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Help Needed . . . Comment on my decision tree, please ! Posted by Mark in Marine [Email] (#1837) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Mark in Marine) on Thu, 26 Apr 2018 18:51:21 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I will be making a "house call" to one of my daughters tomorrow. Her 2006 wagon was doing fine today on the interstate when she noticed a very sudden "card in the wheel spokes" noise. She slowed and the noise slowed, she accelerated and the noise increased, so she pulled over, engaged flashers and called me. No CEL and no other warning lights.
Fortunately this is Minneapolis area, and there are constant Highway Helpers - she was even pulled off in a pre-construction area separated from traffic by orange cones. She got the car towed to her house where I will be able to diagnose it tomorrow.
She did not seem to notice the steering get heavy, so I suspect the belt is still in place.
Here is my diagnosis decision tree:
1) Walk-around - I will look for fluid leaks and check all fluids - She just checked her oil, and the coolant light was not on. She doesn't normally check ATF level, but I will. I don't know for sure about oil pressure light, so I'll check that too - but later in the process, since I will not start the engine right away. I will try to check the harmonic balancer bolts first, since I have seen a post in which they did severe damage to timing cover and oil pan - they shouldn't come loose, but . . .
2) I will look at the serpentine belt, then support the motor and remove the RH side motor mount. I'll remove the belt, do a temp re-fit of the horse collar mount and start the engine briefly to see if the noise is belt related (HOPE that it is).
3) If it IS belt related, I will inspect the idler pulley, tensioner and its pulley, water pump, alternator, harmonic balancer, AC compressor, and PS pump.
4) If it ISN'T belt related life gets more complicated - I will re-fit the belt and motor mount, get out the vacuum hose / stethoscope and listen at the turbo housing, at the timing cover, at the valve cover, and at the block.
5) Since it made the noise in neutral when stopped the transmission is my last suspect, but not off the suspect list.
Please review and fill in things that I might not be thinking about. I will take my jack, jack stands, and a fairly good kit of tools. I will bring along an old idler pulley and a used but working tensioner/pulley. I have a new water pump, but if that is it, I will have to do the work on Saturday. Other things will require more thought / planning. This car has seemed mechanically excellent, so I hope it is something simple and easily remedied.
Thanks in advance for your help !
Mark in Marine
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