Chattering from front right of engine, Defender 300tdi.

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the_wolf

the_wolf

Well-Known Member
Posts
16,791
Location
Stonehouse, Scotland
I'm absolutely stumped and even a mechanic friend I have has no idea what this is. I've got a chattering sound coming from the front right of my engine and so far I've replaced the water pump, alternator and tensioner but to no avail. Its not as pronounced as it was to begin with but its still there and I now have no clue what it could be. The new tensioner was an unbranded one and was bouncing around at idle so I put my original Dayco one back on and it's been absolutely fine, even with the new tensioner the noise was there.
Anyone had this before and able to shed some light?
Ignore the squealing belt, that's a new thing

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kk7d8KBTb7GRbMai6

Edited to add - there's no noise with the belt off and it's only when it's running at idle, if I rev the engine and hold the throttle in a bit the noise seems to either quieten down or go away completely
 
Have a look at it first, hopefully its not come loose and damaged the crank.
If the damper has broken down its a replace job, they dont seem that expensive 50-60 quid.
However if you've not touched it before then it would be a good time to do the timing belt kit
 
Kev12 said:
Have a look at it first, hopefully its not come loose and damaged the crank.
If the damper has broken down its a replace job, they dont seem that expensive 50-60 quid.
However if you've not touched it before then it would be a good time to do the timing belt kit
Click to expand...
Timing belt was done a few years ago and from June 2019 till about October 2020 the motor was parked up and getting a fair bit of work done it so it shouldn't be due another timing belt job soon I don't think. There's no wobbling or movement in any of the pulleys and the noise is most definitely coming from the water pump and alternator area but I'm at a loss as to what could be causing it now
 
the_wolf said:
Timing belt was done a few years ago and from June 2019 till about October 2020 the motor was parked up and getting a fair bit of work done it so it shouldn't be due another timing belt job soon I don't think. There's no wobbling or movement in any of the pulleys and the noise is most definitely coming from the water pump and alternator area but I'm at a loss as to what could be causing it now
Click to expand...
Start it with the alternator belt off? Process of elimination.
 
Just watched the video, sounds like possibly a dry bearing on something.
Any of the bearings sound a little rough when you spin them by hand?
It can only be 1 of 5 things ;)
 
wattfield said:
Start it with the alternator belt off? Process of elimination.
Click to expand...
Done that, it doesn't make the noise with the belt off. At first it was loud and very noticeable at idle so my first thought was water pump bearing. Replaced that and noise did lessen but still definitely there. Replaced the tensioner but no difference and the new one bounced around which I wasn't happy about. Replaced the alternator and what you hear in the video (minus the belt squeal) is what I now have. As I said I refitted my old Dayco tensioner as I've got no issues with that and tonight my mechanic friend came round, checked it all over with the belt on and off and even he has no idea what it could be
 
Kev12 said:
Just watched the video, sounds like possibly a dry bearing on something.
Any of the bearings sound a little rough when you spin them by hand?
It can only be 1 of 5 things ;)
Click to expand...
All of them seem to rotate quite happily with no noise. I tried the old stethoscope to the pump and alternator trick and the noise is much more noticeable at the water pump but there's so much going on around that area its difficult to pinpoint it
 
Kev12 said:
Try doing a search for the penny trick
Click to expand...
I know of that but it's not a squealing I'm getting that the penny trick fixes, it's that annoying rattling and chattering. Here's a video I took after i first changed the water pump but before I changed the alternator and tensioner...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QC5pp3TrYa8vVDmy9

It's much louder and more noticeable although it does tend to fade away at that point. Now however it seems to gradually get louder the longer I'm sitting at idle though it's still not as loud as it used to be
 
+1 for the crank damper - but check the fan idler bearing too - it can "refer" its knackeredness to just about anything on the belt run IME - it's also possible to replace it without buying a new cover if it is that ...

Also, your timing belt needs replacing every 5 years irrespective of use - in fact, IMO, lack of use is going to do it more harm than using it - it's a rubber belt - they perish - and really don't like being sat in one place ....
 
the_wolf said:
I know of that but it's not a squealing I'm getting that the penny trick fixes, it's that annoying rattling and chattering. Here's a video I took after i first changed the water pump but before I changed the alternator and tensioner...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QC5pp3TrYa8vVDmy9

It's much louder and more noticeable although it does tend to fade away at that point. Now however it seems to gradually get louder the longer I'm sitting at idle though it's still not as loud as it used to be
Click to expand...
OK I can hear it better on that one (had to put headphones on cos my missus was complaining)
I'm going back to crank pulley, I may imagine it but around 18secs in I think you can see it vibrating
 
Kev12 said:
OK I can hear it better on that one (had to put headphones on cos my missus was complaining)
I'm going back to crank pulley, I may imagine it but around 18secs in I think you can see it vibrating
Click to expand...
I think that may have been because I was leaning on the motor and the phone vibrated lol. I'll check that out tomorrow but surely the noise would still be as loud regardless of whether I'd changed the alt and water pump or not? I'm going to get some new belts in the morning as mine could probably do with being replaced just to rule that out too
 
Disco1BFG said:
+1 for the crank damper - but check the fan idler bearing too - it can "refer" its knackeredness to just about anything on the belt run IME - it's also possible to replace it without buying a new cover if it is that ...

Also, your timing belt needs replacing every 5 years irrespective of use - in fact, IMO, lack of use is going to do it more harm than using it - it's a rubber belt - they perish - and really don't like being sat in one place ....
Click to expand...
I'll have a look at getting the timing belt done soon, I've spent a fortune on various different bits for it so far. What would I be looking for on the fan idler bearing? Ill check the crank pulley over the weekend too
 
the_wolf said:
What would I be looking for on the fan idler bearing?
Click to expand...

Just check to see how noisy the bearing is ... it's a cartridge of two bearings, and should run pretty quiet .... but they do fail ..... Britannica restorations on the tube did a recent vid on replacing them with a John Deere idler bearing - a little bit of work - but quite a saving if you DIY....

the_wolf said:
I'll have a look at getting the timing belt done soon
Click to expand...

DIY ? lots of good vids and guides out there - not a difficult job really ....
 
Disco1BFG said:
Just check to see how noisy the bearing is ... it's a cartridge of two bearings, and should run pretty quiet .... but they do fail ..... Britannica restorations on the tube did a recent vid on replacing them with a John Deere idler bearing - a little bit of work - but quite a saving if you DIY....



DIY ? lots of good vids and guides out there - not a difficult job really ....
Click to expand...
I usually do everything myself but I'm so close to being scunnered with it and would love to pay a guy but sadly I'm now skint so it'll have to be DIY. I do have a timing pin for the bellhousing but I worry about doing the timing belt just incase. And I don't know how I'd feel about replacing the idler bearing either but I'll check those out tomorrow and see what's what. Most of my attention has been focused on the upper right but I have looked at the other pulleys, especially the crank, and there's no untoward movement
 
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