More engine noises

Hey all. Need help diagnosing another engine sound that I’ve noticed. Seems like every time I fix one noise, another makes itself more clear.

Things I have ruled out:

[Edit] Water pump is brand new, confirmed while I was doing the tensioner.

• Alternator
• Fan clutch
• Power steering
• A/C compressor/clutch, etc.

My only thought at this point is maybe a timing belt idler? I quite literally just replaced the tensioner a few weeks ago (after finding out the PO only replaced the *belt* and not the other components), so if anything in guessing it’s one of the two idler pulleys.

Then again, it doesn’t quite sound like pulley noise to me. Every time I’ve had a shot pulley in the past it’s been more of a scraping or chirping noise, this is like a… whirring? Whining? Not sure what you’d call it. Any advice is appreciated.
https://youtu.be/lUP_uladuUc?si=iDv8JSgKIzc5gGrP

 

Just curious, how did you rule out power steering? That sounds very similar to power steering pump noise.

 

Disconnected and removed all belts. My plan was to add them back one at a time until the sound presented itself, but running the engine with all the belts off gave me my answer. Sound still present.
I can definitely hear the power steering whining but it’s much more subtle than this whirring sound. You have to actually put your ear up to the pump to hear it.

 

I looked up a few videos on YouTube and it kinda sounds like maybe it’s the water pump? That seems really unlikely though. I confirmed the PO replaced it (within like 40k miles ago) and I noticed it’s an Aisin part. It’s not leaking either… so I guess it could be that, but the math just doesn’t add up for me. Why would an OE part be failing that soon

 

If the accessory belts are off and it's making noise, then time for a timing belt/water pump/tensioner/idler.

You'll feel the bad one when you spin it once it's apart. If it hasn't been done in a while, just do everything.

 

Well, I just did the tensioner a few weeks ago, so at least I can skip that. PO said the water pump was done under 40k miles ago along with the belt itself… the tensioner and idler I think he skipped.
I was more concerned that it might be something else, like something in the engine eating itself up. This definitely doesn’t sound like anything more serious than a bad pump/pulley/belt?

 

Checking the fan is easy. Shut the engine off and watch it. A bad fan bearing will keep spinning as the last thing making noise. Or it will spin too easy by hand.

 

So you think it might be fan clutch noise? I thought I had ruled it out as I did some testing on the fan, but I couldn’t see a way to actually run the engine without the fan clutch on… I guess unless I entirely remove the pulley it sits on?

 

Probably not, because I'm always wrong, but since it's a quick test, if you can't tell by the tests I mentioned, maybe jam something in the fan blade to stop it from spinning before starting the engine to see? It shouldn't take much but I don't know how to do it safely.

 

Well, I confirmed it’s not the fan clutch, or the fan bracket for that matter. Assuming it isn’t something actually inside the engine, the last 2 things it could be are the top timing idler pulley or the water pump.

I’m replacing the radiator this weekend so while I’m in there I’ll pop off the upper timing cover and take a listen. I’ll keep this thread updated in case it will help anyone in the future.

 

Well, I dunno what to say folks.

I did the entire timing job. Water pump, all pulleys, everything. I’ve changed every belt and pulley on this engine, but the sound persists same as it was in the video I initially posted.

I’m totally stumped. Anyone have any other ideas before I give up and take it to a shop?

 

Have you noticed any odd stuff (metal specs) showing up in the engine oil drain pan

How many miles are on this 5vzfe

I have a somewhat similar whiny noise going on lately but it is most noticeable while shifting through the gears on the roll and not at idle

 

Nope, zilch. Oil and filter both look totally normal.

Milage is up for the debate. The previous owner swapped it, allegedly about 16k miles ago with a 115k mile engine. So… ballpark of 130k miles if those numbers are even accurate.

 

In case anyone is following this/interested, I now believe this sound is being caused by a vacuum leak.

I ordered a smoke machine which will be here tomorrow. Going to test it tomorrow morning and will post results when I have them.

 

Alright, it’s been a while, but I found the source of the noise.
It wasn’t a vacuum leak or a belt. It’s coming from the passenger side camshafts- the gears that connect the two camshafts together. Those gears are what’s whining.

They look to be in perfect shape. I was doing the VC gaskets yesterday. They don’t look starved of oil, or significantly worn in any way. But I am 100% sure that’s what the sound is. And now, listening there with a stethoscope, it is abundantly clear that is correct.

Anyone know what might cause these gears to whine? Would some thicker oil or Lucas stabilizer help out?

 

Pic for reference. This isn’t my picture, I got it from a DIY on the internet. But the gears circled in red are what I’m referring to.

 

Hmmmm

I learned of this recently here

Typically, if gears are whining……they are binding too much(too tight)


Look at the(in reference to your pix) the bottom gear
See the split?
There are actually 2 gears
Sorry I forgot what exact name is
but Smaller gear is spring loaded to guide the larger mated gear

if entire cam/cam gear removed, there is a specific procedure to reinstall the “guide” gear

100% another member here has more technical knowledge than me about this

 

That is very interesting.
I am sure the cams have never been removed from this engine. I guess I can’t be certain, but it’s at about 120k and was swapped in from a scrapped truck by the previous owner. It’s not a 3.4 swap, it was originally a 3.4, just needed a new engine.
But having serviced the VC gaskets I really don’t think it’s been done before. Meaning that I don’t think anyone would have been messing with the cams. But I think you’re onto something with those dual gear parts there. I unfortunately have no idea how they work aside from keeping the cams in sync.

Looking forward to seeing if anyone else has input.

 

Man
When I asked a member, they explained everything to me and I was amazed
I.E. not as simple to take off and bolt on that cam with twin gears


Lemme search some
I’m intrigued now

 

Well, I’m probably not gonna take the cams out myself to be honest. I don’t have the tools or the resources to resurface the head (which I’m pretty sure has to come off with the cams?) And I literally just finished doing the timing job, so I really am not prepared to do that again anytime soon.
I am definitely curious to see what you come up with but tbh I’ll probably just try using some oil stabilizer and if that doesn’t make it go away I’m gonna just learn to live with it till it blows.