New engine woes?

[WormGod]

Well, I guess it's been about a year since I had any issues, so let the good times reset and begin again. *sigh*

I noticed Saturday evening my VX was making a noise that I am not at all happy with. Sounds fine idling but once under load/throttle, it sounds like marbles or metal shavings being chucked around in a blender. It performs fine and all fluids proper. I drained the oil to check for contaminants like metal ugliness, but it was quite fine.

Considering I am S/C'd, I am pondering the possibility of bad bearings in the tensioner. There is a little play in it by wiggling by hand and it has a sort of knocking sound to it just by doing so. Under load, I can see where that dance around a bit. Anyone with a S/C, do you happen to know of a direct replacement or how to repack the existing one?

I wanna start going through the checklist of things before I start considering engine internals. It is my hope that it is NOT the engine or S/C bearings, so you can imagine my frustration at this point. I am putting it in the shop in a few weeks anyways to have my wheels rebalanced, alignment, full fluid changeout, and my new shocks put on, so if it comes down to it, I'll have them hunt over it with a fine tooth comb if I can't resolve it.

[Scott Larson]

The bearings should have a brand-name along with a part number molded into the rubber shielding or laser-etched into the race or metal shielding if so equipped. Napa or Carquest or the parts store of your choosing should be able to cross-reference that number and supply you with a suitable replacement, or at least point you in the right direction. Good luck, hope you pinpoint the problem soon and affordably!

[hughesdt]

Mine made a similar sound, would have called it a diesel engine noise. The pulley on the nose of the super charger was loose. Took tightened it and the noise went away. Have another 70k on it and it hasn't loosened up. Hope that yours is that simple also.

Dan

[VXjunky]

could be just the CAT

[Triathlete]

could be just the CAT

That Kat is always causing trouble around here!

[Ldub]

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...3&postcount=13

Found here:
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...=s%2Fc+bearing

Using this...

Also, check your muffler (bang on it a few times from under there).

I just found mine to have loose parts inside, & it makes an embarrassingly LOUD clangy rattle @ 2000-2200 rpm...

Also, also...you can repack the bearing by pulling the seal out of it with a dental pick.

[WormGod]

Anyone ever replaced the coupler in the S/C? Figure if I decide to crack into it, might just go ahead and do some full housekeeping. Undecided right now.

[Ldub]

Anyone ever replaced the coupler in the S/C? Figure if I decide to crack into it, might just go ahead and do some full housekeeping. Undecided right now.

These might help...

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...=s%2Fc+coupler

http://www.thehighspeedlab.com/catalogsc003.html

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...MKVW5Lzio9VZBQ

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...7jY9MUxkgzTbCw

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...BZ_x_s5ta_PWCw

[VX KAT]

That Kat is always causing trouble around here!

I'm innocent I tell ya, innocent!

[Anita]

That Kat is always causing trouble around here!

LOLOLOL

[Scott Larson]

Hmmmm...low oil=bad juju! Hope everything checks out A-OK!!

[FlyingV77]

That's because lust has 20/20 vision

[WormGod]

Cool beans. Good looking out. I will probably order this week and hopefully when they are in, I will be over this disgusting chest cold that crept up on me.

[WormGod]

Thanks again Jolly. Ordered a couple sealed bearing assemblies for CHEAP and hope to tackle that this weekend.

Really throwing all my eggs in one basket and hoping this is the issue. I simply don't have the time rip into her much with crunchtime at work and all. 11/11/11 is approaching WAY TO FAST.

[WormGod]

*sigh*

The good news. Changed out the bearing pack in the S/C tensioner. The stock one was pretty rough. had a lot of wiggle in it. The new pack is good and tight and good to go.

The bad news. Drove her around a bit without the S/C belt to listen to the engine. The original noise was NOT the bearing pack. Sounds like it's probably valve lash. The timing could well be off, but I am somewhat doubting that. Regardless, she goes in the shop soon for oil change, shock swap, wheel re-balance, and alignment, so I am just gonna let them diagnose it. I am not tearing into it since I need my garage space these next few weeks.