Weird whine front passenger side of engine

[schnork]

Hi, folks:

My '86 944 has developed a strange noise that I can best describe as sounding like a table saw (a sawblade spinning with no load, i.e., not cutting anything).

I've disconnected the power steering pump and ran the engine - the noise was still there.

I've examined all of the timing and balance shaft cogs and idlers behind the front cover - no problem there.

I've gone over the engine with a stethoscope, and the only time I hear this noise is when I touch the probe to the end of the oil filter. This is particularly wierd, since there are no moving parts that I'm aware of connected to the oil filter mount.

The sound is not present when the car is first started, but it seems to begin once the thermostat opens.

The only thing I can think of is that some kind of failure may be happening with the water pump. I replaced the water pump about 6 months ago with a rebuilt pump. Maybe I got a bad one.

Any ideas?

Larry

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I was also thinking water pump. If it siezes, it's bad news as it likes to snap timing belts. Can you start it and listen to the pump by using a stethescope? Even better, pull the belts off and try turning the water pump by hand - you can usually tell if its bad bearings even by that.

[seaboltman]

i would put my money on you got a bad water pump

[ae1969]

Try the A/C.... you may see metal shavings...

[yellowline]

Don't rule anything out. These cars have a nasty habit of making noises that are far away from the real problem.

Might be a bit out there, but try engine braking on a hill. Put it in 2nd, keep off the gas, go 20 or so down a steep hill nearby. Is the noise worse? I'd wonder if it's a vacuum problem.

Check the pump first, though...you don't want that to fail, if it really is that.

[CJFusco]

I had a very strange engine sound not too long ago, it ended up being that the gear that attaches the balance belt and serpentine belt to the alternator became cracked somehow. The noise was so bad that I thought I had a crack in the headers/exhaust.

[944cabby]

Originally posted by schnork
Hi, folks:

My '86 944 has developed a strange noise that I can best describe as sounding like a table saw (a sawblade spinning with no load, i.e., not cutting anything).

I've disconnected the power steering pump and ran the engine - the noise was still there.

I've examined all of the timing and balance shaft cogs and idlers behind the front cover - no problem there.

I've gone over the engine with a stethoscope, and the only time I hear this noise is when I touch the probe to the end of the oil filter. This is particularly wierd, since there are no moving parts that I'm aware of connected to the oil filter mount.

The sound is not present when the car is first started, but it seems to begin once the thermostat opens.

The only thing I can think of is that some kind of failure may be happening with the water pump. I replaced the water pump about 6 months ago with a rebuilt pump. Maybe I got a bad one.

Any ideas?

Larry

I have a similar noise to what you describe on startup but it doesn't last very long and is quite intermittent - i too suspected the waterpump but it's only there for a short while and dissapears within a couple of minutes after starting.
Strangely the noise seemed to start just after i disconnected my ISV to clean with carb cleaner a short while back.