Technical Noise from the engine.

[TheCROW]

Hey guys, ever since I had the car (99 100SX 16V Brava Manual) I'm hearing a strange noise coming from under the bonnet from the engine area.
When I first got the car I quickly changed the cam belt and tensionners after that I began noticing the noise, I didn't notice it before, maybe it was there before I first changed the belt and tensionners.
When idle and the engine is running and warm, I hear like a rattling or more like a vibration sound or loud purring coming from the engine area. As soon as I noticed it I went to the garage that changed the belt (I haven't driven it more tha 500KM) he took a look and told me that maybe a tensioner might be faulty but when he took a closer look and put his "stetoscopes" and stripped the other belts, he told me that it's not from the timing belt nor the tensioners, he said that it might be from a bearing from the water pump, especially that the sound would get a bit faster when I turned the AC fan...
So, I continued to drive the car for a couple of days and after that I decided to get a second opinion, so I went to another italian car specialist.... When he heard the noise he told me that the cambelt and tensioners need replacing, (Mind you I haven't driven 1000KM with the new ones) So I said OK. I went out and bought the belt and tensioners and gave them to him.... In the evening I went to pick up the car (I'm sure he had changed the parts), When I got home I left the engine running and opened the bonet to check and the noise was still there.... Then I got really mad so I left the car parked and made an appointment at Fiat dealership and took the car to them the next day. Note that I have driven 50KM in the new parts, I took the car and asked them to check the timing settings and reconfigure it with the same parts cos they were brand new.....
The next day I came to pick up the car and the noise was still there, a mehcanic guy told me it was because of the belt quality (It wasn't bought from the dealership, I bought it from a Fiat Parts Shop)..... But I didn't believe it....... SO now I still have the noise and I have driven it like 4000 KM... And I'm really beginning to believe that it might be the water pump cos I read somewhere that it must be changed after 2 cambelt changes...
One more thing, when I step on the clutch, the noise doesn't change, so I think it's not related.
What do you think? Could it be the water pump? Is there something else that might produce such a noise? Could it be dangerous for the car?
Sorry for the long post, it's a long story....
Thanxall.

 

[TheCROW]

Help guys

 

[jug]

i know fiats are problem cars but you really dont have much luck at all do you!! fiat always say the quality of non-fiat parts is to blame for things, they say that to get money out of you. your noise could be many things.

my 1.6 engine has developed a high pitch wurr that gets slightly louder with revs, it also happened after a timing belt change. i think its caused by too much tension on the belt. ive never managed to stop it, but id rather have a whining belt than a loose one.

have you tried removing the belt from the alternator to see if that makes any difference. you can safely run the car for a couple of minutes without the alternator working. if the noise dissapears its probably an over tightened alternator belt or bearings are worn in the alternator. the water pump should get changed every other timing belt change, they dont cost much, and the water pump could be to blame.

i'd suggest you live with it, no point wasting more time and money over a little noise. you own a fiat, there will be worse problems soon enough, save your money for them

 

[TheCROW]

i know fiats are problem cars but you really dont have much luck at all do you!! fiat always say the quality of non-fiat parts is to blame for things, they say that to get money out of you. your noise could be many things.

my 1.6 engine has developed a high pitch wurr that gets slightly louder with revs, it also happened after a timing belt change. i think its caused by too much tension on the belt. ive never managed to stop it, but id rather have a whining belt than a loose one.

have you tried removing the belt from the alternator to see if that makes any difference. you can safely run the car for a couple of minutes without the alternator working. if the noise dissapears its probably an over tightened alternator belt or bearings are worn in the alternator. the water pump should get changed every other timing belt change, they dont cost much, and the water pump could be to blame.

i'd suggest you live with it, no point wasting more time and money over a little noise. you own a fiat, there will be worse problems soon enough, save your money for them

My dear JUG, this is exactly what I needed to hear....
....and these are only the things I post about, there are lots of other issues in the car I haven't posted about.... yet!!!
Now my mind is at ease.
The mechanic had stripped all the belts but the noise continiued, I also changed an additional bearing, I think it was for the alternator or something...... But no luck...
So now I'm just gonna live with it as you said but with peace of mind knowing the timing belt is safe..... or is it? Oh well...
Thanks so much for replying... Will post back in case of anything new about this one