The motor has 53k miles on it. 4 cyl. When you're at ~1100RPM (decelerating/braking, accelerating) there's a metallic grinding noise that's coming from the timing belt vicinity. Anyone know what it is? Alternator bearing? Water pump?
If my description doesn't help, I suppose I can post a video. Thanks!

edit: 2002 accord 4cyl , automatic

 

What car? With only 53k I figure it might be 2003 or newer. Those 4-cyl have a timing chain not a belt. Might be worn chain guides?

F-series engine could be waterpump or tensioner bearing. Easy to pull the upper timing cover for a better listen. Also on F-series you can run the engine without the external belts to rule out the alternator, PS, or AC bearings.

 

i apologize for that. 2002 accord. Original post edited.

 

OK, 2002 4-cyl is the F-series engine, so pay attention to that paragraph. If you open the upper timing cover, you might be able to use a hose as a stethoscope to find the noise down into the lower cover. Be careful of the spinning belts.

In order to remove the lower timing cover for a better look, that's a big job requiring you to remove the crankshaft pulley. Don't do that until you've ruled out alternator/ps/ac as the sound. Then you might as well get new timing belts because that's an awful lot of work to put the old belts back on.

Besides that, the timing belts are 9 years old so they're overdue based on the calendar not by miles.

 

thank you for your very sound advice, Jim. I'll look in to replacing the belts and water pump.

 

I had a Suburban with this type of noise. It ended up being the idler pulley bearing which was a cheap easy fix.

 

Definitely sounds like a bearing failure...Very likely the water pump impellor shaft has a worn out bearing. Change it and the timing belts as well.

 

okay, thanks for all of the advice.

i'll most likely be changing the belts/water pump. i'll post up a video/audio recording to make sure that IS the problem.