Crack in timing belt cover

[ShoOff93]

I have a 93 atx withe 140k. It's been pretty well maintained by the previous two owners. The timing belt and crank shaft sensor were both replaced within the last two years and I'm assuming about 5k ago because the previous owner had it over a year and only put 3 or 4k on it. I noticed that when I start it there is a pretty loud whine. I thought it was a tensioner or pully bearing. I took the passenger tire off and noticed the timing belt cover right above the crank pully is cracked and someone tryed to seal it with something. The seal is no longer there. There is some wires coming out of the cover right above the crack, there not visible but I can feel them. Also the belt that was used was a dayco. Do you guys think the whine is the belt bc it's a dayco and It so loud bc of that crack? And how serious is the crack? Ie should that be on my list of top priorities to do. I don't drive the car everyday. I tried to seal the crack as good as possible with some adhesive sealant. Any input is appreciated as I am not a mechanic. Thanks.

 

[ShoOff93]

Also the whine seems to go away while I'm driving and the rpms go over about 2k

 

[luigisho]

The cover keeps debris out of there and shouldn't be a problem to worry about. If it bothers you, you can always find a used one from a parts car around here. People have run vehicles without them installed. They are easy to crack, especially if you don't take them off in the correct order or miss a fastener bolt and yank on it.

As for the noise, you have to investigate further to pinpoint it. Could be the belt or a pulley bearing like you stated. Sound locations are hard to pinpoint over the interwebs.

 

[ShoOff93]

Ok thanks I feel a lot better about the cover. I guess I'm going to have to take my belt off and take a look at the pullys.

 

[itwonder]

Clueless mechanics break the covers on the SHO because they don't understand in which order they have to be removed. I would not worry too much about belt whine; it may settle down in time.

 

[ShoOff93]

Thanks it's my tensioner pulley bearing that's making the noise. I took it apart and repacked it with grease but it didn't help. I guess I should replace all three while I'm down there.

 

[Devin]

The wire coming out of the middle timing cover is the CKS (crankshaft position sensor) and it comes from behind the lower timing belt cover, then clips into the middle and then routes underneath the upper above the water pump.



If it is not exiting out of that indentation then it should be fixed, as with all the rotating things around the results can be disastrous.

 

[ShoOff93]

Ok thanks for the info