metal on metal grinding from belt area

[Colbadol]

'93 GP SE 3.1L 130k miles

When i turn the car on (turns on fine, revvs fine), there is this constant grinding noise coming from the belt area.
My buddy unplugged the AC...he said something like that happenin to his old ford. whatever. didnt change anything.

sounds like its coming from one of the pullies closer to the top of the engine.

could it be the water pump?

i dont really NEED the car right now, so i havent really researched too much. just wonderin what you guys think. It sounds too scary to drive on. btw, the noise just appeared while driving home. good thing i wasnt far.

[Ripn12s]

take the belt off and spin the pullies by hand. its probably a bad bearing in one of the pullies.

[Langning]

I had metal-to-metal grinding noise (very loud) on my old 96 Cavalier and it was the waterpump. The original pump was replaced at 40K due to coolant leak and the replacement lasted 10K prior to the grinding noise...

[richtazz]

I'd suspect the water pump or the tensioner pulley. If the noise goes away when you turn the air on, then I'd say it's a bad a/c compressor pulley. Do like Ripn suggested, and usually you can feel the bad accessory/pulley dragging when you spin it by hand.

[NateTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Langning

I had metal-to-metal grinding noise (very loud) on my old 96 Cavalier and it was the waterpump. The original pump was replaced at 40K due to coolant leak and the replacement lasted 10K prior to the grinding noise...

Like he said, if it happens when you turn the air off, then its the AC pulley/clutch. I have a 1998 grand prix with 130k miles and I just had to get it replaced after starting to here the same noise.

[mike561]

yea mine has the same thing goin on, its not that loud but you can still hear some grinding on mine, so im guessing the same thing is happening then huh?

[Colbadol]

ok. i took off the belt, and it is, in fact, the A/C compressor pully thats makin the grinding noise.

is there a belt i can get that would bypass this?
my A/C never worked anyway. wouldnt be a loss. kinda like getting your tonsils out. ;D

[cucucachu0011]

Originally Posted by Colbadol

ok. i took off the belt, and it is, in fact, the A/C compressor pully thats makin the grinding noise.

is there a belt i can get that would bypass this?
my A/C never worked anyway. wouldnt be a loss. kinda like getting your tonsils out. ;D

yea i saw theres one for that year at http://www.1aauto.com/1A/ACBypassPul...PM00004/350083

i got a 94 and i have tha problem and its very loud i cant find a bypass pulley for a 94 so im gonna change the bearing and hopfully thatl stop the noise and plus its 30 dollars cheaper for the bearing. tell me how it works out either way