Engine rattle/front of engine @ idle

[kcomer]

Miata newbie here, just pikced up a 90 model with 140k. Pretty nice car! Timing belt was replaced 15k ago based on previous owners word. At idel you can here a rattling sound coming from what appears to be the water pump area, center of engine. You cannot hear it when the engine is under a load or when you are driving. I does not sound like valve clatter. Is the oil pump driven from the timing belt? I need to buy the manuals for this little dude!! Any advice would be appreciated.

[mazdatech177]

start by removing your drive belts one at a time and seeing if the noise goes away. if it is still present after the belts are off then youll have to tear down the timing covers and perform a visual inspection

[mx52nv]

sounds like nothing more than a vibration. if you want more opinions from people in the know, look at http://forum.miata.net/vb/

[mazdatekchubyninja]

damn that mazdatech177, I just cant keep up, might be waterpump + tension pulley + idler pulley + bent crank pulley.

[mazdatech60]

could be a death rattle