Hello all, I am new here and have just bought my first Dodge Ram 1500 truck. It is a 1999 with the 5.2L and is a automatice and 4x4 with 66,000 miles. When I test drove it it ran perfect, but after a couple days it starting making a clunking/ rattling noise from the engine area when I turn off the engine. It does not make the noise while the engine is running. I also seemed to notice it idling a little rough now when I start it. The noise sounds like it is coming from the front of the engine where the serpentine belt is. I removed the belt and check out each pulley the best I could. The tensioner pulley had a little wobble to it so I removed it. When I hold the pully in my hand it sounds like the bearings inside are loose. Is that normal? The same goes for the idler pulley, when I shake it in my hand it sounds like the bearings are loose. All the other pulleys seem to be nice and tight with no play. I plan on replacing those two pulley because it's a relatively cheap fix. I was just wondering if anyone else has expierenced this before or if anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks a ton!

 

Not normal. Replace them. (probably not your noise though.)

If it does it every time you shut if off, have someone else start/stop the engine, while you go looking for the noise. (careful where you stick body parts.)

Welcome to DF!

 

Thanks for the reply!! Yes it does it every time I shut it off. Hopefully I will get time this week to do the oil change and replace those pulleys. I am hoping it is nothing major. My uncle brought up about checking the torque converter bolts. I am not sure if those bolts became loose, if that would be my only symptom or possibly something in the exhaust. I was reading on a Chevy forum that someone else had that symptom and it was their power steering pump pulley. Do you think it could be one of those things?

 

I think I would check out the catalytic converter, get under the truck and bang it with a rubber hammer see if it rattles.

 

The first thing to go on my truck was the waterpump at about 70,000 mi,so other bearings going out with low miles is certainly possible. Don't think any worn pulley or tensioner bearings would cause rough running tho. Have you looked at plugs and wires etc. Like HeyYou said, get someone to run, shutoff vehicle while you track down the clunk/rattle.

 

I would change the things you know are bad first, then look or listen for anything else. Chasing gremlins while problems still making noises may be a waste of time.

 

So I got to the truck today and located where the noise is coming from. I don't know whether to he happy that I found or nervous at what I found. Down by the crankshaft pulley, there is a steel housing it looks like that has come loose. The steel piece that i am talking about is between the engine block and pulley. The pulley itself seems to be okay. I am going to try and attach pictures and a short video that I took. Thanks guys

 

Ok here is the video I took. Anyone have any thoughts ot ideas... I am stumped on this one... It doesn't look like anything broke or cracked.

 

Well upon further investigation I believe it's the harmonic balancer... How tough are one of those to replace?

 

Not too bad at all, take of the serp belt, take off the pulley, take out the huge bolt in the center, and use a puller to take it off. Install new one in reverse order. Do NOT use a hammer to drive it back on. That can damage the balancer.