I Have a 96 7.3 with 264k miles. I dont recall it doing this before, but the engine makes a rattle and when you open the hood can see exactly what it is. on the driverside in the front on the engine. There is a round right above the power steering pump it looks like. The "cap" on it rattles and I dont recall it doing that before. anyone know what this thing is exactly and if that is normal for it to be loose and rattle?




Marked, but the little cap there is the rattler.

 

That is your vacuum pump. Sounds like the bearing went out of it.


EDIT: very common for these to go out. You need a pulley puller to change it out.

 

As Glen stated, it sound as if the bearing in the pump is going out. I'd get it changed out ASAP. The bearing could lock up, destroying the belt and if that happens, you loose power steering and brakes.

 

Fixed. Power steering and brakes are assists. Losing the water pump means the engine blows up in short order. That's the primary reason why you should STOP as soon as you safely can when the serp belt breaks.

 

Thanks. Yeah belt still spins just that little cap is loose, when shut off I can move it around them when on it bounces and rattle like made. Haven't had any steering or brakes issues but will get it replaced. Don't need either!

 

Doesn't look like you have had the cruise control recall done yet. Might wNna get that done

 

Haven't. The cruise didn't work when bought it so was not in a rush. At least unless that might fix it

 

The recall stop the possibility of your truck burning to the ground.

 

Been there, done that. Sadly mine went just after replacing the $35 serp belt... or should I say it now cost me $70 for belts...

You won't have steering issues or brake issues until the bearing completely fails. Once the bearing fails you'll loose vacuum (assists in braking and HVAC controls) and then the belt shears and you loose everything - cooling, air cond, alternator/charging and power steering. Next thing you know your on the side of a major interstate in the pouring rain waiting for a tow truck to tow you home


I hate to hi-jack this thread but since you brought it up, what exactly does the recall do? I just haven't had the time to bring the truck in to a dealer then completely forget about it when I do have the time. One of these days my truck is going to go up in flames and I'm going to be very unhappy... I heard it was just an inline fuse they install??? Getting to a dealership around my neck of the woods is kind of an ordeal.

For the OP - I replaced my vacuum pump in the driveway, in the rain, with little to no tools - so it's relatively easy you just need to get the pulley puller from Autozone (they'll rent it for free) and I got my vacuum pump from NAPA. My pump went while I was literally moving out of my house and of course the roll boxes full of hand tools were already moved to the new house 2 hours away so I only had an adjustable wrench a 10mm box wrench. I think you do need a few other wrenches and some sockets couldn't hurt. My point is that it was easy enough, just a little pricey.

Good Luck

 

The cruse recall is just a harness with a fuse that plugs in the brake master cylinder, and the cruse control wires. It takes the dealer longer to open the hood than it takes to install the harness.

 

OP- you indicated that the cap was rattling. Did you verify that it was the source of the rattle while it is running? Mine is tight and does not move when the truck is off. I think it is good to make sure that cap is or is not the source of the rattle first. The front bearing is a common source of failure but I just don't want you to replace parts unnecessarily.

 

Definitely that cap that is rattling, I can move it with fingers too.

 

I believe the detents on the cap are supposed to keep it tight. May try using a pair of pliers and crimp it some and tighten it back up

 

Just do it at the detents. Not all the way around it

 

Will try thanks