My car started making a ticking sound a few days ago. I think it could be the alternator or the smog pump bearings (or whatever is under the alternator). The sound changes volume randomly. It occurs all the time. Check out this video and let me know what you think the noise is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxfuOh-vro

 

Kinda hard to make out the exact noise you are reffering to but I would start by checking the all the pulleys to see if any are loose or maybe bent causing what I heard. Sorry I cant be more helpful.

 

Sort of sounds like the A.I.R. pump. Take the belt off of it and start up the engine. If the noise goes away, it's the A.I.R. pump. If it doesn't, take off the next belt and see if it goes away. If it does, it's one of the accessories run by that belt. Etc., etc.

 

Sounds like the air pump

 

Thanks, ill try out your suggestions.

 

Yup, it was the A.I.R. pump. I tried turning it by hand and it would stick at certain points, scraping against the casing I guess.

Replacement set me back $50. Could I have just removed the belt and put it back on for inspection next year? How much would not having the AIR pump operating properly affect drivability?

 

If you just took the belt off, most likely the pump would have seized within days. Quite often when the pump has gone bad, the check valves have as well. If the pump isn't running, exhaust is going to back-flow into the pump and rust it up.

Not having the pump running will not affect driveability.