please help!! i'm about to give up and take it to a mechanic (i really don't want to..haven't been to one in years!!)

my 98 civic si makes a weird sound right around 3500 rpm on the driver's side somewhere around the alternator.

i spent all night spraying carb cleaner around where i hear the sound..the engine idle does not change at all so i dont think it's a vacuum leak.

i got under the car and the sound is definitely somewhere around the alternator area. i was thinking driving belt or maybe alternator as there was a sound coming from the alternator when the fan turned on (this may be normal). the belts look like they are in decent shape though..

last few things to note..when the car runs, there is a spraying or leak sound coming from around the alternator. the sound is steady (maybe gets a bit louder) until 3500 rpm which is when it gets really loud all of a sudden, then fades back to normal at higher rpm. the other day when i was playing with the throttle, i felt something spray me (not sure if it was liquid or air) when the sound kicked in loudly.

now when i turn the car off, there is a bubbling liquid sound (may be air, but it sounds very liquidy) which then fades off into a fizzing sound (definitely air). this is why i'm thinking it could have to do with brake fluid or maybe even coolant..

please please please give some thoughts and/or ideas!! thanks!

 

sounds like a bad water pump..

 

u think so? would the bubbling come from the edges of the waterpump? i will check it more thoroughly..i haven't noticed a significant coolant loss, but i guess there's been a tiny bit..

it is possible since i haven't changed it since getting the car (about 3 years). the thing is when i felt the spray, it wasn't very hot..may be cuz the engine wasn't at operating temp yet (don't remember).

 

Remove the alternator belt, start the engine, see if the noise is still there.

The water pump is indeed right there. Look for coolant leaking out of the weep hole near the alternator bracket. If there is any there, bad water pump for sure.

With the engine COLD, remove radiator cap and make sure it is full to the top. There should also of course be some coolant in the clear plastic tank.

 

hey ya thanks, i will take the alternator belt off and check itt and the weep holes.

ya, that's the thing..there isn't any coolant in the reservoir. there must be a leak somewhere, so i kinda hope that it is due to a faulty water pump and that this solves my low coolant issue..