(T) Problem with Cinq Alternator Belt, SOUND INCLUDED, Please Help Diagnose...

Hi there,

I've been having trouble with (what I think is the alternator belt) on my 98 Cinq SX.

When I press on the accelerator (whether idling or in gear) there is a high pitch squeel from the front left of the engine (where the belt is located I believe).

I recorded the sound and have attached it to my post (you'll have to unzip it to get the mp3 file) to give you a better idea of what the problem might be.

I got the car serviced and they replaced the belt, but within a few days the sound was back. It was just happening in colder or wet weather, but in the last few weeks it is constant when accelerating in lower gears and intermittent in higher ones.

I had a search of the forums and have found this is a relatively common problem. Here is what I found by way of a solution:

"you need to try tensioning the auxiliary drive belt using the alternator tensioner bolt. first loosen the alternator mounting bolts, then tension the belt, then re tighten the alternator mounting bolts.

if it still squeals it may mean one of the pulleys is slightly out of alignment causing the belt to constantly brush the side of the pulley guide wall. this can usually be fixed by adjusting the position of the alternator or power steering pump."

Is this correct??? Or is there something else I need to know?

Basically I will not be able to do this myself (I am completely useless when it comes to repairs) but I'd like to be able to tell the mechanic exactly what the problem is and what needs to be done to fix it (seeing as my last attempt to get it fixed failed).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Robert

PS. I'm also getting very poor fuel economy out of the car (never more than 35mpg) so what do I need to tell the mechanic to do about this? Change air filter for fuel? Thanks.

I didn't listen to the soundtrack. Your squeal could be the alternator belt or a number of other things. That it is intermittent in higher gears would, to my mind, tend to rule out the belt.

Likewise, there could be any number of causes for high fuel consumption.

I don't think any of us is in a better position to diagnose the problem than a mechanic who has access to the car -- the problem is taking the car to the right mechanic.

There are a number of "non-dealer" specialists about -- if you let us know where you are, someone may be able to recommend one. Failing that, you should take your car to a Fiat dealer.

Thanks for the reply. The noise happens when I am accelerating hard, when I say it happens intermittently in the higher gears it will happen as soon as I reach a certain speed or level of acceleration. It's the same as when the car is idling, if i press gently on the accelerator there is no squeal, it's only when I push it harder. Hope this helps.

I brought this to a Fiat garage but they were not much use. I will try to find a specialist mechanic. I'm in Dublin (Ireland) by the way.

Could be the alternator bearings skweeling.. You need to take the alternator off and feel the bearings by spinning it by hand.

The other thing to check is the water pump. On the 899 this is also driven by the alternator belt. Wiith the alternator off, spin the water pump and make sure it turns smoothly.

Do not remove the water pump unless it is faulty. It needs gaskets to refit.

Cheers

D

its the belt my sei always used to do it in cold weather used to scream even when crusing down the road at 30 disapears everynow and then but comes back as soon as you floor it again, used to piss me right off it was embarising i got through 5 new belts last winter as i kept raggin the car around to shut it up and it snapped every belt

I'd try tightening before anything else.

It's the cheapest option!

Not neccesarily, over tighten the belt and the bearings turn to toast, if they haven't already.

Cheers

D

Fair point.

I would however check tension before i tighten, and if it's already tight, then i'd consider a new belt. (Even if it's just had one!)

After that i'd start looking at ancillaries components, not forgetting to check for oil on any of the pulleys!

as above really, check the tension first but dont go jumping on the nearest crow bar hehe, might be worth checking the belt isnt contaminated with oil etc that might give it reason to slip