Water pump noise??? Beats me

[adileo]

Hi guys

I know this one will be hard to weigh in on but....39 coupe

I'm hearing a kind of rattling noise at idle. I can't pin point where it's coming from. My temp on both sides are good. Would a water pump going bad make a rattle noise?

My guess it's either a pump or my power master alt.

Thanks

Andy

[alanwoodieman]

remove the belt crank up and run to help isolate the noise. try to spin the alternator and the pumps. feel for looseness it all three

[adileo]

Good advise thanks Alan

[weemark]

Get a long screwdriver and press one side to your ear and put the other side on the water pump and then the alternator, if it's either of those it should become apparent. The screwdriver kind of acts like a stethoscope and allows you to hear noises you wouldn't otherwise.

[40cpe]

Years ago I bought a Power Master alternator from their booth at Nats South in Knoxville. It ran a while and ate a bearing. I replaced the bearing and it ate it. I took it back to Knoxville the next year and gave it back to them. They sent it back to me. I installed it and it ate the same bearing again. I gave up and put my Autozone alternator back on. Which is what they wanted me to do. But I haven't forgotten.

[Willit Stop]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It COULD be a worn vacuum brake piston/bore in the distributor.Pinch off or disconnect the vac tube and see if the rattle goes away.

[adileo]

I have a old motor stethoscope. I put it on alt and it sounds normal. I put on side of water pump and heard nothing. I'll try the vac tube next

Thx gents!

[Barry-ct]

Also take a long stick or broom handle and move it around to different spots on the engine with the other end to your ear. Be careful of moving parts. Sounds will telegraph up through the stick. Best way to isolate noises. Removal of belts like said above is a good way also, but I like my stick.

[Ken/Alabama]

Check crank pulley also. I've seen a couple of them separate at the spot welds and would make a rattling noise.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by adileo

Hi guys

I know this one will be hard to weigh in on but....39 coupe

I'm hearing a kind of rattling noise at idle. I can't pin point where it's coming from. My temp on both sides are good. Would a water pump going bad make a rattle noise?

My guess it's either a pump or my power master alt.

Thanks

Andy

Remove the fuel pump stand and see if the tube at the bottom has dropped down onto the cam, making a rattle or pinging sound. That happened to me.

[Ross F-1]

Originally Posted by Ken/Alabama

Check crank pulley also. I've seen a couple of them separate at the spot welds and would make a rattling noise.

Also check the bolt on the pulley, as well as the keyway.