Hey all,

Lately my car has developed a bit of a screech in the rev range of about 2.7k rpm to 3k rpm, the best description of when it occurs is this:

Neutral: No screeching, would assume this means it isnt the engine unless it only applies to the engine when under load.
First: Not noticable, may be due to the speed at which I am going through the rev's.
Second: Still not noticable.
Third: Noticable but quite at about 2.8k rpm.
Fourth: Noticable at the range of 2.7k rpm to 3k rpm.
Fifth: Very noticable at 60mph (3k rmp) as a constant pitch screech
Reverse: untested, dont usually get to that kind of speed in reverse ever!

When I get past these ranges there is no more screeching and the screeching stops if i take my foot of the accelerator pedal, or deminishes in volume very rapdily whilst similar revs are still being maintained by the engine.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what this could possibly be?

Slight update, when the car is loaded or is going uphill the noise is more noticable than driving on a flat surface, instant reduction in noise if the foot is taken off the accelerator to maintain the revs still occurs but remains very noticable at ~3krpm in 5th

I'll have a stab.

In my experience screeches on a Mk.1 at specific revs / loading are usually

1 cam belt tensioner ,
2 alternator belt
3 alternator

I' ll go for 1 from your description, dead easy to change, best do the belt at the same time.

wavestar said:

I'll have a stab.

In my experience screeches on a Mk.1 at specific revs / loading are usually

1 cam belt tensioner ,
2 alternator belt
3 alternator

I' ll go for 1 from your description, dead easy to change, best do the belt at the same time.

Click to expand...

I changed the tensioner 16 months ago, I'l take a look at the belt and tensioner when I get chance (the reason I didn't change the belt was it had been on for about 3000 miles at that point according to the previous owner and was the first thing I changed).

I'l try and take a look at the altenator & belt aswell if I can aswell, luckily not much driving needed at the moment!

Thanks for the reply

if still there we can always have a look/listen at stoke staffs meet

very true, of course suggestions are still welcome

wavestar said:

1 cam belt tensioner ,
2 alternator belt
3 alternator

Click to expand...

This.

Try tightening your alt belt. Only takes two minutes.

Got a simulare prob on my mk3b.It screeches but it seems to be at a different speed everytime.Has done it at stand still in traffic when the fan cut in too.

Ok had some time in the engine bay today and the belts are tight, tensioners in good condition. It appears the fault is one of the bearings on the input shaft of the gearbox, arranged for a mechanic to have a second opinion on it, I can see this being expensive :bang:

Also CV boots are leaking, joy.

Turned out the manifold to down pipe connection had worked slightly loose and under load that some of the gasses were escaping out of the manifold/downpipe gasket and it was a vibration of this gasket I could hear.

The place I got my new exhaust from have replaced the washers, bolts and the actual gasket; fitted it all on under the warranty too