here is the video:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J6ydHRvoknaBuwbUoPV8v5Hdj_aj1tx2

It is not the AC belt, as i removed belt and nothing changed.

Is it possible that this is the timing belt?

Could be a timing belt tensioner or alternater bearings. Disconnect the alternater belt to eliminate that source (maybe you did this if the AC belt also drives the alternater). If the timing belt drives the water pump this could also be a suspect.

I would remove one belt at a time and turn the on the car, then you will know if the sound is coming from a tensioner or the pulley. If none of those then it related to timing belt propably.

Alternator bearings probably... just because mine packed up a few months ago and it was making a smilar screech for about 4 months until they failed altogether.

Remove the aux' belt from the alternator and run the car without the alternator connected. The electrical "charging" warning light will stay on but that's okay for you just to see if the noise disappears. If it goes quiet, then it's the alternator.

** I'd fit a new alternator @ £100 rather than a bearing kit @ £30... since the labour cost is going to be the same (maybe higher if they have to spend time cleaning up the alternator shaft).. whereas an all-new alternator gives you an all new regulator, windings and bearings etc.. so it'll last another 10 years easy.


If the noise does not stop but you can now hear it coming from behind the cam-belt cover (slightly lower than the coolant reservoir) then that's the water pump. Try not to drive the car and get it changed (along with a new cambelt and tensioner) as soon as possible. Water pump can wreck the cam-belt (i.e. the engine).

If the noise comes from behind the cam-belt cover but below the alternator, then it's the cam-belt tensioner. See "Water pump" above... but when you change the belt and tensioner, also replace the water pump, since that might go soon afterwards and you'll have to do the whole job all over again.


Ralf S.

Ok, so all of the belt has been removed. Noise is the same. Now it is clear that it is the timing belt, but here goes the mystery. The noise is the same with brand new belt. Looks like it is coming from chamsaft pulleys?

Is it even possible?

Was the belt tensioner renewed? Was the water pump renewed?

Of course, everything is renewed. One thing that i had to mention is that the whole engine was reconditioned. New cylinders, pistons etc.

See pics: https://drive.google.com/open?id=11cg5MJYTPt07Ttpe-XTEEPPtaWzq5Rxt

This noise is present since the recondition done. Is that possible that chamshaft/crankshaft pulleys are not perfectly in line?

Sorry but I have run out of obvious suggestions. The engine rebuild introduces a lot more possible causes.

really doubt camshaft pulleys would make that type sound. Or maybe it is rubbing with the plastic cover.
I was thinking about the oil pump somehow, since the engine was rebuild much could had happened.

I doubt it's the cams since they run directly in the head. If there's oil up there then there won't be any bearing noise (since there aren't any bearings).

On the other hand, there may not be any oil up there, in which case the cams are running dry in the head and that's one whole world of nasty.

If you peer into the oil filler cap, does it look oily in there? You need to see a lot of oil in there (pools of it .. and very oily cam-shaft parts). If it looks remotely "dry" then take the cam cover off and have a look before you run the engine too much more.

There is oil in the sump, I presume?

Are you *sure* sure that the cam-belt tensioner and pulley were replaced? If you can start the engine with the cam cover off, you might be able to tell where the sound is coming from. Apart from the cam-belt tensioner and pulley, the only other component with a bearing in it (if the alternator and a/c are disconnected) is the water pump.

If you run the engine with the cover off, does the noise go away altogether? If anything is touching the cover you might get a scraping sound... but it's possible that it's the belt itself touching on something and squeaking... (though belt/pulleys etc. touching the cover usually scrape).


Ralf S.