Marbles Galore

Topic: Marbles Galore (Read 1062 times) previous topic - next topic

Marbles Galore

February 21, 2007, 08:16:16 PM

Wife complains that marble noise is coming from the '88 TB 3.8 engine. I investigate with my ear and it seems to be on both sides. Today, I removed the belt and found squeaks on the smog pump---it's original with 120K on it. As for the alternator and maybe belt tensioner, could not hear anything strange other than the tensioner pulley had a little side play in it. The alt is newer ...So I figure it's the smog pump with an echo for both sides---does this make sense?

I then drive the car and find the temp gauge needle running higher than I like to see it in this weather. I assume it represents a sticking thermostat--is that a reasonable theory? There have been 3 thermostats on this TB and now I think #3 is kaput (4 years old).

John R

Marbles Galore

Reply #1 – February 21, 2007, 08:54:46 PM

Sounds like a water pump problem.

Marbles Galore

Reply #2 – February 21, 2007, 10:49:47 PM

I didn't really think of the water pump--but admit it's old--I last did that one in 1995. The hub seemed to turn ok but that leaves little with clues. There's no leaks from the pump--but now with the temp gauge in mind, I'll look again this weekend. Thanks. I hate to throw parts at a repair but did order the smog pump---the cheap one was not the right one to fit, so naturally I had to fork over another $15 to order one with the right hose mountings. We had to leave the bird out a few times in the cold in February (0 degrees) and I think it didn't like that being the senior citizen it is.

Marbles Galore

Reply #3 – February 22, 2007, 09:04:33 AM

The temperature gauge problem could be the IVR (Instrument Voltage Regulator) on the back side of the cluster. Is your oil pressure also reading higher? I chased high temperature problems that didn't exist on my '86 for a long time. A dealer fried my cluster for me, and I found one from an '87 to replace. Suddenly, after installing the replacement cluster, my temperature problems went away.

Marbles Galore

Reply #4 – February 22, 2007, 04:18:28 PM

Hmm, temp guage high, marble like sound coming from the engine.
Sounds like a possible head gasket to me.
Check the oil to see if it's milky and check the compression.

When my head gasket blew on my 5.0, I had a nasty marble sound coming from the motor and it would blow some black smoke out of the pipes. It never overheated though and the oil looked fine. BUT, a friend of mine had a 3.8 that over heated, had a milkshake for oil and sure enough it was the gasket.

Marbles Galore

Reply #5 – March 03, 2007, 11:47:38 AM

Hey,

Put a new smog pump on last week and the marbles are gone. Seems like there is still a ticking sound somewhere, but that is less disturbing. For now, the problem is over. Apparently there are 2 kinds of smog pumps listed for this Tbird. The more expensive one has both external hose fittings fixed onto it and that's the one I needed. Good thing I checked the first one given me by comparing it to the existing one in the store parking lot--had to go back in and reorder the other and wait several days. If I had taken this for granted--bringing the old in first to pick up new--I would have had to reinstall the old and wait--as the one I needed was not in stock.