Rattlesnake sound under the hood

[tandt14]

Hey guys. I need some help, please. I bought my current 05 GT Cruiser back in March of this year with 38k miles on it. I had an 04 turbo lite before that. So far I have only had to replace the front wheel bearings and the tires. I think that I will be needing lower control arm bushings soon.

Anyways, the car is approaching 55,500 miles and I am about to have the tranny flushed with the next oil change, this week. My problem is that I have a sound coming from the engine that sounds like a rattlesnake. The car doesn't do it at idle, only under acceleration, gentle or hard. When I had my oil changed last, the guys oiled my belt and the noise went away for approx 200 miles and came back. They also told me that my belt looked like brand new.

So, I set up an appointment w/my local Chrysler dealer. Well, after waiting an hour, they came back and told me that they would have to start taking things off the engine to diagnose the noise. I would have to set up another appointment. I have the 7yr/70k powertrain warranty and cannot afford to pay them to take the car apart just to tell me that it wasn't cover under warranty.

The car runs perfect but the noise is driving me crazy! Sorry for the long post but I need some help. Thanks!

[quicksilverdon]

You using premium? Could it be pinging?
Plugs/wires recent?

[tandt14]

Yep, always use premium. That was my first thought. I have not replaced the plugs/wires as of yet. I lived with the plug/wire horror with my 04 turbo lite that I had. That's the main reason I got rid of it. I will replace the plugs/wires soon.

From research that I have been doing online, I think that it is definitely associated with the accessory belts. I'm leaning toward the accessory belt tensioner. I think that I am going to have my mechanic replace that next week. I will post with updates.

[quicksilverdon]

Could be if the bearing went on the tensioner....

[cdynaco]

Originally Posted by tandt14

My problem is that I have a sound coming from the engine that sounds like a rattlesnake.

This would be my method of diagnosing the problem:

1) Grab double barrel shotgun
2) load both barrels
3) have a brave friend quickly open hood
4) immediately pull both triggers!
5) run like hell!!
6) after an hour send dog to inspect
7) after a day have brave friend inspect
8) after another day inspect yourself
9) call insurance company and report vandalism
10) have new engine installed at a reputable Dealer
11) reward dog
12) buy brave friend beers

[asdwer]

I have not replaced the plugs/wires as of yet. I lived with the plug/wire horror with my 04 turbo lite that I had. That's the main reason I got rid of it. I will replace the plugs/wires soon.

[quicksilverdon]

Originally Posted by asdwer

I have not replaced the plugs/wires as of yet. I lived with the plug/wire horror with my 04 turbo lite that I had. That's the main reason I got rid of it. I will replace the plugs/wires soon.

I hope I'm wrong, but I smell a spammer.
There are no "horror stories" about plugs/wires on '04 turbo lites, and the signature has a link that I refuse to click on.

[tandt14]

Here's my update. It was the accessory belt tensioner. I had my mechanic replace both belts as well as the tensioner. My family and I took a near 1k mile road trip for the Thanksgiving holiday and no more noise. Yay!

And, yes, there was a horror story about the plugs and wires on my 04 turbo lite. It drove me crazy! That's why I sold it and got my 05 GT.

[quicksilverdon]

Thanks for posting back with the resolution.