Timing Belt Done - Slight 'whirring' noise

[UMT]

I hope this hasn't been covered by one of the other timing belt posts but....

 

I posted on the board that I changed the timing belt a couple weeks ago. Full kit. Everything was fine except the idler gear bearing was shot to hell. All new parts installed.

 

Checked the water pump and it seemed just fine.

 

Originally thought I had a alternator bearing going out and was due for an alternator anyway, so replaced with a NAPA alternator with 3 year warranty.

 

Was real happy with how the job went. No major problems except I thought the timing belt was REAL tight. Checked the number of teeth vs. the old belt and the teeth count was the same: 223

 

I'm now noticing a slight high pitched 'whirring' noise in the timing belt area. Pulled the alternator and ran it over the weekend and eliminated the alternator as a possible cause.

 

Checked 3 different parts houses for a timing belt the the car. (99 Impreza Outback Sport - J223 engine) All of the belts available have the same specs: 223 teeth, apx 70" diameter.

 

Called my buddy at the Subaru dealer this morning. Gave him the full VIN # and he checked and told me there was only one timing belt available for the car. Same specs.

 

Another friend who is an excellent pro mechanic told me that it's not unusual to get a small amount of oil on a belt when replacing and they will make this type of noise for awhile.

 

The noise does seem to be decreasing but I'm now VERY aware of any noise at all coming from the timing belt area. It's not very loud at all, but I have noticed it.

 

Anybody else ever have this 'problem' or any idea of what's happening?

 

Thanks in advance...

[ShawnW]

Have you ruled out the A/C belt or compressor and its tensioner? Pull that belt and verify its quiet or not.

 

You can also pull the timing belt back off and spin the idlers. If one makes more noise than the others, or you didn't replace them all, I highly recommend replacing all of them with the belt, then go from there. You can run the engine with the covers off, sometimes that will make it easier to see/hear the noise.

[UMT]

Have you ruled out the A/C belt or compressor and its tensioner? Pull that belt and verify its quiet or not.

 

You can also pull the timing belt back off and spin the idlers. If one makes more noise than the others, or you didn't replace them all, I highly recommend replacing all of them with the belt, then go from there. You can run the engine with the covers off, sometimes that will make it easier to see/hear the noise.

 

Yeah, checked the AC when I did the job but going to check it again.

 

All new parts: belt, idlers, idler gear, belt tensioner. The only thing I didn't check was the oil pump.

[idosubaru]

like shawn if you can pull some of the cover(s) off you can hear better or even put a mechanics stethoscope to the bolt holding the pulleys in place.

 

someone on here just had this exact same issue. Fairtax4me I believe is his username...or somethign close tot hat, like a week ago. Timing belt job and ended up being his brand new belt was too tight and/or the bearings in the idlers were shot.

 

If it was too tight - be sure to inspect and possibly replace the pulleys, that force could have damaged the bearings, I think it did to his, but you can check his post to be sure.

[Olnick]

I'm now noticing a slight high pitched 'whirring' noise in the timing belt area.

 

When we bought a high mileage '92 Legacy a few years back it had a new timing belt. On the test drive I heard a definite "whirring" sound. Asked the shop owner, Dan at RooPair Specialties in Tacoma, about it he said not to worry, that it would settle in and loosen a bit. It did and we never had a front-end problem.