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hmmmm16417
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Post subject: inspected an running....for now
 Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 03:27 AM
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Member
Joined: May 29, 2011
Posts: 71
Location: Erie, PA
Status: Offline
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So, my son and I got his first car on the road. 1992 tempo gl - 4cyl, auto.
pretty nice car, needed a little body work in the rear quarters, but passed inspection and emissions no problem. mechanics actually complimented on how nice it was for it's age.
anyways, it's been about a week since my son had it inspected. The first day, he had to have the exhuast welded because it broke right in front of the cadilatic converter.
then the other day, it started making a loud rattling noise when slowing down and noticable when idling (harmonic balancer?? or maybe some pulley?)
well, tonight he said "i just made a left turn" and it's clunkling like crazy when driving and it seems to want to pull to one side pretty badly when going down the road. it is worse when it shifts and the front wheels seem to be leaning in (at the bottom side)
WTH???? any idea's what could be wrong?
I told him to save his money to get it fixed cuz I am NOT paying for it! he hasn't even paid me back for the car and the money to get it inspected and he just bought a BMX bike from his buddy for $100.
**** kids!!!!
any help would be appreciated! |
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PerformanceWithEconomy
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 03:39 AM
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Webmaster
Joined: Dec 23, 2007
Posts: 2335
Location: South Suburbs of Chicago
Status: Offline
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Sounds like your son has been "having some teenaged fun" in the car i.e. beating the **** out of it.
The rattling sound could be anything from a water pump to the harmonic balancer. Need more specific info.
The out of whack front end means that parts were either loosened, damaged or are completely missing. If BOTH front tires are "tucked in" at ground level, the front anti-roll bar may be broken. The only way to see what's up is get under the vehicle and take a look.
Either way, it sounds like you've got your hands full!!!  Sean
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_________________
92 White / Red 2.3 MTX 130K miles, 93 Cayman Green / Grey 2.3 MTX 140K miles, 94 White / Grey 2.3 MTX 196K miles, 94 Red / Grey 2.3 ATX 70K miles, SouthSide Chicago
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Junkacres
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 08:43 PM
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Member
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Posts: 65
Location: Virginia
Status: Offline
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| These Tempo cars are set up with a lot of positive camber in the front end. The tires do lean in a little at the bottom even if nothing is wrong. Rattling sound when slowing down and idle could be the shield on the converter. They come loose a lot on cars of this age in general. As for pulling to one side and clunking, do what Sean said and inspect, pull on stuff, look for loose sway bar, struts at the top, ball joints, tie rod ends, CV axle joints, etc. Also suspect a semi frozen front brake caliper. It's 20 years old and unless you have knowledge (or the desire to learn) and tools, sell it now and save for something newer. It's a very simple car though and one that's good to learn about all this stuff on. Parts are cheap and plentiful too. |
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hmmmm16417
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Sep 01, 2011 - 02:54 AM
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Member
Joined: May 29, 2011
Posts: 71
Location: Erie, PA
Status: Offline
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well, today we fixed the pulling and clunking. It was the sway bar bushing on the drivers side. easy fix....once I got the bolt free!!! lol
the rattling is extremely annoying. he said his friends mechanic listened to it and said it's something with the belt tensioner? said it is fine to drive but eventually will need fixed.
I think we should just fix it NOW lol
the rattle almost sounds like a knock, but i'm sure it's just something in the pully system for the belt... just need to know for sure! |
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Junkacres
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Sep 01, 2011 - 10:03 PM
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Member
Joined: Jan 19, 2010
Posts: 65
Location: Virginia
Status: Offline
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| The water pump is run by it's own separate small V-belt. The water pump is sort of hidden. You could take the minigroove style belt off the power steering / AC and run the engine to see if the noise goes away. If the noise is gone, it's something run by the minigroove belt. Also, when my water pump went, it made a horrible clanking noise. |
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PerformanceWithEconomy
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Sep 02, 2011 - 03:13 PM
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Webmaster
Joined: Dec 23, 2007
Posts: 2335
Location: South Suburbs of Chicago
Status: Offline
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Only one serpentine belt on 3rd gen models. This drives all of the accessories. Could very well be the belt tensioner.
