325i rattle at idle! (found it!!!)

Post Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:15 pm

i,i started my 325i up today and there is a rattle at idle,its not consistent,just sounds like something rattling around,on closer inspection it sounds lik its under the dizzy cap somewhere,at the front of the engine,any ideas? i was thinking maybe it could be the belt tensioner? anyone had this prob before? it go's when i rev it,its not the power steering pump,i disconnected the belt and took the fan off,its a weird one!! cheers

Tel \\\

Post Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:33 pm

Hi Tel, Are you sure its not your gearbox internals rattling as they do, you can check this by pressing the clutch in while at tick over, if the noise goes away when you press the clutch pedal then nothing to worry about all the boxes usually rattle on tick over, cheers Dave

Post Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:39 pm

no mate,definetly around the front of the engine,it never did it before today,sounds like it inside the belt cover,i'll have a look in a bit,i took the rocker cover off and ran it and they seem fine,the noise is inbetween the head and the fan,cheers

tel

Post Sat Jul 30, 2005 3:43 pm

Take the belt off for the water pump and give the pully a tug to see if it has any play in it.
If so it's time for a new water pump.

Post Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:07 pm

the water pump was new at christmas!

Post Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:13 pm

it was the alternator! i put my spare on and it was sorted! praise be!!