Ticking/Crackling Noise From Engine Bay
 

Hi, I just bought a 93 RX-7 Touring model last week. The previous owner warned me that if I heard a belt squeek type noise to just put some silicon lubricant on the pullys (sp?). He had just replaced the belts. So, yesterday I started to hear what I thought was a belt noise...a distinct "tick..tickticktick..tick..tickticktick" noise coming from the engine bay. The sound was rythmic with no variation in time between the ticks. I put some lubricant on and it seemed to lessen and almost go away. Today, I heard the same noise..but louder. I did a search and thought maybe my ignition wires were cracked. So I just took a look in the engine bay while it was dark and didn't see any sparks. BUT, to my surpise, what I did hear was a new noise...louder than the previous ticking...a crackling noise...almost like a speaker crackling. It was coming from the right side (when facing the car from the front) closer to the nose of the car. What could be making this noise? I have no idea. The car is stock. Any help would be very appreciated. Also..the previous "ticking" noise would speed up with the engine but did not go away with the clutch pressed in.
Thanks.

first of all, do not put silicon oil on to the belts, go down to your local auto store and ask them for some belt dressing. it should be sticky! you want your belts to be gripping, not slipping (this aint drifting :D)!!!

As for the sound, is it because of a relay type of noise or is it with the belts? it might be the A/C compressor or powersteering if from the right side of the car when looking from the front. what would really help a lot would be if you could take some video with audio or something to let us get a better idea of what it is, it could really be anything at this point to me.

good luck

Thanks for the quick reply Skunks,

I already put some oil on..OPPS, lol. Hopefully it won't do anything too bad to the car. I will go tommorow to see about "belt dressing". It seems to be coming from the belt/pully on the right side...If the problem persists after the belt dressing, I will take a video and post it.

If the belts are squeeking then they're probably too loose. In my expereince these flat ribbed belts need to be significantly tighter than the common v-belts.

The clicking noises might be a bad bearing in the idler pulley, or in the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, or air pump. Having the belts too tight can contribute to such failures.

To track a bad bearing you can use a 2 or 3 foot long long wooden dowel like a stethoscope to carefully listen to each component. While the engine is running carefully hold one end of the dowel on the item in question and place the free end next to your ear. As you get closer to the source of the noise the sound will get louder. Be very careful while doing this and watchout for gettting too close to the belts or touching anything that's moving!