I took a video with my phone, but it wasn't very good quality. So I found a video with a third gen that has the exact same rattle. Listen and you can hear it.

At first I thought it was coming from the alternator pulley, so I checked it and it was totally shot. I needed an entire new alternator. Bought one, and replaced it. But the noise didn't go away. Then I went to the water pump, changed that and the noise is still there. So I was certain it was coming from one of the pulleys, but I took off the serpentine belt temporarily so none of the pulleys were even spinning and sure enough the noise was still there. So I'm totally lost. The noise only happens when the car is warm and boy when I say it's loud...I mean just look at the end of the video when the dude closes his hood.

My buddy suggested that it could be the timing chain? Could it still be a pulley? I'm just lost...

Video: http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s...t=SMOV0013.mp4

 

balancer coming apart, grinding against timing cover

 

I'll have to check that out. I really want to fix this thing. It's super depressing to have a good sounding Bird overpowered by this rattle. And it's so embarrassing...

Any other ideas?

 

No, not really, but I agree with TwinTurbo. It's easy to check visually. If the inner lip of the balancer is physically touching the timing cover, that's it (there should be considerable, obvious amounts of clearance there if the balancer is OK). Only requires a flashlight and a peek straight down behind the water pump.

 

Edit: NVM, didnt see that it wasnt your vid.

 

i would also pop the belt off and see if noise changes (just start for a couple seconds)

 

I'm gonna check the balancer first chance I get.

@ Dimented, it's not my video but that guy posted that video on this forum complaining of the same problem. And the sound coming from his car is the literally the exact sound mine is making.

@ Bracket, I did that. I took the belt off the sound was exactly the same.

 

is it RPM dependent? if its still happening with the belt off I dont thinks its a pulley if its not RPM dependent check the fan blades, if it is check the balancer or maybe the idler pulley is lose/ on its way out?