Auxiliary belt noise?

[Tiny Tim]

Right, my cars started squeeing at low speeds, pulling away, turning etc... typical aux belt squeeling. This has recently been accompanied by a noise on idle... hard to describe along with normal engine sound, but kinda sounds like a squeek.

I've tried tightening the belt today but the sound on idle is still there... to be honest, with bonnet open, the sound seems to be coming from the top/front of the engine.

Any ideas?

[mbell666]

Have you checked the power string fluid level, may be low.

Could also be cam belt....

If you have any doubt about the fan belt, trust me I when I say this, CHANGE IT. Can cause a lot of damage and expense if it fails.

[old codger]

Alternator?

[steve_earwig]

Siezing tensioner? (as mentioned elsewhere here)

[Tiny Tim]

Thanks for the suggestion guys. When driving its quiet so long as the revs are above about 2k.... if im driving along, put the clutch in so the revs drop, its squeeks.

I do hope it isnt the the cambelt, it was supposed to have been changed by the garage i bought it from, the 3 months warrenty is up now

I'll try the power steering fluid, but dont think its PAS related tbh.

[Tiny Tim]

Hmmmm

Did it last night (Wet roads) but not a sausage this morning (dry but cold).... Hmmmm

[Welly]

I had this, a squeeky rotary sound from the top end of the belt/alternator.

The floaty/bouncy tensioner at the top of the engine makes this noise BUT it can be cured just by changing the belt for a new one.

That tensioner is pricey, I had the belt changed for a gates one and the squeek vanished instantly never to return.

It appears that as the back of the belt goes shiney/hard it makes a sympathetic squeek against the shiney roller surface of the tensioner.

[Tiny Tim]

It appears that as the back of the belt goes shiney/hard it makes a sympathetic squeek against the shiney roller surface of the tensioner.

Nothing a bit of mud wont sort out then

[teamster1975]

I'm glad I read this thread, mine is doing exactly the same thing

[Tiny Tim]

I'm glad I read this thread, mine is doing exactly the same thing

Mine seems on and off though... hasnt done it for the last few days

[teamster1975]

Yeah, mine is intermittent too. I couldn't track it down, it sounded like a squeaky pulley!

[Savvy]

Have you tried the water spray test to help diagnose the fault?

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1026

If you have to change the belt there is a fair bit of dismantling and it may be worth getting a complete kit with idler and tensioner from your local motor factor - costs about £75 including new belt. If you have A/C there are two types depending on the model of A/C compressor and you can usually determine which one it is by looking at the label printed on it.

Good luck,

Savvy