Hey y'all. I've been chasing down a noise, kind of a rattle/knock that sounds like it's coming from the front of the engine, but not from inside the engine. The engine was rebuilt a few years ago, but was a short block deal, so I was cheap and kept a lot of parts that I have been replacing one at a time. Thinking my noise was the water pump, because I narrowed it down, I tore into it and removed a perfectly serviceable water pump, but while I was cleaning the gasket off the block, I noticed that the timing pulley moves quite a bit, probably an inch in each direction. My sense is that this thing should be basically locked to the crankshaft. Is there supposed to be any play in this thing at all, or should it be a tight, non-moving fit? Incidentally, it makes the same noise I've been chasing down and that's something.

1990 4runner 3vze automatic 4x4

Here's a handy diagram showing the part I'm talking about. If necessary, I can go out tomorrow and take a video of the play it has and the noise it makes.

ThanX

 

Looks like you have circled the crank pulley that drives the timing belt.

It should be rigidly keyed to the crank snout with no apparent slop.

 

No the timing pulley should be on tight with no movement. It's actually a huge pain to remove most of the time because it doesn't budge

 

Cool beans, thanX.

I kind of found that it was loose by accident. Been away from working on cars too long and forgot all the important things. I guess with it being loose, it should come off easy.

 

Please show us some pics of it dismantled. Sure hope you don't find the crankshaft keyway damaged.

 

Any advance on this repair???