I just purchased a '91 325i (113k miles)- stored for 5 years; previous owner was conscientious about maintenance. Put on new timing belt, water pump, flushed and renewed all fluids, new belts, new plugs, new battery. Engine is making a noise that sounds like a bad power steering pump. Removed all belts and it makes the same noise. Any suggestions?
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Could be a bad timing belt tensioner. Did you replace it along with the belt?The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL -
I'd definitely pull the front covers off and see what's going on before you run it again.Comment
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Tensioner was replaced along with the belt. Seems to run very well, other than the noise.
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With the accessory belts off noise from the front end of the engine has to be from the belt tensioner, intermediate shaft, camshaft, or belt. An automotive stethoscope should help pinpoint the source.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, ALComment
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Check for something easy like the shroud hitting the fan or something.
Does the noise get louder, quieter or stay the same with rpms?
TaylorNeed a performance chip for you BMW? Shoot me a PM and I'll get you taken care of!!
Taylor- Follow me on Instagram @e30_fiend
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Check for something easy like the shroud hitting the fan or something.
Does the noise get louder, quieter or stay the same with rpms?
TaylorNeed a performance chip for you BMW? Shoot me a PM and I'll get you taken care of!!
Taylor- Follow me on Instagram @e30_fiend
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If the accessory belts are off, the fan can't be causing noise because it would not be turning.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, ALComment
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Did you buy parts from the pelican?Comment
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This august I did my TB. I ordered TB conti, idler, water pump GRAF from pelican. The water pamp in the GRAF box. no marking was on the water pump itself. I have got noise from the front like your description. In two weeks ordered new TB, idler from pelican again. I ordered the SKF idler. Received INA in the SKF box. What's worse, the idler was manufactured in Slovakia, not in Germany. It is stamped on front face of the idler. I took risk and installed it. And again same noise. I start motor when it is cold, and noise comes on after 2-3 minutes of motor at idle. I can not hear the noise at higher RPM.
I think the bearing in the idler gets hot and start pitching. Probably the bearing they use is bad quality. Originaly, the "GRAF" water pump had very small axial and radial play. When I did the TB the second time I checked the water pump bearing play. It was about .010in, Way more then the pump I replaced(100000mi)!
I was checking noise without all three belts. I do not know what to do now.
I'm planing to replace TB, idler and the water pump again. I' going to buy parts from a dealer. 300 bucks for the set of BMW parts. I do not want to say the pelican sell everything low quality, but now I have concern.Comment
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This is NOT just a Pelican deal- it seems to be an issue with alot of the aftermarket waterpumps, regardless of where they're made. A friend works at a local indy shop and they had so many problems with the BMW water pumps from their parts vendor (in this case- Worldpac), that they now only install BMW pumps bought from the BMW dealer. He says their problems with water pumps have gone down to almost zero since they started doing this.
FWIW, just because you specify OEM parts does not mean they will be made in Germany. I recently got a slave cyl for the wife's E46 and it was an OEM mfg (Ate I think) and it showed Made in China on the packaging. When I recently needed a slave cyl for my E30 I skipped the OEM BS and just got the no-name brand from AutoZone for $25 that is also made in China.Comment
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