Technical Alternator belt squeak

philipb82 · Feb 26, 2013

Hello

I posted something similar about this a while ago. However i've started a new thread to make it a bit easier to explain!

On startup and driving there is a bit of a squeak but only for a few seconds. Before this there a horrible loud ticking/clicking noise which has been fixed. The cause was the clutch pulley which has been replaced. The crank pulley is fine and the belt is new. So could it be because its a new pulley, cold, a faulty tensioner or something else? Is a squeak a sign that the belt is not properly taught?

Thanks

Phil

Davren · Feb 26, 2013

Which engine do you have?
.

philipb82 · Feb 26, 2013

Davren said:
Which engine do you have?
.

Ah yes, JTD (115)

Phil

philipb82 · Feb 27, 2013

Could i be on the right track with the tensioner?

Phil

Davren · Feb 27, 2013

If it only squeaks for a few seconds when you first start the car, it could be the battery.
.

philipb82 · Feb 27, 2013

The battery is new.

Phil

philipb82 · Feb 28, 2013

Davren said:
If it only squeaks for a few seconds when you first start the car, it could be the battery.
.

Its also squeaking when driving, not continuously though. I stress the word 'squeak', its definetly not squeeling. Last time this happened my mechanic spray a little WD40 type stuff on it and that solved it temporarily. Its had a new belt on, one from FIAT. What other pulleys are in that area?

Thanks

Phil

Davren · Feb 28, 2013

Assuming you have air conditioning, this eLEARN diagram shows all the auxiliary belt idlers and tensioner for the 115bhp. I've never known any of them to squeak or squeal. If you take the belt off and spin the idlers, you may notice which one is causing it. Check for play in them too.

You'll need a long 15mm spanner to release the automatic tensioner while removing the belt, as shown in the photo below.

While the belt is off, start the engine to see if the noise is still there. It will give you an alternator not charging warning, but that will go once the belt is refitted.
.

philipb82 · Feb 28, 2013

Davren said:
Assuming you have air conditioning, this eLEARN diagram shows all the auxiliary belt idlers and tensioner for the 115bhp. I've never known any of them to squeak or squeal. If you take the belt off and spin the idlers, you may notice which one is causing it. Check for play in them too.

You'll need a long 15mm spanner to release the automatic tensioner while removing the belt, as shown in the photo below.

While the belt is off, start the engine to see if the noise is still there. It will give you an alternator not charging warning, but that will go once the belt is refitted.
.

Thanks for the reply but mine hasn't got air con. I've just been out in the car and no squeaking, it seems to do it when the engine is cold.

Phil

mhowse · Feb 28, 2013

Yep same here Philip put new aux belt on from shop4parts mid last year and since cold weather in mornings get the squeaking sound for few minutes till warmed a little, go to wherever I am going and start it up again with no squeak, has been fine since fitting the new belt, just since cold nights thought it was something to do with new cambelt /temsioner and waterpump did at same time but is def an external squeak, then vanishes after few minutes I am not worrying on it till warmer days if it still does it then or not vanish after few minutes like it does now guess have to look further into it,
If you find what causes it though it be good to know, I do not do lot of miles so belt is still quite fresh and is 115 jtd with air con

alsimmo · Mar 1, 2013

Hi, I had a squealing noise on start up when cold (would last maybe 10-15 secs) a couple of months ago. I thought it was belts, alternator etc. with no joy. Changed my water pump . . . No more squeal

Just a thought if its never been changed wouldn't do any harm. Regards alsimmo

philipb82 · Mar 1, 2013

alsimmo said:
Hi, I had a squealing noise on start up when cold (would last maybe 10-15 secs) a couple of months ago. I thought it was belts, alternator etc. with no joy. Changed my water pump . . . No more squeal Just a thought if its never been changed wouldn't do any harm. Regards alsimmo

Thanks for your reply. I had a new water pump fitted along with a cambelt kit in October

I've been out in it this morning and it squeaked for about half a mile then stopped. It must be something to do with this cold weather.

Phil

mhowse · Mar 1, 2013

Still same with mine philip started this morning with usual quiet mousey squeak, squeak went done the shop trip came back shopping away and popped out to start it up and quiet as a mouse..think will leave a nibble of cheese in exhaust end see if the engine is feeling little peckish, but then I have had the mice nibbling fuel line in past so perhaps is not quite such a good idea..

850kd · Mar 1, 2013

I have recently experienced an early failure of a water pump, so Im thinking that could still be your problem?
My replaced water pump developed a squeak after less than 6k. It was a continental (conti-tech)., and has had to be replaced.

mhowse · Mar 1, 2013

My water pump I did at same time was a bugatti one....as philip had also changed his pump also...my squeak is external...sound is external of cambelt covers..if be waterpump being new and bedding in but not heard of that before, I have done about 4k miles since doing all cambelt bits waterpump and aux belt, just see if it gets more squeaky
Have had waterpump being worn previuosly in another car and that was more a squeal not a squeak and that squeal was constant, then different cars have different squeaks n squeals I guess

850kd · Mar 1, 2013

The sqeak is like a rubber squeak. (Not your typical 'failed waterpump' howl.)

mhowse · Mar 1, 2013

thanks will keep a listen out for the squeak on mine and bear in mind what yours did...odd that only since cold weather, and only till engine little warmer, it did have different anti freeze, usual 50/50 mix coma extreme G30 Glysantin..could different properties of new anti freeze make any difference to initial start up and effect pump in some way..ooh too much thinking for time of day time to put kettle and settle for just keeping engine warm and squeak free

philipb82 · Mar 1, 2013

This has only happened when i had my new engine fitted. My mechanic used the crank pulley that was with the engine. Although it was a bit rusty he cleaned it up and re-fitted it. Before my wife went to work earlier it squeaked a bit so i got down popped my head near the tyre. Now it sounds like its coming from that area (crank pulley) but its hard to pin point exactly when just listening. It didn't do it on my last engine but it does on this one and this pulley was on this engine. Maybe i'm barking up the wrong tree but it could be a possible cause.....just to confuse matters further!

Phil

mhowse · Mar 3, 2013

with my little queak squeak this morning,, I thought I would time it from being stood outside overnight till the squeak squeak vanished..
It lasted 3 minutes 30 seconds from starting the jtd engine..what I also noticed was that at this 3 minute and a bit time the engine's tickover tone changed slightly,
my thougts which could well be wrong, was either at this point when the squeak squeak stopped was that the engine was then slightly warm enough to allow the thermostat to open slightly and reduce any turning pressure on the water pump slightly as a small amount of coolant was able to take a different route through the rad..as said already is a new waterpump
or in a similar as older cars used to have a choke lever the engine management was sorting out the fuel/air mix with the engine being slightly warmed but either way the squeak squeak was no longer there, am thinking more to the release of pressure on the water pump impellers and so giving a more free spin with less force on the impellers although it does sound external I can not think of any think else..engine rpm at engine change of tone also rises everso slightly from just fraction under the 750rpm to just a fraction over the 750rpm, again could be the slightly less resistance from water pump force required as thermostat open a tiny amount,
Also the waterpump was a bugatti I put in when changed from what looked like origenal so if the impellers were slightly different could cause a different resonance under the right spinning force...either way think am going to live with for a while least I know it is my car if I ever loose it in the car park.

Steve148 · Mar 4, 2013

Davren said:
You'll need a long 15mm spanner to release the automatic tensioner while removing the belt, as shown in the photo below.

Oooooh, want! I currently use an ordinary spanner, with an improvised extension. That one looks a beauty - 400-500mm long?

Technical Alternator belt squeak

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