Engine Noise after water pump replacement

My 1997 Plymouth Neon had an ignition switch problem a few weeks ago, and trying to replace it they found a anti-tamper device on the steering column and trying to get it off, they broke the column. It wasn't their fault, so I had to pay for an ignition switch and a column. Then a few days later, water dripping out from under the car and a little noise. Figured it was the water pump (which is in with the timing belt) and it was. They replaced the water pump (put the same timing belt back on because I had had it replaced about 2 months back and it looked fine and did not get saturated with coolant).

Now when the engine is running I hear a kind of ticking but not exactly a tick. More like a repeated hiss sound. Almost like a belt slightly slipping but it seems to be perfectly timed to engine rpm's. It gets a little bit quieter when running down the road, but not much. Its fairly loud. But, the engine is not overheating, is not skipping. It does ping a lot, but has done that for about a year or so, depending on gasoline. The noise I'm hearing is loudest on the passenger side where the belts are and near the bottom back of the engine it seems I can hear it the best.


Any thoughts on what this is? I did discover the oil was on low (on the dip stick) and put in a quart. Didn't help the noise.

Thanks guys, I'm trying to decide if its major and if I should blame the dealership for the problem since it started making the noise just a few days after the water pump change.

email me at [email protected]. Thanks

Sounds like the timing is off. Maybe just one tooth or two. I would say you should have taken it back and had them check it out right away. You might have another problem that just happed to come about at the same time as the water pump change. Lifter noise or something.

It might be that the belt is rubbing the belt cover. It happend to me once and all I had to do was to adjust the plastic cover. Also check the tenssioner!