kellybauman

Hi there. If anyone might offer a little guidance, I'd really appreciate it! The car is a 2002 Nissan Sentra GXE w/ approx. 74K miles.

A couple of weeks ago, I notice a slight "clacking" sound, probably closest to the passenger side wheel. So, I took the car to a local mechanic, who diagnosed this as a bad a/c pully bearing (sorry if my terminology is horrible), and replaced it and a couple of belts. ($242, with a $35 battery service)

About 15 minutes after leaving, the sound is present again, at roughly the same level of volume. Pretty much anyone that listens (myself included) thinks it sounds like a loose bearing. So I took it back. The mechanic now says that, with the belts off, there's no noise anymore, and he's suggesting that I replace the water pump, as he noticed a little play ($188). So I guess my questions are these:

Is it silly to keep throwing money at this car? Should I just wait until the problem is very obviously worse, so that it can be more easily diagnosed?

Also, is it good business to charge yesterday's $242, eventhough it didn't fix the problem? Just curious...I don't really know how all that works...

Thanks SO much.

kelly

Kindfiend

Welcome to the world of getting ripped off by mechanics. It's the reason I started working on my own cars.

Clacking on the passenger side... I think we could use a bit more info. Any particular time it happens, or is it constant? Does it increase with engine speed? I can't think of anything off the bat from the sounds of the problem. Perhaps someone else might be able to shed some light...

__________________
Kindfiend

01 Sentra GXE
92 SE-R

kellybauman

Thanks for the sympathy...

As far as the sound goes, it's pretty contant and really pretty quiet. Quiet enough that the mechanic and I had to stick our heads nearly on the block to hear it. Even then, it's pretty intermittent. But...it's there.

Bascially, it sounds like a ball bearing in a cup, being lightly shaken around, if that makes any sense. It tends to get a bit louder revving the engine.

I'll never know if I was ripped off...they said yesterday's bearing replacement was necessary, and how I can argue? At least they didn't charge today to pull the belts off and reinspect. I guess it's comforting to know that the sound disappeared when the belts were off, maybe? Not likely to be buried in the engine, I guess...but that's me guessing again, which I should know better than to do by now.

Basically, their reccomendation was to wait until the sound is loud/constant enough to diagnose. At this point, arbitrarily replacing things that "could" be faulty is gambling. Who's made of money...I'm certainly not.

Fact is, I probably should have relaxed and waited in the first place.

Again thanks...and that's a great idea working on your own car...I hope I can get that going one of these days!!

Take care,

kelly

And yeah, if anyone's got anything to add, I'd be very grateful!!

almera2000

Did you ever get the problem fixed? I think I've got a similar problem, I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks!
Aleks