Growl/whir noise, help please? FIXED

[arco777]

My 94 is making a weird noise. It started this morning, I have driven probably 30 miles since. Right around the top passenger side of the motor, it seems. It's a fairly loud whir like a high pitched growl (rrrrrr). The noise occurs at idle in park (600 rpm), quiet at idle in drive (500), also quiet at 1500 and some other points that I forget. Mostly it's at lower RPMs. After about a half hour of driving it goes away for a while. Same noises when you cycle through the rpms while in neutral so I don't think it's the trans.

CEL is off, no leaks, all fluids good, no apparent loss of power or any difference in the way it shifts and runs. I replaced the belt but that didn't make a difference.

Any ideas? Would much appreciate it, gotta pick up my buddy from work in 4 hours...

 

[JDraper]

Could just be air being pulled through the intake. They have been known to make a growling/whistling noise. Check your air filter to see what condition it's in.

 

[arco777]

Thanks for the quick reply. I checked the filter (K&N), it doesn't seem too bad but I'm cleaning it anyways. Started the motor and ran it for a min without the filter and the noise is still there, no change.

 

[fixxxer]

It sounds like it may be the blower motor going out, you can get a new squirrel cage motor for about $30-35 at most auto parts places.

 

[arco777]

It sounds like it may be the blower motor going out, you can get a new squirrel cage motor for about $30-35 at most auto parts places.

Blower motor... for the heater? I turned the fan and vents off from inside and the noise persisted, is there another motor?

 

[fixxxer]

no, just the one blower motor but when the bearings in them go bad, they can make a loud growling/whirring noise and it comes from the passenger side, top of the engine area. Without actually hearing your noise, just taking a best guess.

 

[arco777]

I pulled the blower fuse but it didn't make a difference. Second listen seems like it's located more towards the center front of the motor. Sorry for misleading, my hearing's not the best. At low RPM the noise is a bit like a very fast rattle.

EDIT: Could I have a bearing going out somewhere?

 

[fixxxer]

Check the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pully.

 

[fixxxer]

You will need to remove the belt first then check the idler and tensioner for any wobble or roughness or squeeking when you turn spin them by hand.

 

[arco777]

Tensioner seems fine, tensioner pulley spins fine.

Idler pulley doesn't spin freely; doesn't feel wobbly or anything and isn't froze up but has tight spots, I will remove it and check it out.

 

[arco777]

(pictures below)

I had to cut a good chunk outta the fan shroud to get at the idler pulley's bolt. It'll get cleaned up and I'll just have to make sure not to stick my fingers in there till I figure a cleaner solution.

Once pulled, I bent the tangs up on the goofy locking washer thing and spun it off, then tapped out the bolt. Suprise, the bearings are seized. Headed to NAPA now in search of a replacement. Upon re-install I'll post again whether it's fixed or not.

 

[arco777]

 

[arco777]

Noise is GONE.

NAPA gave me a #38001 "Drivealign B/S Pulley" for about $28 with military discount. It doesn't have flanges but they assure me it works. The bearing is rubber sealed on both sides; I think the stock pulley bearing failed because the metal shielded side got wet, allowed water in, and rusted up after the lube washed out. The seized pulley also glazed the flat side of the old belt, a sign I didn't notice until now.

The motor runs nice and quiet now, much less noisy thanks to new belt and pulley. Many thanks to JDraper and especially fixxxer for the help.

 

[fixxxer]

and you got it fixed just in time to pick up your buddy!

 

[Noved1987]

Mine did the same thing only by the time my girlfriend stopped you couldnt tell it was the plastic wheel it was more like a ball of plastic. whole new idler was cheap at napa

 

[arco777]

Mine did the same thing only by the time my girlfriend stopped you couldnt tell it was the plastic wheel it was more like a ball of plastic. whole new idler was cheap at napa

Some came with a plastic idler? My old and new ones were both steel.

 

[Noved1987]

Mine is a 94 sport the arm is metal but the wheel the belt rides on is plastic. now i feel stupid I was thinking Tensioner not idler. I have been up for 20 hours straight i think i should go to bed soon.

 

[arco777]

Mine is a 94 sport the arm is metal but the wheel the belt rides on is plastic. now i feel stupid I was thinking Tensioner not idler. I have been up for 20 hours straight i think i should go to bed soon.

Good to know that it uses a plastic wheel there, thanks for the info. My tensioner wheel bearing felt good but I guess that's something to keep an eye on as it never gets a day off.