Bearing in waterpump?

[ollieboy]

Ok, I had another thread but went and did more investigating so deleted it.

My engine in my aw11 started making a funny sound today.

I narrowed it down to either the waterpump or near the waterpump. It's sort of a quick thud thud thud sound in low revs but in high revs, sort of above 2500 it go's away. Should I replace the waterpump? How can I check to make absolutely sure it is that?

Also other information that may be relevant. The first time it started making the sound I went "Holy crap wtf?" and pulled over and turned the car off. I checked oil just in case it was that(it wasn't) then I started car and the sound went away after a few seconds of idle. I drove home which was about 80 or 90 kms then it didn't happen again until I took the car for a short drive before an oil change. The car is more difficult to start now. You turn the key and it turns over slowly, hesitates a second to three seconds, turns over again, hesitates then starts.

Thanks for your help.

Ollie

[Mr Revhead]

always hard to diagnose over the net...

if it is the waterpump, easy fix.
i assume you have checked all the bearings in the idlers?
try removing the drive belts and turn things by hand and see what they feel like.

[ollieboy]

I took off belts and turned everything but nothing felt odd, and i'm not too sure how to know if a bearing is dying. They all seem to be similar but it's hard to say.

Also, just for general knowledge. A big end bearing failure would not make the sound then go away for a few kms would it? I just need assurance its not that, I don't think it is but pays to check.

[ollieboy]

I meant to say, if it was the big-end bearing it wouldn't go away at higher revs or when under load would it?

Cheers

[Lloyd]

Not the cambelt flapping against the timing covers is it?

[ollieboy]

I don't think so, but I haven't fully got the cover off to check yet, theres one mongrel bolt I just can't get. As far as I can tell its either cam related or the big ends but can't be sure. It is however, definitely not the waterpump. I took the belt fully off and turned the car over and it still made a knock.

[Jdawg]

OT a little, but a lot of guys have noises they don't know where from. A helpful hint. Mechanics stethoscopes are only around $20.00 at Supercheap, Repco etc and are far better than human ear alone or the oft mentioned screwdriver method of detecting noises.
Also gives hours of fun listening to all the sounds your car makes.

[ollieboy]

thanks for that. Are they the same as a doctors stethoscope, my mum has one, although she might get quite pissed when she goes to use it on a patient next and it was covered in oil.

cheers bud

[Ae92typeX]

able to describe the 'thud' any other way?
I cant see it being the waterpump bearing with a thud noise, or the fact that it goes away with higher revs imo.

[ollieboy]

Yeah its definitely not the water pump, I disconnected the belt and turned over the engine and the sound was still there. Its sort of a rhythmic tick. Thats the best description I can think of.

[rollaholic]

not the same as doctors version, it just has a pipe on the end instead of the little amplifier thingee that the doctors ones have.

very handy tool though

[postfach]

I had a mate come round the other day, his car was making a slight tapping sound from around the power steering, i guessed it might be a slipping belt so i sprayed a bit of silicone (gets rid of the slip noise, not the problem) on the suspect belt to check and the sound went away, he was going to a mechanic the next day anyway so i advised him to get the belt tightened at the same time (it was dark, or i would have done it myself).

[ollieboy]

it doesnt have power steering, and I've taken all the belts off and the sound is still there.

[ollieboy]

I took it to the mechanics today but it won't even start anymore

On first inspection, may be tensioner or idler as revhead suggested.

[ollieboy]

no compression, cambelt appears to have skipped a tooth due to something seizing in the head which has now unseized but the bearing is still fuggered. Funny thing I find is that it happened when I was driving like a nana in town probably doing 1500 rpm, that rips ya undies if it went out when I was doing 7500 rpm being a dick while vtak kicked in I wouldn't mind. Also I laughed at the fact the only time I've ever taken it over about 5000rpm was while I was test driving it. Man thats gutting.

[ollieboy]

I'm trying to get the cambelt cover off, I have the top section but the bottom section is caught on something, any suggestions? Do I have to remove the waterpump pulley?

Cheers

[Ae92typeX]

have to remove the main crank belt pully from memory

[ollieboy]

Ok I've got to this stage now but I'm having trouble getting the bolt off. Are there any tricks to it? I have no compression so if I put a powerbar on the bolt and go to move it the whole car moves. Also, I have been reading it might be opposite thread to usual, is this right?

Cheers

[matt dunn]

Ok I've got to this stage now but I'm having trouble getting the bolt off. Are there any tricks to it? I have no compression so if I put a powerbar on the bolt and go to move it the whole car moves. Also, I have been reading it might be opposite thread to usual, is this right?

Cheers

No will be normal direction thread.

Put the car in gear with the handbrake on to stop it from turning.

[ollieboy]

Cheers Matt, worked a treat, now all I've got is the pulley to get off. It's quite annoying because I can actually see the broken bearing but its so hard to get too