1994 GP 3.1 SE engine noise

Take it to a different dealer. Pay for the diagnosis time.

How is the drive belt? Try spraying water on it to see if the noise goes away.

I replaced many Alternators on my 93 GP 3.1 before I traded in. One of my replacements was a re-manufactured unit, it had a bad bearing and would make a tapping noise that could only be heard in the cabin area. It would only be heard at idle, when revved-up it would disappear. Luckily I had the reciept, returned it to the store, and got a replacement after 11 months on the 1 year warrenty. Needless to see it was a bitch to figure out where the sound was coming from. For now on I buy NEW when the part has bearings.

This message was written on 100% recycled spam. SAM >>

I did find that the belt tensioner was falling apart. I replaced it last night (a 5 minute job) hoping it would stop the noise but it didn't. It could be the alternator, but the noise seems a little noisier than what would come from the alternator. The noise also sounds more like maybe a vibration in the engine mount???? Who knows...it really is only noticeable after the car has been driven a while.

Thanks for any new input.

Bill

Yes, my belt tentioner blew arart on the road. I got one at Advance for abou $50.00 and replaced it on the side of the street It was a breeze.

I think it's your water pump. I went throught the same chace game and a 15 minute water pump job fixed it. It was also a 3.1 94 GP.

Can you tell me what it sounded like? I'm starting to get worried it may be something internal, but the car seems to run fantastic.

Like a rumbling worn out bearing. I even had a stethescope looking hearing device I got from the parts store and still couln't narrow it down. So I threw the dice and won. It was an $18.00 water pump and easy as heck to do. Give it a go.

Stange that you couldn't narrow it down. I always pull the belt off and rotate each component by hand when looking for a front engine noise. GW

I did the same thing and could not tell that any thing was wrong.

Craig ,

GW must have " Magic Hands ".

LOL......

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey _~_~_~295,752 miles_~_~_

~_~_~_~_U.S.A._~_~_~_~_~_

~~~The Former Fleet ~~~

89 Cavalier Z 24 convertible 78 Holiday 88 coupe 68 LeSabre convertible 73 Impala sedan

"Try, try, try to understaaaaaand!"

double LOL GW

He's A Magic Man, Mamma.

hahahaha

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey _~_~_~295,752 miles_~_~_

~_~_~_~_U.S.A._~_~_~_~_~_

~~~The Former Fleet ~~~

89 Cavalier Z 24 convertible 78 Holiday 88 coupe 68 LeSabre convertible 73 Impala sedan

I suppose I could say that mine sounds something like that, but in the back of my mind, I keep thinking it's some sort of "thumping" noise that gets worse when the car is hot. The vibration in the worn out belt tensioner seemed to be occuring with the noise which made me think that could be the culprit, but the water pump is in the same vicinity.

Do you know what a hermonic balancer is? It's like a rubber donut that the main crank pulley mounts onto. I had one years ago dry rot and I've heard others with the same proble. It cause my serpine tine belt to keep jumping a ridge over until it ripped apart.

Grab a hole of the main crank pully and see if it's loose.

I never heard of a "rubber" harmonic balancer. Is that what they went to on the GP? So far, my belt has been OK.

Thanks.

harmonic balancer

The whole thing isn't rubber, but there is rubber in there. They have essentially always been like that, not just Pontiac. GW

I didn't know that....thanks. I've been working around cars all my life and learn something all the time.