After a semi botched water pump removal and install, i'm left with a horrible noise coming from the area of either my belts or my timing chain, it almost sounds like something is scraping once every rotation. I want to check if its the belts or the timing chain, so i want to know can i remove the belt (the one that goes on the crankshaft) and then start the engine? (not move anywhere just start and idle for a few seconds to see if the sound is coming from the chain or not. Is it even possible to start the car without the belt installed and if so is it detrimental in anyway? I remember reading in one book that after you do the water pump install there would be a noise coming from the chain till the air escapes or something, but i ran the motor for 25 minutes and the noise didn't go away. (and the car still over heated so it wasn't my water pump most like my thermostat i'll be checking that today...) So anyone have any idea what the noise might be?

 

Yes, the car will start and run without the belts on there. You will not be charging your battery at all though (not that you really would much at idle anyways). Leave as many electronics off as possiable.

 

Thanx i'm gonna go try that in about an hour. What i'm thinking it might be now is the water pump turning with no coolant flowing through it, cause i think my thermostat might be the problem. Or at least i hope it is cause thats my last resort. Anyone thinking a water pump not pumping anything would make that terrible sound i'm hearing?