It's a 1988 Toyota Camry 4-cyl. Has 197000 miles on it. The engine runs fine, but there is a bad bearing somewhere in/on the engine. You can hear it plainly at idle. Its the tell-tale whir/rattle of a worn-out bearing. Well, could be wrong, but sure sounds like it. Its not the fans, not the alternator, not the AC compressor, so it seems to be something internal to the engine. It's the sound of a DRY bearing, so I don't think it would be a bad crankshaft bearing. What is it likely to be? Perhaps its a timing belt idler. Also I need to know if the valves are damaged if the timing belt breaks on this engine? Just bought the car, don't have any idea when it was last changed, if ever. Might be wise to pre-emptively replace it?
Advice: sound of bad bearing 4-cyl engine
Apr 11, 2006
8 Replies
Water pump maybe? Has it been changed recently / ever?
Watch your coolant levels carefully...
ger> It's a 1988 Toyota Camry 4-cyl. Has 197000 miles on it. The engine
If you have to ask, it probably is... ;)
Put it this way - I personally would have my mechanic do it. I'm still a beginner, I'd say.
But if your water pump is leaking coolant... you're looking at major radiator and engine damage - expensive.
ger> Ill check it carefully for leakage. Is the water pump hard to change > on this car?
Most likely an idler or tensioner bearing for the timing belt.
Harder than you'd expect. There are a number of things you would need to know, plus a few special tools. If you're going to change the water pump you should also plan on changing the timing belt, idler pulleys, and seals. You may be able to find tutorials on the web if you look around. I downloaded probably twenty or more photos of how it's done on your model, but don't have the site anymore. If you want to post your e-mail I could send them.
Wow, I didn't know that! When my water pump died, I took it to the stealership with a coupon for a "timing belt change" to drop the price some, still paid several hundred $$$, and I'm certain the stealership didn't change any of my seals... probably didn't change idler pulleys either.
And after they did all that work, my car wouldn't start the next morning. The cause? They didn't tighten the positive terminal on my battery!!!
Send the pics on how to do it, by all means. Yea, I am going to change all those items at same time.
snipped-for-privacy@grandecom.net
The bearings start to dry up around 50K miles. By 90K miles the noise and wobble is quite noticeable. It's like from under the timing cover then.
Worn water pump can also make a similar whirring noise. Better get them replaced.
I'll pick up a Gates Timing kit, with timing belt, idler pulley, and tensioner pulley. Make sure you use a new pump and not a remanufactured one Toyota likes to sell. Change the hoses and thermostat. I use NAPA's Airtex new water pumps and NAPA hoses are from Gates. For oil seals I use Fel-Pro sets.
Gates timing belt/component kit with instruction sheet:
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Airtex pumps: Check out their installation video, "Analysis of a cooling system failure, In-depth diagnostics for proper analysis and installation of water pumps."
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Autozone has free repair guides. Check it out
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Timing belt:
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Water pump:
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Thermostat:
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etc. etc.
Oneline autoparts:
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