Hi all, I'm new to the forums, but have read many posts so far. I have a 87 PA with 263,000 miles - so it's been good to me, until lately...

A few weeks ago, it developed a hammering sound when idling. Through searching these forums, I learned that it was the harmonic balancer. I took it into the shop and the diagnosis was correct - when they took it off, the rubber was torn to shreds - so I know it was defective.

Two days later, there is still a hammering/rattling sound, but it isn't the harmonic balancer. It happens when idling, nothing on. When the A/C is turned on, it rattles more. When electric accessories are used, it rattles more. When the steering wheel is turned, it rattles more. A mechanic friend of mine said that it may be the belt tensioner. I went to a local salvage yard and picked one up, installed it, and no change.

I started thinking about what else could be wrong - what else runs all the time regardless of accessories? I thought of the alternator or the power steering pump (which was weak anyway). I first put an alternator on with no change (it was promptly returned). Next I put a power steering pump (which was needed either way) and no change with respect to the rattling.

I'm fairly sure that it isn't the A/C compressor, because with the clutch not engaged, it just freewheels anyway.

Did I get (another) bad belt tensioner? Does anyone have an idea of what could be causing this? Is my car possessed?

Thanks for your advice in advance.

well you say rattling... could it be knocking? as in a rod or piston? at 263 000 miles it could be. does it do it more when cold or hot?

you need to gives us more clues.. juts saying a car makes a rattling sound leaves alot of possibilities

deadring

well you say rattling... could it be knocking? as in a rod or piston? at 263 000 miles it could be. does it do it more when cold or hot?

you need to gives us more clues.. juts saying a car makes a rattling sound leaves alot of possibilities

deadring

When the serpentine belt is taken off, there is no noise - so I'm very confident that it isn't a rod or piston.

Sorry for being vague about the rattling sound - when the car is idling, it is intermittent and sounds basically like taking a rachet and hitting it against the alternator - kind of a hollow clicking/hammering. When the rpm is increased, the noise gets louder for a bit, and then quits. As mentioned above - any time anything connected to the serpentine belt is engaged, the sound gets worse (and more constant).

Does this clarify?

EDIT: it seems to get worse once the car has warmed up

well if it aint the alternator nor the power steering id say its the waterpump..these are prone to break down at high mileage...check if its got loose on the shaft and / or the waterpump pulley is hard to turn by hand.

Deadring

Waterpump was the first thing that dropped in my mind. When I blew mine on my 87 it osunded like someone dropped pebbles in a super charger and yes it goes away with speed, Definatley pull the belt off and turn all pulleys by hand that should isolate it, and the water pump you WILL feel if it's bad and bearing is gone.

well if it aint the alternator nor the power steering id say its the waterpump..these are prone to break down at high mileage...check if its got loose on the shaft and / or the waterpump pulley is hard to turn by hand.

Deadring

I guess I'm leaving information out right and left - no wonder I get into trouble with my wife. The water pump was changed last month - and turns smootly by hand.

Is it supercharged? if yes, than check that plastic copuler in the snout of SC. Take the belt off and lightly rotatle the pulley back and forth to see if there is any play, Mine had 3 little jumps abouth 1/16 apart so I chaned it and it went away. You will have to recover the oil from SC, take the snout off and replace the copuler.

Hope it helps.

I finally broke down and took it back to the shop. Apparently the harmonic balancer that they replaced had a factory flaw, and when it was tightened to the crankshaft, it cracked, hence the hammering sound. End result=new balancer + labor free of charge.

Thanks all for your help!