noise like a hamster on a wheel from driver side

[eclipse-nate]

this just started the other day, seems like it is getting worse, is it the timing belt? or the tensioner? or could it be something completely different? I do not know where to start, even when i turn the wheel now it sounds like i need power steering fluid but i checked and it is full, could the problem be linked? Im new to the mechanic world, anything would help thanks!

 

[needsy]

I'm not sure what a hamster sounds like, but on the driver's side there are several things that could be wrong. To isolate if it is an engine or drivetrain related noise, put the car in neutral and rev it a bit. If the noise is present and changes it is probably an engine problem. It could be an accessory or timing or something along those lines. If there is no noise except when the car is moving, it is probably something with the drivetrain. It could be a rubbing brake or a wheel bearing, etc. First figure out exactly where the noise is coming from and narrow down the options from there.

 

[eclipse-nate]

It does it in neutral as well, i looked under the hood and it absolutely sounds like it is part of the belts or pulleys, i just dont know how to pinpoint it. Should i start with replacing the belts?

 

[dlricker]

This is what I would do. I get a spray can of brake parts cleaner or similar, don't use anything slippery. Its easy if you do with with a straw on the can, and try your best to spray each belt individually. If the squeal stops or changes pitch then you know that you found whats causing the noise. Thats if its belt related.

 

[joyfil2001]

Check your harmonic balancer. It is the main pulley. While the car is running see if it is wobbling at all.

 

[falcon8r]

Well I had a sim. noise on my talon Saturday. Was driving it and it started to make a buzzy , hampster kind of noise. Look what I found. I was about as lucky as could be. That was a Gates 167 belt less than a year old. A bearing going bad in an idler pulley will sound like pebbles getting ground up. Tres....

 

[joyfil2001]

Well I had a sim. noise on my talon Saturday. Was driving it and it started to make a buzzy , hampster kind of noise. Look what I found. I was about as lucky as could be. That was a Gates 167 belt less than a year old. A bearing going bad in an idler pulley will sound like pebbles getting ground up. Tres....

Wow! Good catch. Eclipse-nate, pop your timing cover to make sure your belt is still ok.

 

[eclipse-nate]

the only thing i saw on mine was the belt did look like it was slipping to the left. one of the pulleys did seem a tad wobbly. wasnt under the cover, was the closest one to the to the headlight if your standing in front of the hood. is that harmonic balancer? sorry so "newbish". ill take brake cleaner to it tomorrow.

 

[hondaslayer1]

Front one is power steering or the water pump if I remember correctly

 

[98gst14b]

I had a noise like that once, ended up being the crank pully, the rubber dampener wears and makes a strange noise.

 

[snakeyes711]

Rub a bar of soap on the acc. belts." careful and don't get your hand caught up down there it only takes a little" It'll lube the belts to stop any squealing. Its a temp fix they make belt dressing in a can also. Its an old trick of the trade for squealing belts. If the noise is still there I'd probably aim at the timing belt pulleys one is probably starting to wear out the bearings.


Falcon8r, did you ever find out what did that to your belt? Check your timing belt pulleys for any play when you replace the belt there shouldn't be a whole lot of play in them, if theres a bit the bearings inside are probably worn.

 

[JLindback]

Just seeing that picture of Falcon8r's timing belt again makes me want to That has to be one of the worst feelings ever.

 

[eclipse-nate]

it was the idle pulley. fixed. with new belts and water pump. what a $%&^

 

[907gs-t]

Nice to see you got it resolved.

 

[eclipse-nate]

mneah.... sooo.... after day 1 fixing the car, i got the noise back. could be a coinsedence that its a different pulley. i got a burnt rubber smell coming from the alternator belt that i just replaced. could it be the shaft on the alternator or maybe just the pulley itself? when i accelerate the whole belt jumps. its tight. something isnt right. the gremlin noise is coming from the around the same area. and the belts, water pump, and motor mount are brand new. any ideas?

 

[luv2rallye]

You didn't put the water pump pulley halves on wrong did you? http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...n-out-water-pump-pulley-go.html#post151166499.

Also you can just temporarily remove a suspect belt to see if noise goes away.

 

[skatershawn]

ok so... im having an issue like this... sorry to steal a thread but there is no point to start a new one! It is making that hamster noise, and i was thinking it was my water pump, cause im losing a small amount of coolant daily, but its brand new! so is my timing belt tensioner, and the idler pulley, BUT i have noticed on my timing belt, scratches evenly all the way around, about the same thickness of that PIC a few posts up!
NOWHERE near as bad but was hoping you all could help me in the right direction before i pul the motor completely out and fix something i didn't need to!
The noise is there at idle, wasnt really before, but it is most loud between 1000-2300 rpms then its a ( not so loud) hulling hum and then stops over 3000rpms.
Its a very consistant noise!

thanks for any advice and sorry for being a thread thief!

 

[luv2rallye]

^^ For timing belt groove, did you recently remove your oil pan? There are two short bolts that are supposed to go in front so they don't touch the timing belt. If you didn't put them in there, the incorrect "too long" bolts will wear a groove.

For noise, disconnect accessory belts one at a time to locate.

Pressurize cooling system to find coolent leak. Did you put crossover pipe o-ring on properly? http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/309982-coolant-leak.html

 

[skatershawn]

It wear on the top my timing belt and I dint put the water pump on during the rebuild.. I had some one rebuild it for me.