2002 3.8L V6 - Clacking Noise

I own a 2002 Grand Caravan equipped with a 3.8L V6. The van runs quite well except that the engine compartment has a clacking noise. The noise seems to source from the left of the engine and just above the alternator. Have any of you experienced this? If so, what is the solution?

Much Thanks

Gerrrday,

My first guess is that, from what you've told us, the noise is coming from the drive belt for your alternator. Clarifying some questions might help out because "Clacking" noise doesn't provide much information compared to you telling us under what conditions you hear the noise(Highway conditions/at an Idle/under high engine stress/noise increases with speed), how loud the noise is (Deafening/I can only hear it at idle with the hood up), or describe it by using another similar sound in the description. (It sounds like a card stuck in the spokes of a bicycle/like nails on a chalkboard)

Or you could have someone give it a few revs while you look under the hood for the problem.
First of all I'd look under the hood with the engine turned OFF, and inspect all the belts at the front of the engine.
Turn the alternator belt manuaully with your hand to inspect for fray and damage, it might have a strip hanging off it for whatever reason (such as wear and tear) which is causing this noise.

Catch ya.

I am embarrassed by my lack of communication. The “clack” is most noticeable in idle. When revving the engine, the “clack” is not heard (or may not be able to be heard over the engine). I am 47. Do you remember back in the 60s, Sears sold a rock polisher kit? You would place ordinary rocks in a tumbler and the unit would roll until the rocks became polished. The “clack” sounds much like the tumbler when it is rolling. I hope that this helps.

Firstly please excuseme for coming across aggressive, I had no intention to!
Saying that, now that you've made a real informative post, it shouldn't take long for someone to figure out what's going on with your vehicle.
I'm using that term - someone - because right now I need to go and look at a mates car for reference to figure out the problem (He has a Buick 3800 V6, which is what I'm sure your engine is, being a very common and really sturdy long production engine) because it's always much easier to do things in real life then "report" than to go through possibilties in your head, and he only lives down the road. It also means there's less chance that something might be overlooked.

I know the gem polishing machines you speak of, a family friend used to be into collecting Opals in the outback and polishing them up, so off the top of my head this + the other good information you've provided makes me rekon one of two things, which are "summed up" at the end of this post.

I'm no mechanic and it's pretty late here (Down under), so I might have to do this first thing tomorrow morning. I've got plenty of free time before my course starts to play with.. ..In the meantime on these forums a resident mechanic might make a diagnosis or help you out and reach a far better conclusion than I currently can. :)

If you want to skip me being long winded and a little intoxicated ("Hey, I'm an Australian youth!") in the early hours of the morning, here's the long and the short of my hypothesis:

There are some small rocks or some other objects inside of one of the round moving parts, and they are only heard at idle because they are just like the gems in a gem polisher, and when you make the tumbler faster and faster the laws of physics take a stronger hold, and they stick to the outside of the inside of it held there by centrifugal force.

The other possibility could be, like you mentioned, that the noise is always there but you can't hear it over the engine, and that could mean that it's something hanging off a moving part and always making the noise. Co-oincidentally when it speeds up the noise is always harder to determine.

...That wasn't anything near short, just more hot air. I may have had just a little too much I think, but at least I'm alright to keep my spelling and grammar in check. :D

And aye mate, I wouldn't worry about being 47 and not making the best in the world posts, because at 47 I'm guessin you'd be more focused on your career, family, career, social life, family, and career than small things.

Got to go catch some shut eye so I can actually get up while the morning lasts.

EDIT: It's now "Tomorrow morning" (Just barely) and I've remembered your problem, so I did a quick google search to find out what engine you actually do run in the Grand Caravan (We don't have them here, so last nights ill-guess was only an assumption) it isn't the Buick 3800, in fact it's an entirely different engine design being a front wheel drive set up, so I can only help you out by using the old head.
I'd have to say though, it's quite unlikely to be anything to worry about in the here and now, it'll be something that will need to be replaced or fixed for pocketchange during the week, so just have a gander under the hood for fray and things and replace it yourself to save a few bucks. :)

See ya mate.

Since I speak "Mopar", let me interject my "two cents" worth into this mix. I also experienced something similar so I might be on the right track.

As I understand, you are hearing a Clacking noise on the passenger side (that's the side on your left when you are facing the front of the van) of the engine, near the alternator and only when the van is idling. You may also describe this as a rattling or grinding noise. I bet it gets worse when the transmission is in gear and the air conditioning is on. Then it goes away when the engine speed increases and returns at idle again.

We suffered from a similar noise in our 1998 T&C for about two years. Finally got a friend to hunt around the engine with a stethoscope while I sat behind the wheel with the engine idling in gear with the A/C on. We found the noise coming from the belt tensioner. I had the tensioner replaced and no more noise. You should investigate this on your vehicle, too, with a stethoscope.