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Serpentine belt? Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Timing belt replacement., Justin, Tue, 3 Aug 2004 09:50:38 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Not to be picky, but a '92 would have a four-cylinder engine, and those have timing chains. There is a main belt that drives all the accessories, and that is called the serpentine belt.
Timing chains last a very long time. In general, I don't like the idea of diagnosing a worn timing chain based on sound alone. Lots of things can make funny noises (serp. belts, among them). Replacing a timing chain is a pretty involved process. Or, replacing the chain is fairly simple, but to do it right, you need to replace a lot of other parts (chain guides, sprockets, etc), that involve removing the timing cover, and usually, the head.
If the issue is just the serpentine belt, that's different. That should be replaced every 3 years or so. The belt runs on an idler pulley and a tensioner pulley, and depending on how many miles you have on the engine, those pulleys should be replaced, also. Now, a worn belt and worn pulleys (actually the pulley bearings) can make noise. However, if the belt is running crooked on the pulleys, that will make noise as the belt rubs. This can be due to a bad main pulley (aka 'harmonic balancer') - the pulley on the crankshaft. As those fail, they can slide in or out, causing belt misalignment.
Replacing a serpentine belt and idler pulleys isn't too hard - I believe that Quasi has a procedure on his site (http://quasimotors.gar.net). Replacing the main pulley (harmonic balancer) is also straightforward, just takes a little more time.
So - questions-
Which engine do you have? (I assume it's a 2.3l)
Is it the serpentine belt that's making noise (the belt you can see?) or the timing chain?
What's the noise?
posted by 192.249....
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