My car recently has had a terrible noise coming from the engine. The noise occurs at idle and high rpm, in all gear shifts.

Here is a recording of the sound at idle on my dropbox.

Any help discerning the cause would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like your idler/tensioner pulley died. Take off the drive belts and spin them by hand, I bet one of the tensioner feels like gravel inside. Cheap and easy fix if that's the problem.

 

Allright, so I finally had a chance to take off pullies and belts. Bad news is,, its not at all belt, pully or accessory related. Its def under the timing cover. I took it to a mechanic and he sais 90% sure water pump. So, Im wondering if theres another way to be sure it isnt a timing chain guide issue? A timing guide is a worst case scenario. Water pump will be a bit easier and much cheaper.

Oh, by the way, all 3 belt pullies are dying, The fan bracket bearing spins very free, but sounds and feels gritty. The 2 tensioner pullies are same,, a bit looser and gritty. I ran the engine with all belts off though,, and it isnt any belt related items.

 

Water pump isn't easier than the guide. You have to take the front engine cover off to address both and it's a pain in the azz. Replace all of your pulleys though since you can remove them when the cover comes off a lot easier.

 

If you have < 07 he should have the access panels and not have to remove the front cover. My water pump went out a few years ago and I changed it myself. However, you have to move the crank a little and when I did it cycled over. So, I ended up taking it all apart and doing a whole timing chain, guide, and water pump deal.

Usually, when the guides go out it goes away when the oil pressure builds up. Remove the left black cover and if your tensioner arm is extended all the way then that guide rail might have broke. The other ones are harder to tell.

 

So, is there a problem if I try to move crank back 20 degree from TDC it might just cycle over more than I want? If this happens will it mess something up? Seems like a small pain, but as long as all the timing components are connected it shouldnt be a damaging issue? Unless I can find a good price for the job, Im doing it myself. Any tips other than following the repair manual procedure?

 

I had to drive the car 1 last time today,, and I think its def finished driving untill I get it fixed. Ran fine, but at idle it was idling very low and missing a bit. I think the water pump is flopping around so bad that it is affecting timing chain tension,, and therefore affecting timing somewhat. Pretty sure it hasnt skipped timing as it runs fine at 1000-2000 rpm. I took it veeerrry slow and steady getting home,, made it,, parked,,no bad noise at shut down. I think its a near miss for potential disaster!

 

Most expensive water pump EVER! Oh well, she runs again.

 

How did you eventually get it replaced? This will be good information for the members here, WP failures on a VQ are fairly rare so there's not a ton of info here on fixes.

 

I started the fix myself. Pretty easy if you do it RIGHT! It can not be strssed enough to put the engine at #1 cyl top dead center. If the home mechanic does this, then the water pump job should be a breeze. I did not get the engine at #1 TDC,, the cams relaxed without primary chain tension,, and it was all over. I had to take it to a shop and have the engine re timed. At least the mechanic seemed to get it all right. Except for the belt tension,, I spent a few minutes every morning adjusting the belts to stop them from screaching at cold start. Shes a runner now. Next issue,,, double din radio climate control replace. Im pretty sure I can do this one!