Noise From Front at Idle

rackjack · 06-09-2012, 01:35 PM

My 79' SC has an odd gear/bearing noise emanating from the front of the car at idle (parked). I thought it could be pilot shaft bearing noise but I don't see how it could appear to be coming from under the dash/boot, only, and not from the trans axle location as well. Stethoscope to the fuel pump gives a continuous gear-pump whine. This is more of a larger bearing/gear noise that doesn't seem to change with a blip to the throttle (unfortunately, the engine noise overcomes it above about 1,500 rpm so I can't be too sure if the pitch changes with an rpm increase).

Nothing untoward coming from the engine that sounds like this. Additionally, when I open the boot and climb in it appears to be coming from an area somewhere around the smugglers box or dash. From the cockpit, a turn of the head always has it perceived to be coming from the front/dash.

As a marine engineer, I'm accustomed to some gear noise, etc. but I don't know if this is normal. I've had the car for a couple of years and it's always made this noise. No fuel problems and always starts instantly.

It's not a whine it's more of a low pitched gear/bearing noise.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Marine engineer. Cool. Reminds me of the time I performed an audit in Morgan City, La and the assistant controller kept calling the tube with all the control stuff running from the sub-sea drilling template back to the production platform the "umbiblicle"

Anyhoo, the only thing I can think of that is rotating equipment is the fresh air blower fan and the evap fan.

Fuel pump is in there too but buried underneath the body above the circa 2.5 ft X 1 foot splash pan underneath.

rackjack · 06-09-2012, 02:26 PM

Yeah, a couple of buddies of mine work as engineers (or RMS) for Noble (drill ship Globetrotter and some old rust bucket). "umbiblicle" sounds about right.

This noise is a bit lower pitched than what you'd expect from a fan and I get it even if the front blower and A.C. are secured. Although it seems to be coming from around the location of the evaporator. Can't quite tell for sure. It's one of those noises I can't quite isolate, which is a bit irritating.