Need help - AIR pump

[my_85_vette]

Started my car this morning to find a noise coming from my engine bay. Opened the hood to hear a screaching noise in the AIR pump. At first i thought it was my alternator as it sounds like an alternator gone bad. but it wasn't. My voltage on my alternator is at the right voltage.

Can some one help me understand what the AIR pump does and what might be causing this noise. Should it be replaced, can i oil the bearings, ???

cheers,
Luc

 

[JonM]

It cost about 50 bucks at the parts store...its part of your emission controls

 

[ZumZum]

The AIR pump jump starts your catalytic converters injecting air into the exhaust system when the engine is cold. It does nothing after the engine is warmed up. If you have emissions testing with a visual inspection you will need to replace the pump or at least gut the pump (remove all the internals).
You can still pass your emissions test as long as you make sure the car is warmed up good before they do the test. If there is no visual inspection you can get an eliminator kit and remove the air pump completely.

 

[jsinga]

I just replaced a noisy one. Got it from NAPA. There was a slight headache. It was the same pump but the shaft was updated or replaced and it had smaller holes than those in my pulley ( you use your pulley) It had spacers but the bolts supplied were to short. If you don't want to make 2 trips to the store take one of the bolts out and take it with you to get check the length.
It works fine and got rid of my noises.

JS

 

[my_85_vette]

Thanks for the replies

I went to NAPA and got a replacement pump. it was $118. - $18. if your return the core (cdn $). Took approx. 30 minutes to change and the noise is gone.

thanks for the advice.

Luc

 

[vigman]

Same on mine

Last week the carbon brushes in the air pump went..... Not sounding to cool.
Local auto parts store 48.00 had the same bolt "issue" but had bolts here good as new.

Vig~

 

[thirdtimevetteowner]

ZumZum,
So if you gut it, will it have any adverse affects that the computer can't handle? TIA

Rich K

 

[wilezcoyote]

I just replaced mine last Saturday. Got a reman. pump from Autozone for $42 + $13 core charge. It took about 30 minutes to replace including a trip to the hardware store for a new tube of blue Loc-Tite. I didn't have any bolt hole issues.

This was probably the easiest and cheapest thing I've had to replace on the car in the last 4 months. :ugh This includes every accessory bolted to the engine with the exception of the power steering pump. I replaced that last year.