[snevman]

I have a 1989 Carerra 3.2 with 94,000 miles.

Yesterday I drove for about one hour and parked the car at a store for 20 minutes, no problem. I then drove for about 5 minutes to another store, no problem. I returned to the car about 30 minutes and when I started the car I heard an awful ping, ping, ping.

I shut it down and inspected the engine area and determined the fan blades were hitting the shroud on the bottom.

I took off the fan belt and spun the fan and could hear a slight pinging from the fan blades rubbing on the shroud. When I held the shaft of the fan and pulled up while spinning, there was no rubbing.

I reinstalled the fan belt and started with no pinging, a few minutes later at idle I heard an occasional ping and now nothing. I drove the car the hour back home without incident.

The question, is the bearing in my alternator bad? Is it something else? I am hoping there is an easy explanation.

Please help.

Thanks,

Scott