Checked timing, and the marks line up perfect so I'm not too worried about it.

But anyway, how am I supposed to know which component is making the noise? It's so loud I can hear it anywhere I put my ear. If I'm above the engine, it sounds like it's coming from the exhaust cam. If I'm below the engine, I can't even tell where it's coming from at all. It kind of sounds like it's the oil pump sprocket, but then it also sounds like its the balance shaft belt tensioner.

I'm lost.

smills1840 · Feb 11, 2013

Nobody? My car is sitting in pieces in my garage because I don't feel like pulling it apart again until I at least know what the problem is.

born2tune · Feb 11, 2013

smills1840 said:
Nobody? My car is sitting in pieces in my garage because I don't feel like pulling it apart again until I at least know what the problem is.

ok, if you are willing to spend about 300 bucks on a round trip plane ticket for me to head on towards you I'll help you figure it out over this weekend.

rough · Feb 12, 2013

Still cheaper to fly him out there then to take it to a bad mechanic or dealership!

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Strange idle noise coming from driver's side--VIDEO!

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