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Need Help Finding Rattle on 94 Tempo

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Shannon Hubbard

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May 24, 2001, 10:11:52 PM5/24/01
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I have a 94 Ford Tempo with 4cyl, auto, and a/c.
It runs/drives perfect has 162000 miles.
Last Friday it started making a loud rattling noise which goes away when its
in park or the rpms go up. When it is rattling the belt tensioner vibrates,
which I have since replaced. I have checked the alternator, water pump, a/c
compressor, and idler pulley and replaced the belt, belt tensioner and
tensioner pulley, and checked all motor mounts. The sound is defiantly
coming from the area of the tensioner etc. but I cannot figure out what
could be causing it. The sound only happens when the a/c is on or when the
car is in gear. If the car is idling in park with the a/c off there is no
sound, but when you turn the steering wheel or turn on the a/c or put the
car in drive/reverse it starts rattling and the tensioner vibrates side to
side. When I release some tension from the belt it stops if I rev up the car
it stops. I've driven the car about 700+ miles since the noise started and
it hasn't gotten any worse. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Shannon Hubbard
BTW it defiantly is not the engine or transaxle making the noise.


PattiW.

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May 24, 2001, 10:36:40 PM5/24/01
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Belt stretched out will do that. The tensioner bottoms on it's travel.
"Shannon Hubbard" <res0...@home.com> wrote in message
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db...@sprynet.com

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May 25, 2001, 12:11:37 AM5/25/01
to Shannon Hubbard
go to auto zone or pep boys and get a new fan belt, will probably solve
your problem, price?? $12 there or about....

Jinxter

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May 25, 2001, 6:58:40 AM5/25/01
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More like a timing belt. Does the tensioner have a bolt near the center of
the plate? Does the plate have an 'adjustable bolt hole' i.e. a banana
shaped hole between the wheel and the pivot point? If so, there needs to be
a bolt there. All my 2.0L and 2.3L engines have the tensioner tight on the
belt and bolted to stay there. That bolt may be missing, allowing the
tensioning wheel to 'bounce' with the power pulses as the belt vibrates.
Fix it before the belt slips! Hopefully that is all it is.

<db...@sprynet.com> wrote in message news:3B0DDB...@sprynet.com...

Shannon Hubbard

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May 25, 2001, 11:30:21 AM5/25/01
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It has a spring loaded tensioner with just one bolt at the top, but your
right it does tend to bounce. I just can't figure out why.

Shannon
"Jinxter" <shay...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Cadman

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May 25, 2001, 5:05:38 PM5/25/01
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Harmonic Balancer, also called the vibration dampener pulley. Not a
cheap fix as they have to jack the engine to remove.


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Corn Dog

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May 25, 2001, 5:27:35 PM5/25/01
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Well, this was what I was begining to think it must be(Harmonic Balencer).
So lets say I just continue to drive it(as my funds are extreamly limited)
will it eventually come off or just make alot of noise?
If it does come off how bad am I going to trash the engine?

Thanks
Shannon

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Thomas H. Moats

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May 25, 2001, 9:46:55 PM5/25/01
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Have the harmonic balancer checked. The balancer was know to come apart and
make a noise you describe.

"Shannon Hubbard" <res0...@home.com> wrote in message
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Michael O

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May 25, 2001, 9:56:23 PM5/25/01
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There was a recall on these about 4 -5 years ago, check your VIN, see if
your's slipped through...


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Jinxter

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May 26, 2001, 7:19:26 AM5/26/01
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Try tightening the pivot bolt. Maybe it has worked loose...

"Shannon Hubbard" <res0...@home.com> wrote in message

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KOffless

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May 26, 2001, 12:16:42 PM5/26/01
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I have the same problem on a 94 Tempo as well and just cant bring myself to
spend the money required to fix it.

It will eventually get louder.

How would you find out if it was on a recall list and would there be any
recourse by this point in time?

John


"Michael O" <moma...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Cadman

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May 27, 2001, 11:33:01 AM5/27/01
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Corn Dog wrote:
>
> Well, this was what I was begining to think it must be(Harmonic Balencer).
> So lets say I just continue to drive it(as my funds are extreamly limited)
> will it eventually come off or just make alot of noise?
> If it does come off how bad am I going to trash the engine?
>

It will rattle like that for at quite some time. I couldn't stand to let
mine go any longer so I had it replaced. I'm told you can let it go
indefinitely, but I would not like to find out. Your neighbors will just
love you when you finally get it fixed!!

Shannon Hubbard

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May 27, 2001, 6:38:57 PM5/27/01
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Yup tried that, at this point i'm pretty sure it's the harmonic
balencer/pulley assembly which is i'm going to try and replace Tues(i'm
going to try dropping the engine/transaxle down a few inches in stead of
yanking the motor out).

Thanks
Shannon

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