Squeeking from Timing Belt Area after drive in the rain! HELP!!!!!! PLEASE

[stockmkt8r]

After driving through a rainstorm in So. Cal, I started hearing a slight squeeking noise at the timing belt area on the driver-side wheel well. I looked down and since my timing belt cover for that bottom area is broken, I can see the belt wiggling a little bit.

The belt doesn't look like it's wiggling up and down, it looks like the teeth on the belt are uneven as the belt runs by. So it'll look something like this:

OOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO


The big O's being normal and the small o's being abnormal.

What do you guys think? This is all accompanying a squeeking noise coming from that area.

Could have driving through the rain caused this? I hit a few big puddles...

Any help or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[thisdsm]

I am also having the same problem you have after that damn rain. Although mine doesnt squeek when I start her up but it squeeks when the car is in motion, on the highway or on the road it squeeks like a damn cricket is under my hood.

 

[Darksyne]

Check your crank pully to make sure it hasn't separated

 

[stockmkt8r]

How do I tell if my crank pully is seperated or not?

Many thanks in advance.

With regard to the other guy who has the same problems as me, please tell me if you figure out a solution.

Thanks, you guys are awesome.

 

[thisdsm]

No I havnt but I will try to find out what the problem is within the next week or 2.

 

[Darksyne]

I tried finding a good picture but couldn't. The stock crank pulley is a harmonic damper, so there is a sandwich of rubber between where the belts ride and where the pulley mounts to the crank. Over time this rubber deteriorates and the crank pulley will begin to separate, causing a wobble.
The common symptom is a rubbing sound as the crank pulley begins to chew its way through your lower timing cover; heading towards its main course, your timing belt :laugh:

I was able to catch mine in time just as a fluke, I was watching the belts and noticed they were moving a little bit left to right. I pulled off the driver's side engine cover and tried to pull the bottom of the crank pulley towards me. If it moves, its bad.

I got mine for around $90 from Conicelli (which is no longer selling Mitsu parts )