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Hello. My 85 is making an engine compartment noise. I've stethoscoped it but not certain. I think it's the AIR Pump. Tell me what you think.
Thanks for looking.
First Pop the drive belt off the pulleys you can leave it hanging just give a little push down from crank, next give a good look at the crank balancer see if there is rubber hanging out or it's rubbing the timing cover.
If the above is all good, with the belts off engine off turn each drive (Pulleys) feel for looseness or grinding, if you feel all is well belt off run car for SHORT TIME LESS THAN 2 MINUTES and listen all you should hear is motor if you still hear the noise it's in the motor and that's another can of worms
Give the Idler pulley a good look it's a common fail
Thanks to you both for the tips. I have checked all the items you've mentioned. I haven't ran it with the belt removed. When I get a chance I will do that and also recheck the pulleys. Thanks again.
if you have a long stick or long screwdriver (or a mechanics stethoscope) hold it on the body of the air pump, the ac compressor, and the alternator…and other end put it right onto your ear like u r trying the feel vibrations up the ear. it will work.
BUT! be careful about dropping it or wearing ling clothes or hoodie strings getting caught up.
if you have a long stick or long screwdriver (or a mechanics stethoscope) hold it on the body of the air pump, the ac compressor, and the alternator…and other end put it right onto your ear like u r trying the feel vibrations up the ear. it will work.
BUT! be careful about dropping it or wearing ling clothes or hoodie strings getting caught up.
Thanks. I bought a stethoscope and the sound does seem to be coming from the air pump. Gets louder as the longer the car runs.
ok, if you hold the steth on the pumps body does it get louder towards the front where the bearing is?
i had an 86 early iron head car with the same air pump, i was driving to the track and the bearing got so hot that it softened the pot metal of the pump body and the belt pulled the pulley wheel right off!
Needed a side of the highway rescue.
i had to install the air pump delete kit until i sourced a replacement air pump, which was from a local cf member.
Thanks. I bought a stethoscope and the sound does seem to be coming from the air pump. Gets louder as the longer the car runs.
Well done mate! Pop off the belt and confirm. Perhaps your in a State where you could just "delete" the AIR pump?? Either way i think you have it figured out.
I installed this pulley kit I purchased from Walmart. Nice kit, fair price, looks good.. Air Pump Kit Noise and vibration gone, at least during the short test drive I took after installing. Easy to install, only thing was it didn't come with instructions but this youtube video was a great help.
What's making this noise?
