BoaConstrictor

Hello. I have a 2003 Accord coupe V6 AT. I've had it about 3 years and a year ago I started getting an annoying noise from near the alternator and power steering.

The noise increases as the throttle does. It's not so much a whining, more like a loud engine noise. (Like a vrrrooommm, not in a good way though) I've replaced the O ring in the PS and even replaced the power steering altogether with no avail. I've tried the 'belt spray' and that didn't work either. From what I read in the forums it seems it could be the idler pulley or tension pulley.

Any ideas?
Thanks.

Lost Again

There is a "pointer" on the auto tensioner, you can inspect the movement of the tensioner when the car is running.

You can also remove the serp belt and run the engine for a few minutes and see if the noise is still there or gone ?

While the belt is off inspect all of the pulleys to be sure they spin freely without and "hard spots".

BoaConstrictor

Hey thanks for the reply. I'll have to give that a shot, and will report back with the results.

BoaConstrictor

Ok so I followed the instructions and it did seem to move a bit, not a lot I would suspect. But as I put my ear near the engine it definitely sounds like it is coming from there.

I haven't tried taking the belt off. I guess I will try that. But can you really run the engine with the belt off?
I've never heard of that..

Lost Again

Yes, the water pump is driven by the timing belt.

So the only "down side" to running the engine with the serp belt off is that the alt will not be "charging/keeping" the battery charged. Hence why I said to only do it for a few minutes.....5 to 10 and no harm will be done.

Lost Again

Let me be clear to any that may read this......the v6 in this gen, the water pump is driven by the timing belt.

The 4 cyl engines use a timing chain, the water pump on the 4 cyl engines IS driven by the serp belt.

BoaConstrictor

Ok thanks.

Would you happen to have any links to the specs for my particular engine?

My owners manual AND my repair manual are vague and don't provide enough of this info for me. When I changed my air filter and spark plugs, I tried to follow my manuals and they weren't really helpful at all so I used logic and common sense to pull it off.

I'm not sure if you already know this or not but my engine is a 3.0 Vtec. Most of the pics I see concerning 7th gen v6s, the engine looks different from mine.

Lost Again

Is the car from North America? If so then the engine should be the J30A4...the "A5" come in 06.

So, what "spec's" are you looking for?

BoaConstrictor

I live in North America so I guess yes??

I was just hoping to find something with pictures specifying various engine components.

If you need me to provide you any info to help, I can go look on my car for you.

Lost Again

Just me but for ~$27 you can buy a pretty good "Service Manual" for your car from: www "dot" automanualsource "dot" com - active links will get me in trouble with the "Mod's" again...yes again

Note a service manual is not to be confused with a "repair manual" that you find in the parts stores.....compare your repair manual about the belt to the service manual pic I post about the belt....you make the decision.

Last, I'm sad and "lost"......yes I buy (my own money) a service manual for "Accord's" I've never owned, never will just so I can try to help people.....someone should just shoot me.

BoaConstrictor

Haha no no. We need people like you. Plus a person could always use more knowledge.

Ok so I have to look into the service manual.

By the way, the pic you posted with regards to the auto tensioner... Was that specific to my 3.0 vtec engine?

Lost Again

Yes, that is from the service manual I have for the 7th gen Accord's (03-07). In that manual there is a section for the V6 and that pic is from the that section since the 4 cyl have a totally different set up....hence my warning to others that the 4 cyl and v6 in this gen DO NOT need to be confused when it comes to the serpt belt, Many thing are the same but many are different.

So I can cover ~86 to 2010 Accords (08-10 only four cyl, haven't bought the v6 version yet), plus my 2007 Pilot (06-08). I have a 2016 Pilot Touring AWD that I haven't found a manual for yet but I hope I have plenty of time for that as the thing has less than 2K miles on it

BoaConstrictor

I'm having a hard time finding this service manual.

Would you happen to have a link?

Also, where the auto tensioner location is, there appears to be two, so how do I know which one is the auto tensioner?
And what is the other one? The diagram doesn't seem to match what I see..

BoaConstrictor

Ok never mind. Sorry, disregard that last question. The 'other one' is the idler pulley.

So I think today I will take the belt off and listen for the noise. I can hear the noise right away, so I shouldn't need to run it more than a minute..

I plan to report back later with results.

I'm wondering, if I don't hear the noise with the belt off, what is the best way to determine if it is coming from the auto tensioner or idler pulley?

BoaConstrictor

Ok so actually it DOES look like there is two aside from the idler..

http://www.am-autoparts.com/Honda/Accord/serpentine-belt-tensioner/AM-3733191954/654057-2003.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjwyK-vBRCp4cymxermx-EBEiQATOQghzOV8nSlmG6xxnlw0c4AFtRTAVJPA-a1e7ZEbtuixhYaAiZO8P8HAQ

BoaConstrictor

Problem solved.!!

It turned out it was the auto tensioner.. But I ended up replacing the tensioner and idler.

I have this flat head that's like two feet long. A friend of mine showed me that if you place the flat head part on to the bolt of whatever pulley, you can listen through the other end the noise it's making.

The auto tensioner was making a super loud noise while the rest of the pulleys weren't. How about that? Diagnosis without removing anything.
So I hit the auto parts store and and get the tensioner and replace it..
Now she purs again.

18 dollar fix.