Technical Drivebelt/pulley issue

[DaveMi]

Hi
Got an issue with my wife's 1.2 500. She and our daughter remarked at a new noise when being driven. Always concerning . . .
It sounds like a rotating noise, bearing of some sort maybe.
It appears to be coming from aux drivebelt side and upon looking, the lower rear (nearest the windscreen) pulley is not rotating. It is metallic and grooved in design.
The belt is moving and the other pulleys are moving fine.
I assume this shall be the source of the noise. I have checked a Haynes manual and online and can't find a decent diagram of the engine side on to show what the pulley is.
Any knowledge of what this pulley wheel is called/for and how easy, or otherwise, it shall be to replace.

Many thanks

 

[John202020]

Does the car have AC ? It's not the ac pulley that's stationary?-normal, maybe take the aux belt off, start up and see if the noise is still there?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

Is it the pulley in this 1st pic?

Engine problem need help | FIAT 500 (2007+)

Hi there, My 500 has suddenly developed an engine problem. It started yesterday, a sort of whistle sound, it would happen when i accelerated with clutch engaged. today it suddently got a lot worse. It sounds like a knocking rattling, whistling sound. And i could feel the knocking through my...

www.fiatforum.com

 

[DaveMi]

Does the car have AC ? It's not the ac pulley that's stationary?-normal, maybe take the aux belt off, start up and see if the noise is still there?

It does have AC. I'm not sure which pulley is which, main problem ( other than lack of knowledge ) was not being able to locate a suitable diagram.

Hi

Is it the pulley in this 1st pic?

Engine problem need help | FIAT 500 (2007+)

Hi there, My 500 has suddenly developed an engine problem. It started yesterday, a sort of whistle sound, it would happen when i accelerated with clutch engaged. today it suddently got a lot worse. It sounds like a knocking rattling, whistling sound. And i could feel the knocking through my...

www.fiatforum.com

The large one to the left of the pic ( top of engine ) ? if so, then no, it's the lowest one, smaller and lighter in colour than the one at the top.

thanks both

 

[John202020]

Take the car to a trusted garage, they will quickly work out what it is I'd suggest, as the timing belt is also there don't leave the issue could be the alternator bearing, that's the smaller one at the bottom.

 

[DaveMi]

Take the car to a trusted garage, they will quickly work out what it is I'd suggest, as the timing belt is also there don't leave the issue could be the alternator bearing, that's the smaller one at the

Could kick myself, back out there with a better light and it's on the side the alternator. Here is a video just shot of it. I have replaced a clutch pulley on a polo a few years back, so hopefully this won't be too hard . . .

 

[The Panda Nut]

Our Panda started making a noise. It sounded awful. It was eventualy#ly identified as a dry alternator bearing. i sprayed the alternator with 3 in one spray repeatedly with the egine running. In the end it stopped as has not come back in over a year.

 

[DaveMi]

Our Panda started making a noise. It sounded awful. It was eventualy#ly identified as a dry alternator bearing. i sprayed the alternator with 3 in one spray repeatedly with the egine running. In the end it stopped as has not come back in over a year.

Hmm, I was just watching a YouTube video of a chap in US spraying wd40 over the alternator very very liberally, though it was out of the car and in that it was ok. I mat give that a go first. Thanks

 

[The Panda Nut]

Hmm, I was just watching a YouTube video of a chap in US spraying wd40 over the alternator very very liberally, though it was out of the car and in that it was ok. I mat give that a go first. Thanks

Can only speak for me but I have REALLY soaked ours with 3 in one, WD40 WD 40 SIlicon and everything else I could throw at it. I had to repeat quite a few times. At first it wnet quiet and came back in a few days then it went a week and then it stopped altogether. I found it was worse in cold conditions and if damp. SOmetimes it would start quiet and start after 5 minutes or when driven a while. You couldnt tell so much unless the car was stopped and idling of just after start up. I used cans with application tubes so you can get the spray where its wanted and nowhere else. I got the passenger end from underneath. I have done this before with other cars and not suffered adverse reactions. WHile I cant be sure you wont it cant be worse than the road splash the alternator must take being mounted so low down, The noise was hard to describe but sounded like somemetal to metal contact that was going to be very expensive. I can only emphasise it took quite a soaking before the lubricant got where it was needed. Bets of luck

 

[Baglady1990]

What year is the car? My 2011 lounge spec developed rattle after rattle at 8 years old! Had to buy one of those car listening devices… ended up replacing alternator aux tensioner & pulley a/c compressor all was ok then the timing belt tensioner started so did the timing belt an pump! But I just had bad luck

 

[DaveMi]

Can only speak for me but I have REALLY soaked ours with 3 in one, WD40 WD 40 SIlicon and everything else I could throw at it. I had to repeat quite a few times. At first it wnet quiet and came back in a few days then it went a week and then it stopped altogether. I found it was worse in cold conditions and if damp. SOmetimes it would start quiet and start after 5 minutes or when driven a while. You couldnt tell so much unless the car was stopped and idling of just after start up. I used cans with application tubes so you can get the spray where its wanted and nowhere else. I got the passenger end from underneath. I have done this before with other cars and not suffered adverse reactions. WHile I cant be sure you wont it cant be worse than the road splash the alternator must take being mounted so low down, The noise was hard to describe but sounded like somemetal to metal contact that was going to be very expensive. I can only emphasise it took quite a soaking before the lubricant got where it was needed. Bets of luck

Well I've taken the wheel and inner cover off. Sprayed it from above and below the best I could, the place is soakednin WD40. I'll try and do the same again tomorrow and give it a day to try it again

 

[The Panda Nut]

Well I've taken the wheel and inner cover off. Sprayed it from above and below the best I could, the place is soakednin WD40. I'll try and do the same again tomorrow and give it a day to try it again

You may find you need something a little thicker than WD on its own. I got some spray 3 in 1 with PTFR from Halfords (orange can that seemd to be best. It did take a while and the noise kept returning leaving me worrying about cam belts and tensioners. Incidentally the cam belt was done 3 or 4 months back and I asked for all teh AUX belt and cam nbelt pullies and tensioners to be removed and checked and was told these seemd A1. GIve the thing a dowsing. Do take great care near the rotating bits absolutely no loose clothing!!! I had a Renault Laguna that used to mae a similar noise and every 6 months it used to start and require oil. It was easy to access and 20/50 seemd to be the best thing but I could give that one just a few drops right on the bearing. If you have access for an oil can try giving something thicker the WD will help work it in.

 

[DaveMi]

Update. Of sorts . . . .

After a lot of WD40 the pulley is moving, though looks to be slower than the other pulleys. The engine sound is still there.

However the sound goes when the clutch pedal is pressed down. Which leads me to decide that I have run out of talent and it's time to take it to the garage. I assume its a flywheel issue.

 

[John202020]

Release bearing clutch, unless it really bad probably ok.

 

[DaveMi]

Release bearing clutch, unless it really bad probably ok.

My usual garage is full for work like this till the new year . . Another one locally can do it in 3 weeks, when described what was going on he said the same thing.
Thanks for the help and advice all