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.

[VX KAT]

That Kat is always causing trouble around here!

I'm innocent I tell ya, innocent!

[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.

[Anita]

That Kat is always causing trouble around here!

LOLOLOL

[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

[Cobrajet]

If it turns out to be the serpentine belt tensioner or idler, I have both sitting on a shelf in my garage. The aftermarket tensioner was a week old when I took it off and replace with OEM. The idler is the original, undamaged and quiet.

[WormGod]

Ya, seen all those Dub, especially the youtube vid that shows just how damned easy it SHOULD be. My only concern is, since our nose cone is apparently "alien", I wonder just how many of the internals are similar and what parts, if any, are compatible. I REALLY hate to box it up and ship it off if it is something I can do in a couple hours on my own. Let my old ASE cert go to waste.

The ZZPerformance option looks valid, and affordable enough in case it's a bomb. Seriously just considering tearing it down and seeing "what makes her tick".

[Jolly Roger VX'er]

Sure its not the supercharger belt tension pulley bearing? Even though they are supposed to be self-lubricated bearings...I got grease in there anyways since my original one failed over time. I was able to get one locally and have a spare. Obviously, you could remove your supercharger belt and start her up to help diagnose your problem by eliminating the SC and all related components from the equation..if you still hear the sound its something else. Hope this helps.

[WormGod]

Jolly, ya, I totally suspect the S/C tensioner pulley (probably could have been worded better in the OP) since it has some play and ticks around by hand if I wiggle it under tension. I was just pondering the idea of rebuilding the S/C sometime this fall/winter anyways since I can keep in in the garage for a while.

You said you have a spare.... do you recall where you got them? I am thinking having a few on hand isn't a bad idea.

Forgot to add this unrelated bit, but, when I had drained down my oil to check for contaminants, it was a quart low. First time EVER my VX has burned through oil between changes. Guess I am now part of that gang too. 56k miles and showing her age, heh.

[Scott Larson]

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