Mystery noise on Volvo penta 2003

[Donheist]

Morning! Am stumped by an engine problem and mechanics and space in a port to board one are both hard to get in Corsica in august! And it’s my wife’s birthday today. Can the forum help me give her the gift of engine peace of mind?

My Volvo Penta 2003 is making a funny noise. Metallic. Will try and upload recording. Also leaking a little coolant - not sure if this is cause or symptom or red herring. The raw water is dripping a little but fresh water more. It makes the noise on starting at idle and with revs and in gear. I.e. all the time. Otherwise runs fine and is not overheating. Lost a tiny amount of oil (recently topped up). No smoke.

Recently replaced alternator and alternator regulator after recent forum advice (thank you!). Not sure if this could be the problem. Engine battery is due for replacement as I think I shortened its life overcharging before I replaced alternator but not sure if relevant. Belt tension fine.

I am officially beyond my expertise now (never hard). Any ideas?

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

 

[Bilgediver]

Morning! Am stumped by an engine problem and mechanics and space in a port to board one are both hard to get in Corsica in august! And it’s my wife’s birthday today. Can the forum help me give her the gift of engine peace of mind?

My Volvo Penta 2003 is making a funny noise. Metallic. Will try and upload recording. Also leaking a little coolant - not sure if this is cause or symptom or red herring. The raw water is dripping a little but fresh water more. It makes the noise on starting at idle and with revs and in gear. I.e. all the time. Otherwise runs fine and is not overheating. Lost a tiny amount of oil (recently topped up). No smoke.

Recently replaced alternator and alternator regulator after recent forum advice (thank you!). Not sure if this could be the problem. Engine battery is due for replacement as I think I shortened its life overcharging before I replaced alternator but not sure if relevant. Belt tension fine.

I am officially beyond my expertise now (never hard). Any ideas?

iCloud Photos - Apple iCloud

Is it possible that you bent the cooling fan behind the belt pulley on the alternator and it is rubbing the casing of the alternator.

 

[Donheist]

Is it possible that you bent the cooling fan behind the belt pulley on the alternator and it is rubbing the casing of the alternator.

That is an interesting possibility. May need to remove the alternator anyway as I have a pretty persistent freshwater leak and I cannot find it…thank you. Will check

 

[Donheist]

That is an interesting possibility. May need to remove the alternator anyway as I have a pretty persistent freshwater leak and I cannot find it…thank you. Will check

Removed belt and started. No noise but leak from freshwater pump which seems to have more play than I’d expect. Exploring if I need to tighten something….

 

[Donheist]

Removed belt and started. No noise but leak from freshwater pump which seems to have more play than I’d expect. Exploring if I need to tighten something….

Alternator spins freely. Reattached belt and tensioned. Started and got horrible metallic noise again. Suspect pump problem or possibly the spacers were wrong on alternator installation. But then - have done 40 hours without any issue?

Removed belt and started. No noise but leak from freshwater pump which seems to have more play than I’d expect. Exploring if I need to tighten something….

 

[RAFFY]

Alternator spins freely. Reattached belt and tensioned. Started and got horrible metallic noise again. Suspect pump problem or possibly the spacers were wrong on alternator installation. But then - have done 40 hours without any issue?

Hi, I have this engine and agree that if alternator spins freely without noise, then the fresh water pump is prime suspect. Can it be removed and checked for excessive play/noise?

 

[Donheist]

Hi, I have this engine and agree that if alternator spins freely without noise, then the fresh water pump is prime suspect. Can it be removed and checked for excessive play/noise?

I’m going to try it tomorrow. I am pretty sure that’s the issue too but it’s my wife’s birthday and she is keen that our favourite piece of machinery takes up no more of her day!

My issue now is that the nearest spare bearing kit is England which is two seas and a customs queue away so I’m maybe in need of a get me home answer while I use the engine sparingly to get me to eg Ajaccio to receive the part. I will try easing tension on the belt first and seeing if it will spin the pump enough without screaming. I can keep topping up coolant for a few engine hours. If that doesn’t work I’m going to take pump off and inspect bit not sure what I’ll be able to do with the parts if I do remove - do you know if there’s likely to be anything user serviceable?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

It looks like the water pump is leaking from the shaft seal. That's an easy DIY job, and the seals are available reasonably cheaply.

I agree that checking the alternator fan is a good idea. You can turn the engine over with a socket on the crankshaft pulley and the decompressor open, which will allow you to do things slowly and find where something is binding; with the engine running there's too much other noise, and things are happening too quickly.

 

[Donheist]

It looks like the water pump is leaking from the shaft seal. That's an easy DIY job, and the seals are available reasonably cheaply.

I agree that checking the alternator fan is a good idea. You can turn the engine over with a socket on the crankshaft pulley and the decompressor open, which will allow you to do things slowly and find where something is binding; with the engine running there's too much other noise, and things are happening too quickly.

Update: pump bearing is tostado. New pump in order. 1500 euros !! But i don’t have the skills to replace it with confidence so…

Will take old one home and service with genuine kit at leisure then I have a spare.

Mechanic thinks whole engine is ready. Preparing myself for getting a new one in a few years. Will start a new thread for advice on what and where for that.

Thanks for all the help.