I have a 91 hatchback, 1.5L, 140,000 miles. I just started hearing a knocking type sound coming from my engine. It seems to dissapate upon exceleration, it is worse at idle. It seems to be from the driver's side of the car. Has anyone heard that type of noise from a bad waterpump or timing belt tensioner? Tonight I'm going to remove the top belt cover and see if it is obvious that it is either one.

I hate to replace those if it is a rod in the engine as I do have a spare engine to put in.

I believe I'm going to have to remove the dreaded crankshaft pulley bolt to replace either one?

 

If you haven't...

Check the T belt it might need the tensioner adjusted. Could be slapping around at idle.

And valves adjusted.

Waterpump will be a constant and the tensioner would be constant and would increase with rpm. Most of the time.

 

Can I adjust the tensioner thru the hole in the belt cover? I believe the procedure would be to loosen the tensioner thru that hole, then turn the crank back to tighten the belt, then tighten the tensioner?

 

Yes, loosen tensioner, turn crank counter clockwise just a couple of degrees and tighten the tensioner.

 

Well it is my waterpump. Of course I can loosen the crankshaft bolt. The waterpump is so bad I don't dare drive it to a garage to get them to loosen the crankshaft bolt. I put the car in gear and put the spark plugs back in and the crank just turns. I've heard the screwdriver in the flywheel doesn't work. I've also heard on here that some people put the wheel on the ground and have someone put the brakes on while loosening the bolt, but how would that make any difference?

Anyway, I'm thinking of breaking off the lower timing belt cover to get to the waterpump. Any thoughts on that? All I really need to do is to remove the timing belt covers to gain access to the waterpump for replacement. Of course later, I would go to a garage and have them loosen the crank bolt and replace the lower timing belt cover with a spare I have now.

 

I just tried the two bolts in the crank method and managed to bend my radius arm in a little. What will that effect? I'll try the brakes on method, but I need to get another extension to reach out past the wheel.

 

I got the water pump off by cutting off part of the lower cover.

Anyone know if a radius rod from a 91 LX, 1.5 will fit on my 91 hatchback, 1.5?

My radius rod is bent a little, not sure how this will effect steering.