clicking smog pump?

[HISSIN50]

Hello all,

I am kind of lookin for peeps who have had similar experiences or ideas here.

On the '94, I had what I thought was a header leak (Mac headers). I could not locate any leak, though the confines are a bit small for me to feel or use smoke to check decently (all header bolts are tight though). In using the stethoscope, it seems the clicking is coming from the smog pump. I noticed that while under the car with no stethoscope, and then from on top now with the scope.

FWIW, it is a decent tick that carries cadence with RPMs. I cant hear it with the hood up at much above idle since the car has full exhaust and it is loud. I hear it while driving though and it is more pronounced under load (why I thought it might have been an exhaust leak). Can a pump act like this?

Has anyone had a similar deal? Is this indicative of anything? '94 GT with ~95K miles.

Thanks for thoughts.

 

[HISSIN50]

Gibt es niemand zu Hause?

 

[fox racer]

coudl you try to bypass the pump, say with a shorter belt, and see if the clicking goes away? or just dump it totally if its not needed.

niemand ist zu Hause

 

[5.02GO]

You could try to just take the belt off completely and start it up. I wont point at the smog but atleast you will know that it is an accesary or not.

Now, i have to run a smog because of my blower setup. In the past it (smog) would have a popping noise similar to what you are describing. I took it apart. Not much to it. It has scrapers inside of it and a bearing on each end. I gutted it and lubricated the bearings. Problem gone.
I assume the smog you have is the same as mine. --93LX--

Oh yeah, could be the bearings in your belt tensioner too. Had that problem once as well.

 

[DMAN302]

Hey JT im not certain if your 94 edition air pump would be simular to my 88's, but if so I did experience a simular issue. I found when it was opened up that inside it was just a plain mess. Dirt can significantly build up and cause havoc with the center shafts rotation. You may even have a damaged vane on the shaft making contact with inner wall of the housing. Once a chisle and hammer were assigned to repair the vanes found in my pump (may have been removed)..the pump was quiter to say the least, and spun much much easier. Repair depots are available for these items, good luck JT but knowing you the problem will be corrected by the time I hit the send button for this post.
Derek.

 

[srothfuss]

I agree with DMAN. Ticking that varies with the engine speed has to deal with the main shaft. It's probably time to take it out and rebuild the pump....

 

[HISSIN50]

Sweet, thanks guys. I have never had a smog pump go bad, so this is all great info.

There are no surprises when the pump is taken apart? It is probably pretty academic in there, but worth asking (if something can pop out, fly across the garage and land in a manure pile, it will for me).

I was planning on running the car for a second with no belt to see if the noise went away (nice idea FR and 2GO). I was planning on lookin at the tensioner too when the belt is off. I just have not had time yet to do this stuff.

I am glad (or maybe not) to hear that the pumps do gunk up. I thought I might be losing my mind and did not want to chase an unlikely horse.

Thanks again guys

 

[DMAN302]

JT most often your best rerouting the belt past the smog pump, that being unless you need emission testin done in the near future. If you want the emission components in place I would be looking at repair depots for a new pump rather than fight with the filthy old unit. Good luck and enjoy sir.

 

[5.02GO]

Sweet, thanks guys. I have never had a smog pump go bad, so this is all great info.

There are no surprises when the pump is taken apart? It is probably pretty academic in there, but worth asking (if something can pop out, fly across the garage and land in a manure pile, it will for me).

I was planning on running the car for a second with no belt to see if the noise went away (nice idea FR and 2GO). I was planning on lookin at the tensioner too when the belt is off. I just have not had time yet to do this stuff.

I am glad (or maybe not) to hear that the pumps do gunk up. I thought I might be losing my mind and did not want to chase an unlikely horse.

Thanks again guys

Your welcome.......

I dont remember any suprises if/when you take that pump apart. You may be suprised on how simple and ridiculous on whats in side the pump. Also, it will be full of carbon.

Other than that, I cant see you having any issues with the pump..........

enjoy!

 

[DMAN302]

NOTE: should you decide to remove the tensioner puller...remember the thread on the pulley is left handed...don't ask me how I know..but I know.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks Derek and 2Go.

I took a peak today. The top mounting bolt wont come off till the plastic pulley comes off. The plastic pulley is held on with 3 small bolts. The ABS pump is right there and I have some other junk in the way. Long story short, I lubed what I could and will keep an eye on it (and I did not hear any noise when the belt was off).

I would bypass the pump but I DO need it for emissions. I have read of pumps seizing after time periods of non-use. I dont need that. But do you guys hook the pump up just once a year and does it work ok? I live in the desert, so moisture is really not a huge issue (if that is what seizes the pumps up).

My pump had almost no endplay slop, but had one kind of catchy spot on each revolution. At some point when I feel like it, I will take it apart. I could see the bolts holding the backing plate on (I hope those are as seized as the mounting bolts are. ).

I did yank the tensioner pulley off just because it is a little noisy. I will replace it at some point. On the SN (mine anyhow), the pulley is standard thread (I know the fox is reverse, like Derek said). I only mention that for future searchers.
My idler pulley has seen better days too.

Thanks again guys.

BTW, is SN loading funky for any of you? Sometimes in the last two days, pages dont load at all for me. I come back 30 mins later and it works again.

 

[5.02GO]

Thanks Derek and 2Go.

I took a peak today. The top mounting bolt wont come off till the plastic pulley comes off. The plastic pulley is held on with 3 small bolts. The ABS pump is right there and I have some other junk in the way. Long story short, I lubed what I could and will keep an eye on it (and I did not hear any noise when the belt was off).

I would bypass the pump but I DO need it for emissions. I have read of pumps seizing after time periods of non-use. I dont need that. But do you guys hook the pump up just once a year and does it work ok? I live in the desert, so moisture is really not a huge issue (if that is what seizes the pumps up).

My pump had almost no endplay slop, but had one kind of catchy spot on each revolution. At some point when I feel like it, I will take it apart. I could see the bolts holding the backing plate on (I hope those are as seized as the mounting bolts are. ).



I did yank the tensioner pulley off just because it is a little noisy. I will replace it at some point. On the SN (mine anyhow), the pulley is standard thread (I know the fox is reverse, like Derek said). I only mention that for future searchers.
My idler pulley has seen better days too.

Thanks again guys.

BTW, is SN loading funky for any of you? Sometimes in the last two days, pages dont load at all for me. I come back 30 mins later and it works again.

Not sure about the moisture. I run my pump all the time. The hoses arent hooked up to it or anything. I just use it as a pulley basically.

I am guessing that the carbon and heat is whats hard on them. If you ever take one apart you are gonna laugh and say........WTH!??!

The catching is either a bearing or one of those junk vanes with carbon build up.

I dont know what it is about em but i hate smog pumps!!


Uh i got dial up so it always loads funky for me...........

 

[DMAN302]

Jt too bad you can't do your emission testing like I was able to do..Tim hortons coffee, and a hand shake...

 

[HISSIN50]

Jt too bad you can't do your emission testing like I was able to do..Tim hortons coffee, and a hand shake...

Derek, I wish! Do ya remember my thread (about this car) and having to take it to the local EPA office for an inspection after it flunked visual (but passed the sniffer with flying colors) because of the aftermarket catted pipe. It has 2, not 4 cats?

The inspector almost passed out trying to figure out what the air/oil separator was.

 

[DMAN302]

Emissions=Government grab ass. I do remember that JT I was never sure how the issue was resolved, obviously it was though