Easiest way to check this would be to grab a 1/2" ratchet wrench and insert it into the hole on the front of the tensioner arm. While not necessary, adding a piece of pipe to the end of the wrench as an extension will give you a bit more leverage and act as a breaker bar. You can use this to lift the arm and hold it up. While it is up without contacting the belt, you can see how much play there is in the pulley. If it is loose, wobbling, rattling, etc.... it obviously needs replacement.
These cars are pretty simple and basic in design. All the common parts that wear out over time are typically easy to repair and relatively inexpensive. The hardest parts to replace that you'll probably encounter will be the water pump, which isn't all that hard IF you attack it from different angles, and the harmonic balancer. Hopefully, neither of these will rear their heads anytime soon. Sean
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_________________
92 White / Red 2.3 MTX 130K miles, 93 Cayman Green / Grey 2.3 MTX 140K miles, 94 White / Grey 2.3 MTX 196K miles, 94 Red / Grey 2.3 ATX 70K miles, SouthSide Chicago
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hmmmm16417
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Sep 03, 2011 - 04:09 AM
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Member
Joined: May 29, 2011
Posts: 71
Location: Erie, PA
Status: Offline
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it is almost definitely the tensioner and belt. the belt is pretty gone and the tensioner doesn't have much tension - a local garage said they'd do it for $60 (plus parts - I can buy them and bring them in)
but I'm sure it will make a good project for us. still need to do the other sway bar bushing too : - \ it's not falling out like the other one did, but it def should be replaced. |
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hmmmm16417
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Post subject: RE: inspected an running....for now
Posted: Sep 03, 2011 - 03:25 PM
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Member
Joined: May 29, 2011
Posts: 71
Location: Erie, PA
Status: Offline
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well, replaced the belt (much needed) and the tensioner.....didn't fix the rattle :-\
guessing it's the harmonic balancer??? |
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hmmmm16417
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 07, 2011 - 10:57 PM
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Member
Joined: May 29, 2011
Posts: 71
Location: Erie, PA
Status: Offline
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so, my son stops at the local garage and asks about how much it would be to replace the harmonic balancer. they told him about $500-$600. but htey did find a place willing to do it for about $200. My son mentioned to them about cutting the hole and the told him that is NOT an option and it should not be done! And it will cause major problems and comprimise the structure of the vehicle.
any thoughts? I have the new part on the way, I'm not thinking it's worth the hundreds of dollars LOL will it really hurt it to cut a hole? |
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Psychopete
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Post subject:
Posted: Sep 08, 2011 - 01:51 PM
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Moderator
Joined: Sep 08, 2010
Posts: 148
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Status: Offline
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Some have just cut the hole and haven't claimed any issues. My bro did this to my sister's car in a pinch, but it was scrapped shortly after. If you can find someone to do it for $200 with out cutting up the car, that is a good deal. I have done this procedure a few times with out cutting, though. Tale tell sign is if you can grab the belt, force it back and forth and there is play. Eg, the accessories are moving, but the crank shaft is not - it's pretty obvious what is going on when you see it.
IIRC
Raise the car, take off the passenger side tire, make sure the car is supported with jack stands, and remove the belt. You pull the over flow tank, alternator, then remove the power steering pump pulley.
Remove the tensioner, the idler pulley, and the fuel line guard. Remove the bolts from the power steering reservoir so that you can move it around out of your way.
I use an engine crane to support the passenger side of the engine, but I suppose a jack with a piece of wood under the oil pan would probably work ok.
Remove the engine mount (on engine side - 2 top, 1 bottom near where the idler pulley threads in, hard to see), and remove the water pump pulley.
Steering stabilizer bracket needs removed from the front to make clearance for the A/C compressor. I've had to loosen the 2 driver's side bolts into the bracket for less of a fight. The passenger side of the engine is dropped down just enough to sneak it out through the wheel well. |
_________________
1993 Ford Tempo 2.3L HSC Auto (Green)
1988 Ford Ranger 5.0L AOD
2002 Dodge Caravan 3.3L Auto
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