Clatter From The Hood - Tales Of A Serpent!

[EclipseG13]

Hey everyone... quick question here.

My car has been clattering lately... I popped the hood to see where it was coming from and it looks like the serpentine belt is bumping up against the plastic cover to the left of the motor.

Now my question is, is it something that could be easily fixed.... I do not have extensive repair knowledge but with some pointers I can do a lot. Im getting quoted about $120 + to have a new belt put on (im guessing that if its a problem with tension it will be fixed with the installation of the belt fixing the clatter) so it would be cool if all I needed to do was pop that plastic piece off and tighten down a bolt.

Thanks!

PS - its a 95 eclipse RS / No Turbo / 2.0

[JoeShmoe]

What plastic cover for the Serp?

[david-b]

I'm thinking he's talking the timing belt cover? That's the only plastic piece on that side of the motor. If the serpentine belt (any of them) are hitting the cover, it would be very very very off balance and the belt wouldn't stay on. I would say this needs to be clarified a little more before we can help.

[JoeShmoe]

Originally Posted by david-b

I'm thinking he's talking the timing belt cover? That's the only plastic piece on that side of the motor. If the serpentine belt (any of them) are hitting the cover, it would be very very very off balance and the belt wouldn't stay on. I would say this needs to be clarified a little more before we can help.

[EclipseG13]

Then I would say its the timing belt. My mistake, it must be the timing belt.

Which is not good im guessing....

I looked around online and I read that 95 eclipse's are prone to bent valves when the belt does give.

Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks!

[david-b]

Originally Posted by EclipseG13

Then I would say its the timing belt. My mistake, it must be the timing belt.

Which is not good im guessing....

I looked around online and I read that 95 eclipse's are prone to bent valves when the belt does give.

Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks!

Let the light shedding begin...

All motors are prone to bent valves when the timing belt or timing chain breaks. The valves go and bounce off the piston, causing the valves to bend and piston head crack is also possible. So if the timing belt is rubbing against something, that needs to stop.

So you're saying that the timing belt sounds like it's hitting off the timing belt cover then right?

Where exactly is the noise coming from? Like middle, lower, upper?

If so, you can take off the outer timing belt cover pretty easily with some basic tool and see if it's bent or whatever.

[EclipseG13]

Thats what ill have to do.... I cant really tell where its comming from, it just kind of rattles.

I also read it could be a stuck tensioner thats causing it but im guessing thats not cheap to fix either.... After I found that it could be the timing belt I called around for quotes and the best I could do was $306 without parts, and thats if everything else is all good on the checklist.

[david-b]

Originally Posted by EclipseG13

Thats what ill have to do.... I cant really tell where its coming from, it just kind of rattles.

I also read it could be a stuck tensioner thats causing it but im guessing thats not cheap to fix either.... After I found that it could be the timing belt I called around for quotes and the best I could do was $306 without parts, and thats if everything else is all good on the checklist.

Ya timing belts aren't cheap. I don't think you need one unless the car has 60-80k miles on it and it's never been done.

I don't believe the stuck tensioner neither. You'd be having more problems with it then. Not just a noise.

[SilvrEclipse]

Originally Posted by david-b

All motors are prone to bent valves when the timing belt or timing chain breaks.

This is only true on interference motors.

[david-b]

Originally Posted by SilvrEclipse

This is only true on interference motors.

Well I wasn't going to go into details on stuff that doesn't pertain to this situation, or anybodies here. Let's keep it to the E/T/L now haha. Just kidding

[SilvrEclipse]

The 1.8 motor isn't an interference motor. So it does pertain to this section. How about that

[JoeShmoe]

Chill out man, no need to argue.

[EclipseG13]

BTW....

I dont know if this is relevant but the sound is not there when the motor is cold.... sometimes when I start it up after its been sitting over night you cant hear it for about 5 mins and then once the car is at idle you can hear the rattle.

[defiancy]

Originally Posted by SilvrEclipse

The 1.8 motor isn't an interference motor. So it does pertain to this section. How about that

But this guys car isn't a 1.8 so it doesn't pertain to this thread.


I would say take the belt cover off and take a look. If need be just leave the cover off, and make sure you don't drive over anything that might get thrown up into the motor.

[gthompson97]

You're not hearing some sort of lifter tick are you, you're SURE it's coming from the timing belt area?