# My 93 Saturn SC2 sounds like a geiger counter! **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** saturn\ **Created:** [February 10, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269 "2009-02-10T00:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thecracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thecracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecracker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/1 "2009-02-10T00:00:12Z")
I drive a 1993 Saturn SC2 coop with over 115000 miles on it (don’t know for sure because the ODO isn’t working). The other day, I noticed that there was a strange metallic clicking coming from my engine while I was chugging along the highway. It just started within the past couple of days. It seems like I can only hear it when I am at idle and once I’m going a fairly constant speed down the road. When I open the hood, it appears to be coming from the side of the engine where the serpentine belt is. It sounds like a Geiger counter that is picking up faint traces of radiation. It’s an erratic metallic clicking. Thanks for your help in advance. ---
**Author:** ![thecracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thecracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecracker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/2 "2009-02-10T00:03:25Z")
I guess I didn’t ask a question, Does anyone know what would cause this clicking, or what I can do to fix it? I’m trying to decide if it is time to retire this car that has treated me so well, or if it could be a relatively cheap fix. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/3 "2009-02-10T02:48:49Z")
One strange cause of clicking can be an exhaust leak. It’s just something to check for if the cause remains a mystery. Spark plug wires are a possibility. I had a loose spark plug on an old Ford once, but I haven’t had one get loose since 1974. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/4 "2009-02-10T05:52:31Z")
A alternator that is charging hard makes noise,don’t know if I would call it a Gieger counter. All your dealing with is noise no other sympton? ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/5 "2009-02-10T13:29:09Z")
How old is the serpentine belt? An old cracked belt can make all sorts of bad noises. I replace mine every 3 years or so, which is may be overkill. I’m partial to Goodyear Poly-V belts, they seem to be the quietest. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![thecracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thecracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecracker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/6 "2009-02-10T13:52:11Z")
Thanks for the responses. Since it isn’t a constant clicking, I would think it wouldn’t be the belt, but I don’t know. I will check the wires after work today, and look at the belt condition. I guess It could be the alternator, the battery warning light sometimes comes on intermittently, though it hasn’t lately, which I assume can mean a failing alternator. The only other problem right now is the is some moderate engine vibration. Not enough that it would shake the water out of a glass, but it’s still noticeable while sitting in the car, most noticeable while at idle. ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/7 "2009-02-10T14:05:03Z")
Another thought is the idler pulling bearing may be going bad. The mileage is about right for that to happen. ---
**Author:** ![thecracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thecracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecracker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/8 "2009-02-10T17:48:49Z")
I thought the idler pulley was usually responsible for a squealing belt , can it cause a clicking noise? ---
**Author:** ![thecracker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@thecracker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thecracker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-93-saturn-sc2-sounds-like-a-geiger-counter/26269/9 "2009-02-10T20:30:08Z")
The sound might be better classified as an intermittent rattle. Does this help?