1997 SL serpentine belt

Gman91 · #1 10-22-2009, 05:07 PM

Well i was driving around town today, stopped at a 7eleven to get a drink. I left 7 eleven started driving and heard a clicking nose, sounded like something was dragging under my car so i pulled over. I didnt see anything so i got in the car started it up and reved the engine a little. The clicking nose was coming from my engine compartent... I decided to go home and check out the problem a little further. I got here and opened my hood and checked the serp belt and it was loose, like really lose. The battery light was flashing on my dash, car was getting hotter than normal and my power steering wasnt working. What would cause the serp belt to get so loose? I dont have the tools atm to jack it up and check it out either and i need my car for work saturday morning idk what to do, could one of the pulleys have came loose?

RC1488 · #2 10-22-2009, 09:35 PM

Your tensioner is bad. Replace it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REanR...om=PL&index=69

http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=...&v=cU5lDkHsacM

http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=...&v=6a3cm4h3mUI

Gman91 · #3 10-23-2009, 07:20 PM

Thanks for reply RC, but i decided just to rip it out and found out it was bad. I replaced it and got it all put back together but now there is like a clicking nose when my car is idiling at about 500rpms and i give it gas. Sounds like something around the valve cover is clicking almost like a spray paint can when you shake it.. I have no idea what it is, my dad thinks its a pulley but i dont think it is.

RC1488 · #4 10-24-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gman91

Thanks for reply RC, but i decided just to rip it out and found out it was bad. I replaced it and got it all put back together but now there is like a clicking nose when my car is idiling at about 500rpms and i give it gas. Sounds like something around the valve cover is clicking almost like a spray paint can when you shake it.. I have no idea what it is, my dad thinks its a pulley but i dont think it is.

What did you replace? The belt or tensioner?

Gman91 · #5 10-24-2009, 11:02 AM

Tensioner, but it was making this noise before i replaced the tensioner that's how i realized something wasn't right.

RC1488 · #6 10-24-2009, 04:30 PM

Your idle should be ~800. 500 is to low. Thats another issue.

Remove the belt and start the engine. Listen for the clicking. Only leave the engine on for 30 SECONDS. Nothing more. If you hear the click, its internal to the engine. If you dont, its a pulley. Spin the pulleys by hand and see if you can replicate the noise.

Gman91 · #7 10-24-2009, 08:48 PM

My bad it sits at 800 in park about 700-750 in reverse. I will try this when i get some time i work the next three days so i wont have time to do it.

Gman91 · #8 10-26-2009, 03:42 PM

Hey RC, since i dont have the time for a few days to pull the belt and check that out what else could it be? It sounds like its coming from the top left side of the motor, isnt that where my timing chain is? Almost sounds like a loose spark plug rattling around or a rod going but if it was a rod going it would do it constantly not just at low rpms right?

Jernic · #9 10-29-2009, 08:34 PM

I had that noise in my Saturn too and was the belt tensioner, I know you change it, but did you change the belt? Maybe the belt is not good.

RC1488 · #10 10-29-2009, 09:27 PM

Yes it is.

You need to remove the belt as i posted before to determine if thats it or not.

Gman91 · #11 11-01-2009, 06:53 PM

I changed the tensioner, and the belt is tight. Its coming from the top middle pulley.

RC1488 · #12 11-01-2009, 09:24 PM

Thats called the idler pulley. A common item to go around the same time of the tensioner. Cheap fix!

Ruley73 · #13 11-02-2009, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gman91

Thanks for reply RC, but i decided just to rip it out and found out it was bad. I replaced it and got it all put back together but now there is like a clicking nose when my car is idiling at about 500rpms and i give it gas. Sounds like something around the valve cover is clicking almost like a spray paint can when you shake it.. I have no idea what it is, my dad thinks its a pulley but i dont think it is.

I'd have to hear the sound myself to determine what it is. Based on your description, it could just be the PCV valve working normally, and nothing to worry about. It could also just be the timing chain slapping the guides when the engine is idling. This is normal for a Saturn with alot of miles, but as always make sure there's enough oil in the engine. My car has done it for the previous ~40K miles. It currently has just over 209K miles on it. The way I drive my car at times, it should have exploded a long time ago if the chain was bad.

I wouldn't think a worn idler pulley would make a clicking type of sound since there is constant tension on it. The worn idler pullies I've had to replace in the past on various cars usually exhibited a squeaking type of sound.

Gman91 · #14 11-02-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruley73

I'd have to hear the sound myself to determine what it is. Based on your description, it could just be the PCV valve working normally, and nothing to worry about. It could also just be the timing chain slapping the guides when the engine is idling. This is normal for a Saturn with alot of miles, but as always make sure there's enough oil in the engine. My car has done it for the previous ~40K miles. It currently has just over 209K miles on it. The way I drive my car at times, it should have exploded a long time ago if the chain was bad.

I wouldn't think a worn idler pulley would make a clicking type of sound since there is constant tension on it. The worn idler pullies I've had to replace in the past on various cars usually exhibited a squeaking type of sound.

Ok i will try and get a video of the noise so you can hear it, but it doesn't sound internal if i put my ear really close to that side of the engine.

RC1488 · #15 11-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Again no video is needed if you DO MY ABOVE POST and STOP GUESSING

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