Clicking Noise - Serpentine Belt?

[drew62]

i did a TB job a couple of weeks ago, and i began noticing a light 'click' noise when the car is idling. it sounds like its coming from the serpentine belt area. More specifically, it looks like the belt tensioner pulsates in sync with the click...

is it safe to run the motor for a minute or so w/o the serpentine belt to try and diagnose the noise?

any recommendations?

[Audi Skate Snow]

make sure the timing belt cover isnt hitting it.

[[email protected]]

You can disconnect the belt to see if the noise goes away. You will get a couple of lights on the dash as the alternator isn't being activated.

I have a loud clicking/popping noise and it turned out to be a seized A/C pulley.

[cjonesgo]

hmmmm I have a clicking also. It was clicking before my TB job so I figured it was normal, now you have me worried... definitely going to keep up with this thread! I thought it was louder after the TB, but decided it was all in my head.

[B7Lee]

I definitely have a slight clicking as well. I thought it was normal as it occurs after the car is warmed up and then stops after about 6 clicks. I'll keep up on this thread too...

[mr_esmit]

Have the same problem after i did my TB. Mechanic says it's nothing to worry about. Will definitely keep an eye on this thread!!!

[lookaught]

I've had a clicking from the serp tensioner or roller for about 5,000 miles. Definitely the best option is remove the serp belt and run the car to be positive that the noise is coming from the serp and not the TB... then wait for it to get a lot worse before you fix it. Once it gets horrible you can take off the belt and move the various pulleys/rollers with your hands and feel which one is bad. If you replace too proactively sometimes you replace the wrong parts at a great expense and hassle.

If the serp belt breaks it means nothing except a tow to your house or shop. Yes it's safe to run the car with the belt off, but without the alternator generating power it will drain the battery pretty quickly.

[dougyfresh]

I have a brand new serpentine belt tensioner if anyone needs it. Still in box, never used.

[drew62]

Sounds like this porblem is common. i wasn't going to make too big of a deal out of it, but after reading Dougyfresh's thread on improper torque of the pully,(http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ht=timing+belt) - i became concerned...

off the top of anyone's head: is there room to remove the serp belt w/o removeing the lock carrier, or do i have to prepare myself for another day of F bombs?

[lookaught]

Yes there is room to get the belt off without removing anything else but it's a tight fit. Just make sure you know how to route it when you put it back on the car. Maybe have a pic of the routing handy for reinstallation.

[dougyfresh]

Yes there is room to get the belt off without removing anything else but it's a tight fit. Just make sure you know how to route it when you put it back on the car. Maybe have a pic of the routing handy for reinstallation.

I've done it while my car was strapped down to a chassis dyno. I've also removed the serpentine belt tensioner with the front end on. It takes patience but it can be done. Make sure the engine is cool. You'll burn your hand on that upper radiator hose.

Sounds like this porblem is common. i wasn't going to make too big of a deal out of it, but after reading Dougyfresh's thread on improper torque of the pully,(http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ht=timing+belt) - i became concerned...

If the crank pulley is wobbling while the car is idling then those four bolts are loose. With the car off you can reach up from underneath and put your fingers on the bolts to see if they are 1)there and 2) hand tight. You'll need the front end off to remove that pulley. Its too much of a bear otherwise.

[festerfm]

i just fixed my issue w/ the tapping sound.. only prob was it fixed itself.. thought i had a bad mount since it would only make the sound off idle.. turned out my crank pulley had loose bolts. i thought the pulley itself was bad so i didnt do anything til the day the final bolt head snapped off.. after i pulled over and waited for the pulley to catch up w/ me on the road, i decided that the car had been mod free for too long and wanted a new power pulley since the neuspeed pulley is cheaper than an oem from dealer. 3 bolts had back themselves out adn the last one just snapped off.


here's what ya do.. look at the pulley at idle.. see if it is wobbling.. if not, also wait for engine to cool and reach up underneith and check if all 4 bolts are there. if need be, take off the belt and see if you can wobble the pulley. i originally thought it was either a mount or the tentioner since the tensioner was moving to the tapping sound.. then i looked at the pulley and saw it wobbling like an irish ST. pattys day parade

i changed mine while only removing the front mount w/ the snub.. it was a pia, but doable. also, get new bolts from the dealer.. i tried doing mine w/ bolts from autozone and there's not enough room to get a socket between the center hub and the bolt.. you WILL be throwing F bombs all over if you dont use the oem hex bolts.

[dougyfresh]

i just fixed my issue w/ the tapping sound.. only prob was it fixed itself.. thought i had a bad mount since it would only make the sound off idle.. turned out my crank pulley had loose bolts. i thought the pulley itself was bad so i didnt do anything til the day the final bolt head snapped off.. after i pulled over and waited for the pulley to catch up w/ me on the road, i decided that the car had been mod free for too long and wanted a new power pulley since the neuspeed pulley is cheaper than an oem from dealer. 3 bolts had back themselves out adn the last one just snapped off.


here's what ya do.. look at the pulley at idle.. see if it is wobbling.. if not, also wait for engine to cool and reach up underneith and check if all 4 bolts are there. if need be, take off the belt and see if you can wobble the pulley. i originally thought it was either a mount or the tentioner since the tensioner was moving to the tapping sound.. then i looked at the pulley and saw it wobbling like an irish ST. pattys day parade

i changed mine while only removing the front mount w/ the snub.. it was a pia, but doable. also, get new bolts from the dealer.. i tried doing mine w/ bolts from autozone and there's not enough room to get a socket between the center hub and the bolt.. you WILL be throwing F bombs all over if you dont use the oem hex bolts.

Are you serious? This sounds all too much like last week for me. Except my pulley stayed on the motor.

Did you check the pulley that fell off. Is it damaged? I hope it does not look like mine did. If so, remove it and put a new one on. You'll just damage it further for it won't stay on properly with ovalized holes. You also run the risk of damaging the holes within the timing belt pulley on the crank.

[festerfm]

mine looked exactly like his did... except i also had marks from it rolling down the fuckin highway at 60mph.. trust me.. you WANT to catch it before it falls off.. if it does get bad enough, it's an excuse to get a neuspeed pulley... they go for about $130-160 w/ new belt whereas dealer wants $190 for a new pulley

[riot5alex]

You can disconnect the belt to see if the noise goes away. You will get a couple of lights on the dash as the alternator isn't being activated.

I have a loud clicking/popping noise and it turned out to be a seized A/C pulley.

yuupp.. exactly what happened to me.. also i got a funny smell.. like something was burning i got the light that my alternator was out and i lost power steering.

cost like 450 to change it. and this was all on new years eve

[festerfm]

yuupp.. exactly what happened to me.. also i got a funny smell.. like something was burning i got the light that my alternator was out and i lost power steering.

cost like 450 to change it. and this was all on new years eve

ouch!!! glad i had the time of to DIY

[dougyfresh]

mine looked exactly like his did... except i also had marks from it rolling down the fuckin highway at 60mph.. trust me.. you WANT to catch it before it falls off.. if it does get bad enough, it's an excuse to get a neuspeed pulley... they go for about $130-160 w/ new belt whereas dealer wants $190 for a new pulley

You can get the OEM steel pulley for around $130-150

[festerfm]

price i got was dealer..