All,

Over the last few days i hvae carried out a major service on the car, before i started i was listeneing to the engine and whilist the bonnet was up and on tick over you can hear a rythmin "click" comming from the left hand side of the engine, as you face the front of the car. The "click" is like the sound of something catching as a belt or bearing rotates.

As you rev the engine the noise cannot be heard above he sound of the revs so uits difficut to determine if it disapperas or increases in line with the revs.

The car has done 30000miles and is an 07 plate.

My thoughts were:-

• Timing belt
• Timing belt tensioner
• Dry bearing or signs of wear in a bearing
• Water pump (perhaps)
• Altenator belt

Having completed the service including oil.all filters and plugs and brake disc/pad chebge, the noise remains (not that i thought these would remove it but you never know !)

Could it really warrant a belt and tensioner change at this low milage, and could/would the sound like this be eminating from the timing belt ?

Loathed the start stripping down and replacing to find out its not that ?

Any other ideas, anyone else experianced this, i appreciate a sound is didfficult to describe but all ideas or thoughts are welcome.

Would idealy start with changing and ruling out the simpler items first before moving onto big expense and time.

Am i right in the fact that this engine is a non interferance unit so will not be damaged in any way if the timing belt or pulley tensioner fails ?

Thanks in advance.

No idea on the noise but you're overdue the belt change. It's been discussed in these forums several times; the belt change is due to age and not mileage - seems the material has a much shorter life span than any owner could be reasonably expected to anticipate (hardens, drys out, cracks, splits and snaps, basically).

Pandablues,

Thanks for the response, i read the recommendations on the belt change re time or mileage, i guess i wanted to try and avoid cost but this could be short term thinking on my account.

Also though i want to try and rule out any other potential causes before commiting.

Any one alse any views ?

Thanks again

"Am i right in the fact that this engine is a non interferance unit so will not be damaged in any way if the timing belt or pulley tensioner fails ?"

You are correct. Mine was replaced 'late' too, but seemed to be fine when it was removed. Has anyone actually had one break??

Ticking - might be the alternator itself. Think mine 'ticks' -- but at 97000 miles, everything else rattles anyway so hard to tell

Pete

Pete,

Thanks for confirming - going to look at the alternatotor this weekend and see if i can pin point the noise a little better

Cheers

Alternator brushes may be worn down and clicking on the stator. Bearing could be gone in it. Stone may have got into it. I'd say its the bearing myself. One of the balls has developed a flat spot or the race has started to collapse.

Cheers DC,

Thanks for the ideas, i too am begining to suspect its not timing belt or tensioner related, at 30000 miles i would not expect an issue, i accept time plays an issue with materials as they do degrde though.

I am thinking of dropping the Alt belt off to tst and ticking the car over to see if the noise is still present or stops.

If stops then try and deterimine individual component as you suggest.

Its an odd one, never heard anything like it, i am failrly familiar with engines but this on has me baffled.

Thanks again