Some N/A 2.3L Help?

[AngelApollus]

Hey all,

New here, semi-new to the modding of these potential monsters. I am having a loud grinding noise in my car. I know enough about to cars to know this is weird, and not know what on EARTH is causing it. It's coming from under the hood, to the right side (from drivers position), and it only happens about 3/4 - WOT. It happens in in gear or in neutral. (Manual tranny.) The right side of my car has been squeaking when I turn the wheel, but I have no indication of the two being related. Considering one is throttle, the other steering. But! ...help? =D

Thanks all.
Angel

Edit: I'm having a friend hit the throttle tomorrow while I look under the hood, but until then if any of ya'll know what's up let me know!

 

[Delray Dude]

possibly the ac compressor clutch or tensioner.

undo that belt and see if it goes away.

 

[AngelApollus]

Thanks, will do today and will post an update. If it doesn't and I can't figure it out I'll be sure to post a video of the noise.

 

[AngelApollus]

SO I pulled the belt off, noise is still there. Also had someone rev the car while I checked under the hood, and I couldn't see/hear anything rattling or rubbing against something else. No symptoms, drives just fine. Just curious has to what the problem is before I do experience symptoms..

 

[Delray Dude]

i know you said sounds were from the passenger side an in th engine compartment, but could you isolate if it's near the front / back side of the engine?

 

[AngelApollus]

It sounds just roughly mid-hood, right side. It only makes a noise at 3/4 to WOT. I mean I have to get on the throttle pretty hard. It just sounds like a cchchch..? Lol, like a grinding noise. Already checked the differential as suggested on a different forum, came up with nothin'.

 

[AngelApollus]

Here's the video of the noise, it shows its face around 1:00 in so listen there. You can also here it again at 2:48. Thanks for checking this out guys.




P.S. - This is with the belt on, however there is no change in the noise when the belt to my A/C Comp. is off.

 

[Delray Dude]

I reviewed the video. Still kinda hard to tell what the sound it, but anyways, ....

My best guesses would be that since you isolated it to the motor / trans (since it shows up in neutral and not moving) would be possibly one of the two:


1. Exhaust leak either at the block to manifold or manifold to pipe. I am thinking that your cats (or atleast the front one) might be slightly plugged and when you build RPM the exhaust has no where to go and builds up more pressure and escapes out where it can - most likely at the engine to manifold gasket - or through the EGR tube. I would suggest that you find a 93/94 Ranger header and remove the bulky cast iron manifold. disable the EGR (and gut the internals of the cats atleast). If this is the problem - then it should be easy to solve - plus you gain more power doing this mod anyways.

2. Highly unlikely - but possible - you could have a worn input shaft or throwout bearing in the cutch / trans - but that should be more near the dash area.

3. possible failing head gasket - only shows up under heavy load.

 

[AngelApollus]

I do have an exhaust leak between the flanges of the header and the downpipe. I was going to have it fixed, but now I'll just fix it myself. I did replace my plastic crappy quadrant with a metal Steeda, but there is slack so I don't think it's the throwout bearing. That exhaust idea sounds plausible though, I'll get on it this weekend or next to see whats up. Thanks for you help!

 

[AngelApollus]

So Delray, I ended up this past week replacing my radiator, thermostat, and water pump. The noise went away shortly after I found out I had a coolant leak. Water pump bearing? I think maybe it was going, going, gone. Then all my coolant fell through the weep hole..? The noise is gone now though. Just wondering what you think.

 

[Delray Dude]

Sounds very plausible that the issue was the water pump (after further review). Bearing was probably siezing up and making the noise. You should be good to go for quite some time now.