Help with engine problems.
 

I was driving tonight and coming off the highway I hear something not normal with the engine sound. There is a clicking sound that comes from the engine block where my belts are. I had my belts done few months back. The noise is pretty loud and I'm not driving the car now since it happened tonight. I have no clue what it could be. It makes the clicking sound pretty loud and its inside the block where my belts but more back. The idel is not smooth anymore. If anyone knows what it is it would be a big help?

Bearings or a piston slap?

I would definately take it to a shop

AFJuvat

Do you know how much it would cost and would I be able to drive it to the shop my shop is like 3miles from my house?

Pull the covers and see if there is anything noticible in there. Could be a loose bolt knocking around, or a rod punching out the side of the block. Don't know until you look.

Even if you take it to the shop, they will run it to find the sound. Let her sit and idle for a few and try to track it down. Once you have the location, you can go from there.

Thuds and knocks are not good, but you will know what it is.

Thanx to both of you. Do you know how much it will cost me to fix the problem if the worst case is??

You said you had the belts done, how about the water pump? If it is the waterpump, you may see some steam coming from around the distributor cap. The engine would most likely overheat soon. There is a chance that the waterpump may seize, it can mess up your new timing belt and those precious valves too. Waterpumps can be had for 100 bucks, labor is usually 6-8 hrs but i've heard higher... 6 hrs is plenty for a pro shop to charge.

Don't see any steam from the cap. But the water pump is still good. Well I'm going to miss another day of school and take the cover of and see the belts and screws anything lose or broken. I hope I will find the problem.

Lots of luck!

I would definately get it to a shop - the potential for massive and expensive damage is too great.

A decent mechanic should be able to tell you what the problem is fairly quickly.

As to costs, depending on what it is causing the noise (you didn't mention what kind of car (by your name I am guessing 928), engine size etc...) repairs could cost anywhere from a couple of hundred to several thousand dollars.

Again, lots of luck.

AFJuvat

It's an 1986 951 with 73,8xx miles on it.

don't start it, and have it towed to your mechanic.

http://home.pacbell.net/nirky/turbo_120.jpg

Ok. Did you have the same problem?

First off, I heartily agree - if you are taking it to a shop, have it towed.

You said that the noise was coming from the block - can you be a little more specific?, meaning from around the crank pully or is it more towards the balance shafts and/or the cam? Does the noise increase in frequency in relation to engine speed?

I would pull the belt cover off and look for the obvious - belt damage (indicating a siezed pully/roller/tensioner), missing bolts, oil, etc.

If it is coming from the bottom, and you cannot readily find the source of the noise, I'm afraid that the other alternatives are quite a bit more serious and thus expensive.

AFJuvat

Thanx for all your help guys. I blew the balance shaft bearing. I had the shop fix it and the car is running better then ever. http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/smile.gif