Possible water pump problem?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 22
From: Lititz PA
Possible water pump problem?
Once in a while when my father starts his '02 C5, a fairly loud chirping noise will emit from the engine bay area. I can compare it closely to the chirping of a cricket. At first, I guessed the obvious (belt), but after spraying it, the noise would not go away. The chirping only occurs while the engine is cool and it stops when the car reaches operating temperature.
Could bearings in the water pump be going out or am I way off? Any ideas on what this could possibly be? It only happens once in a while (I'd say 1 out of 20 starts) which makes the problem difficult to diagnose. Again, I'm just guessing at what the problem could be—so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Matt
Could bearings in the water pump be going out or am I way off? Any ideas on what this could possibly be? It only happens once in a while (I'd say 1 out of 20 starts) which makes the problem difficult to diagnose. Again, I'm just guessing at what the problem could be—so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Matt
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
Once in a while when my father starts his '02 C5, a fairly loud chirping noise will emit from the engine bay area. I can compare it closely to the chirping of a cricket. At first, I guessed the obvious (belt), but after spraying it, the noise would not go away. The chirping only occurs while the engine is cool and it stops when the car reaches operating temperature.
Could bearings in the water pump be going out or am I way off? Any ideas on what this could possibly be? It only happens once in a while (I'd say 1 out of 20 starts) which makes the problem difficult to diagnose. Again, I'm just guessing at what the problem could be—so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Matt
Could bearings in the water pump be going out or am I way off? Any ideas on what this could possibly be? It only happens once in a while (I'd say 1 out of 20 starts) which makes the problem difficult to diagnose. Again, I'm just guessing at what the problem could be—so any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Matt
One easy way to tell if it is bearings, is to remove the belt. Take each pulley in your fingers and spin it without taking your hand off it. If the pulley feels rigid(not smooth) when you turn it, its the bearings. You can go buy new bearings and press fit them in yourself with a piece of wood and a few slight knocks of a hammer.
If all the pullies check out, I would start the car with the belt on and watch the Tensioner. It shouldnt move all over while the car is running.
