Engine louder after timing belt change

[milesvdustin]

Did the timing belt about 400 miles ago on my 2012 1.8L. Now it's louder than normal. I used the gates kit from rockauto for the swap. New tensioner and pulley and belt. See video for noise. Thanks!

https://youtube.com/shorts/shrrHcsgBKE?feature=share

 

[Casual Observer]

Tough to tell but it sounds like one of the timing covers rattling slightly to me. The connection between the middle and top and bottoms are just a rubber gasket, and that middle section is only held in by 2 plastic clips so the chance for them to rattle against each other is high.

Does the noise change at all when you give it more throttle?

 

[milesvdustin]

I was actually thinking about the 2 piece cover last night. We just got DUMPED on with snow and ice so this is on hold for a bit.

I'll go start it later and see if the sound changes with throttle.

My first thought was to pull the serpentine belt and start it and see if the noise went away. Then I can try and press on the covers too.

 

[milesvdustin]

UPDATE: took a mechanjcs stethoscope and started poking around. The alternator sounded like it was going to blow up. Took the serpentine belt off and started the car, noise went away. Spinning the alternator by hand revealed the bearings felt very gritty and had a noticeable catch spot. New alternator installed and all is well.

Pretty crazy the thing went out right after the timing belt job.

 

[MarkS]

Does timing belt replacement require removal of the serpentine belt? If so, then they pried on the alternator and damaged it.

 

[Casual Observer]

Does timing belt replacement require removal of the serpentine belt? If so, then they pried on the alternator and damaged it

Indeed it does require removal of the serpentine belt

 

[milesvdustin]

Well I am the one that did the timing belt job. The alternator was not pried on at any point. The serpentine belt was removed by loosening the belt tension.

 

[MarkS]

Sorry. I should have read more carefully. Sounds like an unfortunate coincidence.

 

[Z71]

To change the timing belt on the 1.8 liter engine, I strongly recommend using a cam sprocket locking tool and leaving it in place while removing and installing a new belt. Cam sprocket timing marks on this engine are really confusing and GM even sells a special (but pricey) cam sprocket locking tool with a little window which shows the left cam sprocket offset timing mark. I had my GM dealer print me a copy of official GM service manual procedure for timing belt change before I did mine. I did the job right first time, no problems.

One of the oddities on this car is that the harmonic balancer pulley mount bolt has a star shaped head which requires a star socket for removal. Factory service manual also recommends replacing the timing belt tensioner pulley bolt with a new one

 

[Casual Observer]

Definitely replace it with a new one. I didnt the first time I did it and because a used bolt doesn't tension the same as a new one once its already be torqued mine loosed up and I ended up having to replace the crank sprocket. Which coincidentally nobody around me has in stock so I had to wait a week to get one lol