Hello All.
I have a 2004 Honda Accord EXL V6 Coupe with 218000 kms on it here. I recently became concerned with a slight fluttering or ticking noise which at first seemed to subside when the vehicle had warmed up. Over the last couple of weeks the noise has gotten worse. I originally thought the noise was isolated to a bad serpentine belt tension-er. I went to order one at a local parts store and the parts guy thought that the noise had been coming from the left upper bank of the timing cover. I sought some advice from a mechanic and he even thought that the noise was a faulty hydraulic tension-er. I removed the serpentine belt as well as the upper timing cover and inspected for play in the timing belt and everything appears to be tight. I started the engine and the noise was not present. Now I decided to go with my decision and replace the serpentine belt tension-er and the belt itself. Once I had everything back together I started the engine only to find that the same noise was present. Remove the serpentine belt and noise is not present. I am not a mechanic by any means. I can not isolate the noise to anything. All pulleys appear tight. Can the serpentine belt tension have any bearing on timing belt noise? I would appreciate any comments.

 

If the noise goes away with the serp belt off, then it has to be something the belt is turning....ps pump, alt, ac compressor, ect. Re-check all of the pulleys - spinning them by hand and feeling for any "hard spots". I can't say any one pulley is more prone than the other so it is going to take some investigation.

Sorry, I know this isn't much help