98 dohc timing belt sounds like wood chipper

I Have a 98 Dodge Neon Sport DOHC ATX with about 80K on it. Back in March, I was hearing some water pump bearing noise, and occaisional overheating. The problem turned out to be a leaking hose between the radiator cap and the overflow bottle.

I bought a pump intending to do the job myself, then realized how tough it was. In April, I got a local garage to replace all the belts and the water pump as a precaution. I bought the chrysler timing belt and water pump myself from Moparpartz.com

Mileage and power has not been as good as it used to be since then. Idle has been a little rough too. Problem is, they started adding 10% ethanol to our gas at about the same time as the belt change, so I couldn't be sure which was causing the problems.

Yesterday, my wife IM'd me compaining about a loud noise when she had the A/C on full blast. I assumed the belts needed tightening.

THis morning, I went to use the car myself (too hot for motorcycle today). The noise I heard sounded like a wood chipper at idle (like the guys who cut down trees for a living use). It was just as loud as a wood chipper as well. I opened the hood, and I could make the noise change if I held my hand onthe timing belt cover. I left the car at home, and too the Motorcycle. My wife mentions that noise appeared late yesterday, while she was moving the car from the driveway to the street.

Anybody have any ideas? I have a scanner, and I haven't seen any codes for the rough idle. I don't think the CEL came on.

Hi! This is gromittoo's wife: I had been driving down a steep hill and went thru a rough construction ditch (at the same time having A/C on full-blast.) This resulted in something getting knocked loose (the timing or serpentine belt.)

Pull the timing belt inspection cover off and have a look at it. Was the idler pulley replaced when the water pump and timing belt was replaced as well.

I suspect the idler pulley was not replaced... unless it came with the water pump or the belt. Sounds like replacing the pulley is a good idea to me, and I am surprised that the guy at MoparPartz I spoke to on the phone didn't suggest it.

When I get a chance this weekend, I will pull the inspection cover off. I don't know what to expect, that could cause such horrific noise.

Remember my wife did mention hitting a pothole in a construction zone near our house the day before. She immediatly heard a realy loud squeal, but I already knew that the main serpentine belt was off by one groove on the crankshaft pulley (I noticed while changing oil a few weeks ago). That noise of course has nothing to do with the timing belt.

My worst fear is that a peice of the timing belt has shreaded, and that the noise I am hearing is that peice of the belt hitting the plastic timing cover. That would be consistant with the nature of the noise.

Question: The mechanic is only 2 blocks from my house, is it worth having it towed?

Take a look at the belt first and then make that decision.

The tensioner is not a cheap part... $112 at MoparPartz.com. At least it is on the top of the engine. I wonder if it can be replaced without pulling the whole engine apart again?

I wish I had known... I put about $600 putting that new belt and water pump in. Another $120 would have been a no brainer.

I found the source of the noise. When I removed the inspection cover, a piece of plastic fell out. Now the question is, should I be worried? I'll post a pic of the plastic part when I figure out how to post it. It looks like it is part of the timing belt cover that broke off.