I have a 2012 Chevy impala lt with 97000 miles. I've taken my car in because of a strange whirling knocking sound that gets faster as I increase speed. I've been told a couple different things that could be wrong, but I'm wondering if anyone has ever had a water pump make a whirling knocking sound that gets faster as you go faster. It's not loud but idk...i do know the water pump needs work and is loose
CK5
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Bad water pump sounds?
- Thread starter Joshl81
- Start date
Well, if the water pump is loose and needs work, then that needs to be fixed regardless. Then if the noise goes away, then win-win.
About the only time I heard a noise like that, it was a bearing in the alternator.
To run noises like that down, the cheap and easy was is the broom handle trick.
Take a broomhandle or hardwood dowel, and Carefully place it on different parts and put your ear to the other end. When you hit the bad part, you will hear the noise loud.
Since you have to do it with the engine running, you must make sure where you put the rod. Make sure to keep it out of the fan or fan belt.
About the only time I heard a noise like that, it was a bearing in the alternator.
To run noises like that down, the cheap and easy was is the broom handle trick.
Take a broomhandle or hardwood dowel, and Carefully place it on different parts and put your ear to the other end. When you hit the bad part, you will hear the noise loud.
Since you have to do it with the engine running, you must make sure where you put the rod. Make sure to keep it out of the fan or fan belt.
Thank you for that info, I've taken my car around to a few places and everyone of them claims that's it's something different, from the transmission to the water pump. I first noticed the sound a year ago as just as a soft whirling sound, and at that time I was getting work done, but no one else heard it and now it's louder with a somewhat soft knock and like I said gets faster as you speed up. I don't know if I can do that kinda of test myself but when I go back to a mechanic I will mention that. Thank you!
Problem is, there are lots of things that can cause that type of noise. Some bad, some not so bad. One thing that is fast and easy to check for someone with a wrench, is the idler pulley on the fan belt.
Its spring loaded, so you just put a wrench on it, lever it away from the belt, and spin it by hand. If the bearing is going bad, it will either feel loose, make a noise when spun, or both.
As for the dowel test, all you need is a worn out broom or mop with a wooden handle. Cut the head off, place one end on, say, the alternator housing, and press the other end against your ear.
You will usually hear noise, but the bad unit will be making the same noise you hear now. It will just be a lot louder.
They sell mechanic's stethoscopes that look like a doctor's stethoscope but with a long probe on the end, but if you can hear the noise plainly from outside, then usually the dowel is all you need.
Oh, and just for the fun of it, check the transmission fluid. If it were low, it might make that noise, but I would expect you to see shifting problems by now. But its always a good idea to check the transmission fluid.
Its spring loaded, so you just put a wrench on it, lever it away from the belt, and spin it by hand. If the bearing is going bad, it will either feel loose, make a noise when spun, or both.
As for the dowel test, all you need is a worn out broom or mop with a wooden handle. Cut the head off, place one end on, say, the alternator housing, and press the other end against your ear.
You will usually hear noise, but the bad unit will be making the same noise you hear now. It will just be a lot louder.
They sell mechanic's stethoscopes that look like a doctor's stethoscope but with a long probe on the end, but if you can hear the noise plainly from outside, then usually the dowel is all you need.
Oh, and just for the fun of it, check the transmission fluid. If it were low, it might make that noise, but I would expect you to see shifting problems by now. But its always a good idea to check the transmission fluid.
I'm deffiently going to try that idler pulley. And I really don't think it's the trans because I have never noticed any shifting problems thought this is my first automatic car but it's always been fine accelerating and the fluid level is fine and the color is still pinkish. I'm going to try that test thank you again for your knowledge
