There are a few things about this car that are driving me completely insane. Back in May, or roughly 8000 miles ago, I replaced the timing belt, idler pulley and the tensioner puller with a gates belt kit that came with factory koyo bearings. I put in a new aftermarket belt tensioner. All of this was done because of that horrible Timing belt sound that sounds metallic but is actually a harmonic response between the metal cogs and the belt.







sound is back substantially worse than before. I remember reading somewhere since then that cleaning the cogs with oven cleaner, and using a Dayco belt should resolve the issue. I have ordered the belt, $17. I also dug up the receipt for the tensioner and I’m going to have that warranteed out. Can’t imagine the Koyo bearings aren’t good after 8,000 miles so those stay




A long time mechanic better than I told me that basically, Sound comes from varnish on the Cardin sound comes from varnish on the cogs... that basically, that area of the engine is really hot, and every time you turn it off, the belt essentially “sticks“ to the cogs then breaks free when the engine is started again… This causes a varnish build up that creates the unique harmonic disturbance that just so happens to sound like a combination of metal on metal grinding and nails on a chalkboard. My fear and question revolves around why this seem to have re-surfaced so abruptly Resurfaced so abruptly.




Perhaps it’s magnified by another issue I am having… Perhaps you all remember my “ticking/creeking roof“ issue.... starting to suspect that the adhesive to put in the windshield has become brittle and cracked, and that’s what I’m hearing tick while the body flexes over bumps. I am also beginning to believe that because this has happened, I am hearing more sounds from outside car, especially from under the hood. My engine is no louder (other than the timing belt) then it ever has been before, or than it was when brand new, yet I hear it more, especially when it’s cold in the morning… It literally sounds like there is a hole in the firewall behind the dashboard







That second issue aside, I’d like to hear what you guys have to say about cleaning the cogs and anything related to this timing belt noise. I know Oro and Lexus2000 have contributed quite valuable information to this topic before, I just can’t seem to find







Thanks







Drew

Guilty as charged… Normally I’m pretty **** about using factory parts under the hood, or that is, tracking down the original equipment manufacturer in buying it from them rather than in the Red box. Just impulse bought a Mitsuboshi belt. On a funny sidenote, they must realize how dangerously close thier name is to another company… Their logo is thier name in plain text with emphasis on the “o”













i’m just going to return the Dayco one I bought. I am also going to warrantee out the tensioner just to be safe. Chances are, though, the last 30,000 miles of using an aftermarket belt has caused varnish on the cogs… Someone please advise how to clean them.













That aside, as for my second rant… Could I be correct that the Black cement used to hold in my windshield has somehow deteriorated it is letting me hear wind and engine noises louder than before? Wind at speed and engine at idle, worse when cold

This is what it sounded like last time It did this - 4-5 months ago, about 8,000 miles. I did replace the koyo idler and tensioner pulleys and the tensioner it self, with a new Gates belt. I was convinced it was a metal on metal sound - can bearing or idler bearing, but I have since been told that the harmonic phenomenon of timing belt shmutz and the cogs makes a sound that sounds metallic but isn’t. And it does seem to come right from the cogs







I really hope that this is “just a sound” like I’ve hear said. I did a couple thousand miles this was last time (not proud) and it not on my immediate to do list (even less proud)