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Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 09:24 PM
  #1  
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
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Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Hey guys, so I have a 1992 Chevy 305 TBI, its got an open element K&N, 160 thermastat, full exhaust with no cat into a 10 series flowmaster, aluminium drums and driveshaft, and fiberglass cowl hood.
Anyways, I'm getting a knock, or tapping sound right from where the water pump is. I'm not sure if its that, or something else....Id really like to try and get this figured out. So has anyone heard or had this problem before? Any ideas what else my problem could be? It starts making the noise after the car is warmed up, but sometimes makes the sound from a cold start too. Thanks for any help!
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Old Jan 10, 2012 | 09:26 PM
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
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Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

It also seems to make the sound faster as the rpms go higher....
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 11:41 AM
  #3  
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Car: 1988 IROC-Z Camaro, 1981 Trans Am
Engine: 350 TPI, 301 N/A
Transmission: 700r4, 350thm
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

My suggestion would be to get a mechanics stethoscope and start looking for the spot the tap/knock is loudest at. If you dont have one, almost all parts stores will have them, ive seen them at harbor frieght, napa, northern tool as well. all <$5. This will help big time,and save alot of confusion and frustration too.

I have never heard of a water pump making any kind of noise like that before, ive heard of them making a whiring sound like that of a bad bearing though.

I have to ask, are you sure its not a lifter or rod knock? Does it sound kinda like theres a pebble in the engine bouncing around? Or like someones in there with a hammer whacking everything?
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 12:10 PM
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Honesty, its hard to explain it, I'll try and make a video of the sound tomorrow. I'd say it sounds like a tap, keeping time with the engine. I'm wondering if maybe its the timing chain or cam maybe?!? Amy more ideas?
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 12:33 PM
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Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

This car has the easiest serp belt to remove, do so & restart it. If it still does it, it aint the waterpump.
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 01:08 PM
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Awesome, I will do that tomorrow and update!!
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 03:29 PM
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From: Fairview Heights Illinois
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Engine: 305 TPI
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Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

I have heard the sound of several water pumps failing.
One of them did make a knock sound much like a rod knock.
Sound will go away completely if you remove the belt if it is the water pump.
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 06:08 PM
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Ok, so here is the bad news.....it wasn't the water pump
I did however notice (with the help from a friend) that it only makes this sound when the car is in gear. Having the belt off had no effect on the sound, it was just as loud as ever too. I made a quick video, and posted it on youtube. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM6Ac...ature=youtu.be

You can hear the knock/tap sound I'm talking about, although it's a little hard to hear it over the intake and exhaust!

P.S. HELP!!!!
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 06:48 PM
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Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Loose torque converter bolts?
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 07:01 PM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Originally Posted by ex-x-fire
Loose torque converter bolts?
Or a cracked flexplate around the crank bolt holes.. very common
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 07:58 PM
  #11  
BigRogZ28's Avatar
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

You talking about the flexplate for the transmission TTOP350? Also, are these hard/expensive fixes?
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 08:34 PM
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Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Yeah, can be done at home, can be tough but doable. The tranny has to be seperated from the engine. I've had good luck using a couple long 3/8 bolts just to keep the tranny inline w/ the engine, slide it backwards on a floor jack, replace the flywheel, slide the tranny back up to the engine.
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Old Jan 11, 2012 | 10:40 PM
  #13  
BigRogZ28's Avatar
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

This could start to make some serious sense seeing as I ve been having transmission problems too, it shifts really hard from 1st to 2nd....its an auto 700r4
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Old Jan 12, 2012 | 06:38 PM
  #14  
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Ok, so I started up my camaro today and now my tach doesn't work!!! WTF? All I did was take my belt off and put it back on. I did start the car with the belt off....is this why? How do I fix this new problem?!!?
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Old Feb 5, 2012 | 08:53 PM
  #15  
BigRogZ28's Avatar
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Update, flexplate and torque converter bolts checked out ok, from what my friend working at aamco said. I trust his work, but I'm still stuck with this sound, starting to get really annoying. I'm trying to figure this out without having to take my car to a mechanic. Any other suggestions?
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Old Feb 5, 2012 | 09:11 PM
  #16  
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Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

Originally Posted by BigRogZ28
Anyways, I'm getting a knock, or tapping sound right from where the water pump is.
It could be a self-tapping screw!
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Old Feb 5, 2012 | 09:14 PM
  #17  
BigRogZ28's Avatar
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From: Springfield, Oh
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Was L03 305 TBI...now BB 454 :)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Can a water pump maks a tapping/knocking sound?!?

A self tapping screw where?
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