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The Mystery Noise

glemon

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For so many years I cannot remember for sure, I think at least 3, my car has been making "the mystery noise". It sounds like somebody sticking as screwdriver in a metal fan as it turns, is intermittent, and only occurs for a few seconds at a time. It has occured when the car is idleing-so that pretty much rules out anything behind the motor.

Generally doesn't occur unless the car is warmed up. Used to primarily occur on braking or upshifts when accelerating hard, now happens under other conditions, including a couple times just going down the road.

Thought I had it solved: When I took out my starter and the small spring that holds the pinion away from the flywheel was sort of mangled and twisted, replaced with a god used spring--but it came back.

Thought I had it solved when I rebuilt my very tired motor, whatever was doing it (timing chain) would not anymore whith everything new and to spec--but it came back

Thought I had it solved when my water pump went out--water pump bearings going bad, new pump is in--but it came back

Have also ispected the generator as well as had it looked at be a competent shop that specializes in old generators and alternators--they said bearings are ok. Also the pinion and flywheel prety much look like normal wear and tear, no chips of bad/missing teeth.

Have also inspected the distributor pretty closely, though there is some play up and down on the shaft there is no evidence that something is hitting something else with the force to make that noise.

I still suspect the starter pinion or the distributor (advance weight clanging around?)

At this point I wish it would just break or go from intermittent to all the time so I can pin it down and fix it. I have borrowed a mechanics stethascope, if I can get it to make the noise maybe I can find it.

Any thoughts???
 
Yesh ,A worn spacer behind the generator fan and a slightly bent fan. Well thats a thought ain't it!----Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
It is a thought and not a bad one, but not it. It is tight straight, and no sign of hitting or scuffing
 
glemon said:
It is a thought and not a bad one, but not it. It is tight straight, and no sign of hitting or scuffing

OH Shucks, Well lets pick on the starter. Warm the engine up a bit so it is easy to restart. Park the car on an incline so you can restart it by rolling down and engaging the clutch.
Remove the starter and restart rolling down the incline. Drive around a bit and see if the noise is gone.--Keoke- ?
 
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