ticking/ tapping noise from lower engine after timing belt, seals, and tensioner replacement

[dsmjunky737]

Hi im a little stuck at the moment and need some advice. i recently replaced my timing belt, tensioner, idler, cam, crank, balance shaft, and oil pump seals, on my 1995 eagle talon, after putting everything back together there is not a tapping/ ticking noise from down lower on the engine, its not super loud but enough to be concerned, i removed drive belts and the noise is still there. i removed the upper and lower timing covers with the engine running and can hear it in the lower half somewhere. one thing a am concerned about is when i broke the oil pump pulley bolt loose it was pretty tight and when it came loose there was a snap noise which i thought was just mostly the nut breaking loose. when i turn the oil pump sprocket there a small amount of free play in either direction. the noise is not constant ticking, it sounds like tick tick ... tick tick.... my balance shaft is semi frozen so i do not have a belt on that but was that way for years and was not making noise prior to these recent repairs. i also tried to check to make sure the metal ring that the crank sensor reads on is not hitting that i can tell. thanks any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Vegas Smith]

Sounds like the oil pump/pulley could be worn out. I don't think there should be any play like you described.

 

[chrysler kid]

With the symptoms you are describing I would say it is oil pump related. The pulley should not have any lateral movement to it, if it can wiggle in a direction it will affect the tension on the belt.

For reference after a timing belt and tensioner job on my gst the new tight belt made my oil pump louder which made the clicking noise very noticeable with the lower timing cover off. After about 5k miles though the belt seems to have "eased" on the pump and it no longer makes the clicking noise. So the clicking on one hand is normal after a new belt and tensioner, but the play is not

If I remember correctly my oil pump pulley went in pretty far when I put it back on, and the pulley basically sits over the seal which is in a tube that the pulley slides over, so there really isn't any wiggle room when the pulley is on

I played around with the oil pump pulley because I had it misaligned to thr balance shaft the first time so when I spun it with a drill I could hear the pump making that noise as it built pressure. Once my timing cover and splash shield were back on the car though most of the noise went away unless you dipped your ear under the drivers side tire while car car was running to hear the ticking. I have 8k miles on it now and like I said before the noise went away after a few thousand miles on my Kevlar gates belt

 

[dsmjunky737]

i have a feeling it is also related to the oil pump, the movement i was describing is counterclockwise and clockwise it has no inward and outward play. Feels like whatever it is conectted to on inside the engine has some play. I dont know if im up for replacing the oil pump in the car i might just put it back together drive it and see if it quiets down.