I just changed the power steering pump. When I started the car and ran it everything was quiet. I turned on the AC to make sure the belt was tracking ok, the belt tensioner started rattling like crazy. I hadn't noticed that before sitting inside the car. The belt tensioner looked like the wheel was loose so I decided to replace the whole tensioner. Picked one up today at Napa Auto Parts and changed out the old one with the new. Started the car and it sound fine until I turned on the AC compressor. Again, the belt tensioner was rattling like crazy with the load of the compressor on it. The AC works fine and the compressor has low miles on it. The new power steering pump seems to turn fine. I suppose it could be the new tensioner is bad. Anybody had a similar experience? Any ideas beyond taking the tensioner back and trying another new one?

 

If you removed the AIR pump and didn't install an idler, this will occur. Can find an idler on the '88 and '89 2.8l engines with an auto(?). It will be the auto or the stick, as one of the two did come with an AIR pump while the other had the idler.

RBob.

 

No, I didn't remove the air pump, I changed the power steering pump. This is a 92 Camaro and doesn't use an idler pulley, only the belt tensioner with pulley. Anyway, it was weird that is sounded like the old one I took off that had a loose pulley. I took the belt off the new one and spun the new tensioner pulley but it didn't have any noise, rough feel or seem loose. Put the belt back on and all of a sudden it was working fine. I noticed that the tensioner was near the end of its travel taking up the belt slack so I put a new belt on even though the old one didn't have that many miles on it. The tensioner seems to ride a little higher with more room to take up any belt stretch over time. The rattling seemed to be inside the tensioner arm and not the pulley. I am wondering if it was near the end of its travel and maybe the spring inside was rattling against the case. Will see how it goes for a while and if the problem returns. I am surprised that with everything stock and new tensioner and belt that it does ride close to the end of its travel. I would have thought it would have ridden a little higher.