1996 Oldsmobile 88 Strange vibration sound

Tiny
CHARLIE61
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 OLDSMOBILE 88
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 148,000 MILES
My car started making a strange rattling noise a few days ago. It is not from the engine as the car runs fine, does not smoke, and the engine temp is fine. I had a complete brake job recently, so I doubt it's loose calipers, also the car brakes well too. I checked the alternator, it is mounted tightly, and the belts are tight as well. The sound is worse when starting, idling, and making slow turns-like entering/leaving a parking space. The car doesn't wobble, so it's not the engine mounting. I was wondering if it might be a bearing in one of the wheels/rotors that the belts are attached to. I have checked under the hood, and cannot tell where the sound is actually coming from, but the closest I can tell, its from the front-to-middle passenger side of the engine compartment.
Thursday, October 14th, 2010 AT 1:20 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Noises can be hard to locate. Sometimes I use a long shank screwdriver--prybar--lug wrench, Touch the tip around various points on the engine, the other end of the shank, I place on that bone, right behind my ear, seems to magnify the sounds. Where-ever it is the loudest, that is where I look. May not be conclusive? You have to be careful not to get anything caught in belt--pulleys or fan, anything.
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Thursday, October 14th, 2010 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
CHARLIE61
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The noise was found, and it was not what I had thought it was. It was not the alternator belt/pulley as I suspected, but it was some "Harmonic Balancer" thingamabob. I took it to a local shop that is attached to a national discount department store chain, and they found and fixed it for me in about an hour and a half, for a grand total of approx $400.00. A little pricey perhaps, but to have that noise taken care of is peace of mind enough.
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Monday, October 18th, 2010 AT 3:20 PM

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