1990 OLDS 88 Rattle

[L22]

I have a 1990 olds 88 with about 118,000 miles.

There is a rattling noise at idle and while driving; it sounds very similar to the sound
when my water pump failed (2 month ago). The sound goes away with the serpentine belt removed.

I’ve tried using a stethoscope to try to isolate the sound. The water pump and, ac,
seem a bit more quiet than the power steering pump and alternator. The rattling seems to be about
the same volume on both of these. The power steering pump does click a bit when I rotate
it back and forth…not sure if this normal or not. The sound does not seem to be coming
from the Harmonic Balancer….

Any ideas would be appreciated

Thanks

[maxwedge]

Idler pulley, tensioner, it still could be the balancer, though. No way to pin it down from here, obviously.

[L22]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Idler pulley, tensioner, it still could be the balancer, though. No way to pin it down from here, obviously.

I forgot to mention that I did replace the idler pulley.

[L22]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Idler pulley, tensioner, it still could be the balancer, though. No way to pin it down from here, obviously.

Is there a way to check the balancer without removing it?...I have had the balancer off
before(When I replaced Crank Sensor). I had a heck of a time getting that bolt off.

[maxwedge]

See if you can move the outer hub on the inner hub, hard I know., maybe remove the inner shield to get to it, belt off of course.

[L22]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

See if you can move the outer hub on the inner hub, hard I know., maybe remove the inner shield to get to it, belt off of course.

Balancer seemed ok

Turns out..... it was the alternator...I didn't pay very close attention to it
since it was only a few years old. I took it to autozone and had it tested.
It was just as noisy on the testing machine.

Thanks for your help