strange sound from HGT

[Phil Lee]

hi

my HGT has just developed a loud noise. If you were standing in front of the car, the sound is coming from the visible belt near the driver side headlamp. The best way to describe it is a type of grating, so if the car was idle, it just sounds like a very loud idle sound from the car, almost as if the engine didn't have oil in it (but it has). I think some sort of bearing has come loose. have you ever had this before. Just wanna make sure its not the cambelt (no craking or anyhting like that )
btw - my car is a R '98 with 42 on the clock.
my mechanic can't do anything for 4 weeks, and hasn't seen it yet.

 

[dom]

power steering

could be the alternator or the power steering pump, i've had bearings go in both, the back one on the alternator and the big bearing that sits in the power steering pump housing. the best way to check is to disconnect the auxhillary drive belt, isolating both, if your noise disapears then one of them is the culprit, you can then remove the alternator drive belt and you should have your answer, there's also 2 jockey wheels that tension the drive belt, and these can play up to.
if you've still got your noise with the drive belts off then it's got to be cam belt or tensioners, then it's mortgage time i'm afraid, if you do end up having to have the cam done make sure you get the tensioner and bearing done at the same time, there's also a gizmo callled an ignition advance variator that runs off the inlet cam, get it done too, i didn't and the whole lot had to come out again 6 months later!!!!

 

[Phil Lee]

engine

thanks for that Dom
can you do it from the top? or you have to get under the car?
anything else about cambelt changing, thinking of gettign it done soon (maybe...)

 

[dom]

drive belts

the only way to get at them is from the driver's side wheel arch, get the wheel off and then you can get at the covers, 3 screws on the engine cover and then the one that fits up into the wheelarch and screws on to the bottom of the bumper, it makes life easier if you drop the engine pan as well, you can get at everything fairly easily.
if your getting the cam belt done make sure you tell them to replace everything that moves under the timming cover, especially that advance variator, they won't do it as a matter of course, and it's not included in the service, but the extra expence now will save you LOADS of grief later on, believe me i found out to my cost!!!!!
hope this helps
cheers dom