Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Whine from rear timing chain cover

The Car: 95 GL 2.5L V6, 120,000mi

The symptom: Just in the past couple days, I started hearing a whine from the engine compartment at idle. I know our cars make all kinds of interesting whine whistles and hisses, so this sound was unique. At first I could just tell it was from the passenger side and it was a "gritty" spinning sound. It does fluctuate with the RPMs so initially I thought maybe Alternator or Power Steering pump. I don't have any other symptoms to support those, so I was determined to find the source. It was rear passenger side, but the sound seemed to be coming from higher on the engine, not what I expected with the alternator. From what I can tell now (using a long screwdriver and my ear) it is coming from the rear cover over the timing chain.

I have no idea what it might be, I'm not sure what sounds I could get from the timing chain if something were wrong perhaps with the tensioner. On the other hand, could vibrations from the alternator (if it were bad) carry like that?

New oil, new serpentine belt, same sound.

I've been around since the group was a mailing list, so I know someone out there has probably had the same issue or some insight on it, thanks.

I'm thinking its the idler pulley. Take off the belt and start the car; if the sound goes away start looking at the pullies. The bearings for the idler are known for going bad, as I've had this same thing happen on both cars. The part is cheap and the labor is incredibly easy.

From reading your previous posts, I think the problems you had when replacing pulleys were with tensioner, correct? That one didn't want to come off?

What do I need to take the idler pulley off? Is that one bolt all that's holding it on? Sure does look easy enough.

Yes, the tensioner can be a PITA to get out, but the idler pulley is cake. I think I used a 10mm box-end to get the bolt off, and that's it.