[dingdong28]

1.

2.

3.

Links 1 and 2 were on the same day. I believe the weather was in the low teens that links 1 and 2. Link 3 was recorded 2 weeks before the other 2 links, normal fall weather. Temperature for the car has been fine, no steam, no overheating, coolant level looks the same from when I bought the car in December. Any idea what the noises could indicate or am I worrying about nothing?

 

[CaddyGas]

The tension pulley under cover. Take the cover off, The pulley is spring loaded push it and take the belt off and spin it any noise and it's bad.

Replace it ASAP/yesterday you don't want that going bad seizing up the belt and ruining the cam pulley.

 

[Ranger]

I'd second what CaddyGas said. That bearing is a relatively common failure, and I couldn't agree more with his timeline on the repair.

 

[Submariner409]

Yep - when (not if) that tensioner pulley seizes it will destroy the main drive pulley and belt - lots of expensive destruction.

The pulley picture is a Gates replacement - any parts store, $24. You do NOT need to replace the entire $55 - $70 tensioner assembly. Read the tensioner picture notes. Remove the safety shroud, release belt tension, remove the pulley center shoulder bolt. 1/2 hour max.

The black plastic cap in the end of the intake cam extension is a thread protector - it comes out with a Torx bit so, if need be, you can use a puller on the groove of the plastic drive pulley metal hub.

 

[dingdong28]

Update: Thank you very much for everyone's help. I'm so glad I found this forum as this was the problem. Although I probably could have done this myself, I had a mechanic do it because he also found a coolant leak. There was quite a bit of noise when he showed me the old tensioner pulley. Radiator had a crack in one of the corners and was dripping coolant every 5 seconds. The crossover pipe gaskets were also bubbling and he replaced all 4 gaskets. He also replaced the water pump since it was already apart and most likely would need replaced soon. Lastly, he cleaned the throttle body as it was gunked up with carbon. All in all, $1,619 to replace the radiator, 4 crossover pipe gaskets, water pump, coolant, and the tensioner pulley. Hopefully this is the last major repair for a while and I can save up for if/when it starts leaking oil and it needs another major repair.

I didn't have the car for a couple days and when I started driving, I couldn't stop smiling. There's just something about this Lucerne that I love. Although this mechanic has negative biases towards the Northstar, he couldn't stop complementing how nice of a car it is and the quality of the drive.

Edit: @Submariner409 - I believe he replaced the whole assembly

 

[Submariner409]

The water crossover work alone is difficult and tedious. You got a fair deal on your repairs.

 

[dingdong28]

The water crossover work alone is difficult and tedious. You got a fair deal on your repairs.

You must have replied when I was editing my comment I think so too. He said he was at his shop until 9:30 pm setting everything up Thursday so he can do everything on Friday. I'm very happy with the repairs and the amount of care he put into his work. No more strong coolant smell under the hood or occasional burning rubber smell (coolant from radiator was dripping onto something below it) when the heat's on.

 

[CaddyGas]

coolant level looks the same from when I bought the car in December.

You say it was dripping every 5 sec. Sure you was looking at the right level? Regardless it is a good feeling when your car is running right.

 

[dingdong28]

You say it was dripping every 5 sec. Sure you was looking at the right level? Regardless it is a good feeling when your car is running right.

I'm pretty sure I was looking at the wrong level. I guess I never understood how the reservoir tank was oriented until everything was fixed. I think what confused me was the max fill line