Technical fan belt chirp

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Technical fan belt chirp

Today I fitted the new alternator and it's made no difference, annoyingly. I thought it would have been solved as the alternator once removed was rubbing slightly when the pulley was spun and the inner workings looked tired/worn.

The chirping noise returned when I started the car back up but my mate suggested that I put water on the belt and the noise went away temporarily and then came back. There is no pulley misalignment and the drive belt/tensioner were replaced recently.

I spun the air con compressor and the pulley spun freely.

Any help appreciated as always.

Matt.
 
Goes away when you pour water on it.


Sound like there is not enough tension on the belt.


Are you sure you have been supplied with the correct parts.
 
Hi,

I ordered an SKF aux belt tensioner through Eurocarparts last year and fitted it. I also fitted a new drive belt at the same time.

I recall the car being quiet for a few weeks before the chirping reappeared.

Matt.
 
I use eurocarparts when they have a sale on.


Timing chain for my A Class arrived wrong twice. Always check against the original part before fitting.


Try lubricating the bearing on the tensioner. Changed the tensioner on the A Class for a very similar fault. Different sound but that would start to get noisy after about 20 miles. Would fit also that the noise went when it was last changed.

https://www.gatestechzone.com/en/problem-diagnosis/accessory-drive-system/tensioner-failure-signs
 
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Many thanks Koala,

I have no idea what it could be. The only thing that I can think of is pulley misalignment because when I sprayed water onto the belt the noise went away. However no pulleys are misaligned!

It's all rather odd.
 
Hi,

I replaced my new aux belt tensioner with the old one and fitted another belt that I had as a spare. The noise was reduced immediately but only when the engine is hot, I still here a slight chirping in rhythm of the engine sound.

It is no where near as bad was it was though which is a good thing.

Matt.
 
Hi,

The fan belt noise has gone altogether. When I removed the fan belt the noise went altogether, so thankfully it was nothing to do with the timing belt/water pump.

Fitting the older belt (which is like new) and the older tensioner has made a massive difference. The car is now silent with no annoying chirping noises, even after a long (hot) motorway run.

Thanks for you help along the way.

Matt.
 
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