Pulley Noise (I hope)

[helty]

About.....2 weeks ago I noticed a slight noise coming from under the hood, so I popped it and it was coming from the blower area. It wasnt too bad, so I did a little searching and thought it may be the typical Vortech gear noise. Well, over the past 2 weeks its gotten progressively worse, so yesterday I stopped driving the car after it got noticeably louder.

It sounds like a........mechanical purr, if that makes any sense. Different from other vids guys have posted regarding pulley noise. Im really hoping its just the idler pulley. If it is, can someone give me a quick how-to remove and replace? I can turn a wrench and all that good stuff but Im very cautious when it comes to a job Ive never done before.

Here's a vid of the noise: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lZdMHUnBQeU

What scares me is that it has gotten progressively worse. It never did this until 2 weeks ago, and it doesnt just go away after it warms up, like others have said.

What do you guys think? Thanks for the help.

 

[joshjwc9]

Tensioner too tight or loose?

I remember someone posted that awhile ago and their Vortech made a sound with the belt off and simply turning it made a loud "purr" sound, actually it was more of a grind to me.

IDK really.....someone with experience with a Vortech would probably give more correct, for sure answers...

 

[sgarlic]

Yeah I hear that noise you're talking about.. but I can't say I can place it based on that video. Any chance if you get down there with a stethescope you can narrow down where it's coming from?

It almost sounds to me like something rattling like maybe an air filter rattling against something plastic, or a plastic cover of some sort rattling loose.

 

[joshheat25]

Try spraying WD-40 right inside the pully on the alternator. So not where the belt is but where the pulley bearing is.

 

[helty]

Try spraying WD-40 right inside the pully on the alternator. So not where the belt is but where the pulley bearing is.

im doing that 1st thing in the morning. hope to isolate the problem.

thx!

 

[BennyBlown2v]

Just pull the blower real quick like and check tensioner pulley, the two idlers, and the alt. pulley! It's gotta be one of them...unless its an accessory, which I doubt...but that would suck

 

[helty]

are they all the same P/N? the idler and tensioner pulley's? I have 1 already. Just curious.


Is there a Torque value on the pulley bolts?

 

[BennyBlown2v]

are they all the same P/N? the idler and tensioner pulley's? I have 1 already. Just curious.


Is there a Torque value on the pulley bolts?

No.

Yes. 18ft lbs for idler pulley.

http://vortechsuperchargers.com/pdf/manuals/4FH4FL218im.pdf for Vortech reference.

 

[helty]

what would I do w/o you bennty? lol.


so im hoping its the factory idler, vortech idler, or alternator pulley. sweet.

 

[Shiroelex]

I just had a similar noise on the Cougar, and it turned out to be the tensioner rubbing on the timing cover, because it was shot. Just an idea. Also, pull the inlet tube off of the blower, and listen to if it's coming from the turbine housing.

 

[TonyG]

Yeah, it sounds like something is rubbing. Could it be the vortech idler against the alternator? I have to grind off a little bit of the alternator housing to clear my idler when I did my bracket upgrade.

 

[mustang90]

water pump bearings. mine made the exact same noise.

 

[helty]

Im gonna troubleshoot it all week as time allows. Thanks for all the replies!