[ds968]

As if all the noises this damn car - the Tip - keeps making weren't disturbing enough, yesterday mid-day when I started it  ( that's after driving it from work to the soccer field at noon, where it sat parked for a couple of hours before I started it to go back to work ) as soon as it turned over there was an infernally loud screeching and rattling and shaking coming from the engine, after which it stalled .  It sounded as if every bearing of every component in there either froze or broke into pieces with disastrous results.  In my mind I thought either the alternator or the AC unit bearings froze, causing havoc with the belts and everything else connected to them, and then stalling the engine.  So I popped the hood to check the carnage which I expected to see, but absolutely nothing seemed out of place. Checked the tension of all the belts and they felt ok, they all looked to be exactly where they should, but of course I could not see or test the AC or the alternator rotation. I though whatever damage was done cant possibly get worse so I asked a team mate to turn the engine on for for just one or two seconds so while the hood was opened I could see or hear what and from where that racket is coming. So he started the car and the engine turned and ran as smoothly as the purring of a cat.  No screech, no rattle , nothing !   So we let it run for a minute and since it seemed perfectly "normal"  I drove it back to the office.  After work, with great hesitation and fear of that noise coming back, I started it again for the ( hopeful ) drive home.  It ran as normal as can be for the entire hour + commute .  Oh, while parked and running I also turned on and off the AC switch a couple of times to see if engaging the compressor made any difference - it did not make any difference , and I had cold air while was it was on - so I drove it home without any problem and that was that.  

After an hour rest and a glass of wine to calm my nerves, I tested the battery voltage to see if maybe the alternator was what shut down causing that noise, but the battery voltage was fine as well.  As it was this morning when I checked it.  Drove it to work and it's still perfectly quiet .  So...what in the world could that have been ?!                                             

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Ryan]

It's getting close to Halloween....maybe your car is haunted

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

It's Halloween year-round with this one !

 

If one more thing happens, even if it's a friggin' tail light bulb which burns up on this car,  I'm driving it straight into the local chop shop and bring back its remaining working parts in a couple of bins      :glare:  :wacko: 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Waylander]

Is this the manual?


The starter got stuck in at a guess, makes a horrid noise

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

No, it's the tiptronic.     And the starter is fairly new ( not that it's any guarantee it couldn't get stuck ..)

 

I  mentioned in the original post that I switched the AC on / off a few times , but that's while the engine was already running , so I started it now with the AC switch preset to on, and no problems .  I'll test that the AC on startup first thing in the morning when the engine is really cold and see if the noise repeats.   Will also attach the external voltmeter and check the dash voltmeter on cranking in case the noise rears its ugly head again to see what the readings are.    

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Peter B]

I had a problem like that.  It was the AC unit actually starting to fall off.  As best as I could figure, I didn't tighten the main bolt enough after working on the steering rack.  The rest of the supports were enough to hold it in place as the main bolt was coming loose.   When it happened twice and I went to tighten up the tension - that's when I finally noticed.  This likely isn't it, but if it is, then I hope my confession helps.  

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

Is it possible to reach that bolt by hand , either from the top of the engine , or from underneath but without lifting the car or removing the plastic undertray just to see if it wiggles at all on touch ? Or if it's in a spot where that's not possible , if it is indeed coming loose would the condenser move at all of you push it in one direction or another , or does the belt and the other components hold it so tightly in place that or would not budge unless that bolt was really loose and just about ready to fall out ?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

Tell me you have the A/C support from D1R that eliminates the possibility of the "ear" coming off the compressor...

 

Jay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

No idea , but since Flash worked on both of my cars SC kits ( one actually installed from scratch , and the other reassembled some components ) I would imagine the answer is ...probably ?


But if the ear came off or if the bolt was loose wouldn't the AC unit move sufficiently to cause some vibration at all times when wether idling or acceleration, or simply just driving , or / and cause the belt to be somewhat loose to the touch, or generate noise all the time ?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

Unless it is just about to snap off...

 

Jay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

AC support???  i don't make one of those.  what i do is relocate the pickup point of the OEM tensioner, so that it pulls better from closer to center, which inherently reduces the load on the rear ear, which is the one that usually breaks.

 

the issue that most commonly causes the failure is that the mounting bolts are not loosened before tensioning the belt, and/or not tightened back up afterward.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

I would have sworn that I have 2 "supports" one for P/S tensioner and one for A/C..no?

 

Jay 

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

nope.  i just replaced the tensioner on the PS, and relocated and replaced the tensioner and added a pulley on the AC

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Peter B]

Back to the latest question from ds968, yes you can see and tighten the main bolt from the top side.   Make sure it's tight.  

 

Next question, remarkably, the AC unit will hang on with nothing attached but the tensioner and the belt.  I was in shock when I found this.  I thanked my lucky starts and quickly bought bolts (driving in my Audi instead).  The only signal I got of my precarious situation was the screeching from the belt.  

 

The "ear" broke off on my AC unit.  I'm curious to see what others have done.  I came up with what I think is a clever solution, but I'm not quite ready to share.  

 

I sure hope this hasn't happened to you.

 

What does the added pulley do?  

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

That " main bolt " is the one in front and center of the unit ? That's the only bolt which I can see from the top of the engine so I could probably get a socket wrench on it to make sure it's tight , but with the SC assembly in much of the way of just about everything below and behind it it won't be all that easy to access ...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ds968]

The center AC unit bolt is tight . I also pushed down and sideways on the unit as hard as I could with a long steel rod and there was no movement / " give " whatsoever . I realize that compressor may hang on even with the ear broken and bolts loose but I can't imagine it would not budge at all when pushed . I also switched the AC on before staring the car and when I did, there was no noise ( at least not the one I was talking about in this thread ) .

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.