Xantia Td auxillary worn bearing noise

[bigblackfalco]

Got a noisey bearing type noise coming from auxillary drive belt area on my S1 Td.
What's the most likely culprit ... what should I be looking for?
Mileage is 175K.
Cheers

[citronut]

firstly look down the belt end of the engine to see if anything looks out of line, ie if the belt is running out of true, or the auto tensioner it kicking of the one side,

although there are several pulley bearings in that area that could be making a noise,

either of the aux belt tensioners, alternator, cam belt tensioners,

without some investigative work its hard to say

[CitroJim]

Either a badly worn automatic tensioner (most likely) or a worn eccentric tensioner are good suspects.

Needs to be sorted ASAP as the auxiliary belt can throw itself off and wreak havoc, especially if it gets tangled up with the cambelt.

This tread might help identify and show the job of sorting out the tensioners.

The other potential cause of this issue is the aircon compressor. The clutch bearing can wear and cause this sort of racket. It's easy to tell, slip off the belt and spin the pulley by hand.. Likewise the alternator bearings too... Also, if it's the aircon clutch then engaging it by switching on the aircon will show it by causing the noise to substantially change or disappear.

If it's the aircon then that needs sorting soonest as the next stage is seizure. A short belt can be fitted to bypass the aircon compressor. I can't recall the size now but Xac will as his is so fitted at this time...

[Hell Razor5543]

If it is the aircon, it might be worth running it for a while. Most car makers recommend running the aircon at least once a week to keep things turning smoothly. I just had Gracies' re-gassed, and this includes some lubricant added to the system.

[CitroJim]

If it is the aircon, it might be worth running it for a while.

That came up on Channel 4's 'Superscrimpers' as a tip to save on costly garage bills...

But yes, good tip and run it regularly even in the dead of winter...

[bigblackfalco]

Hmmmmmm .... my air con has never worked since I got the car over 6 years ago. Never run it.
I'll give that a go firstly ... if noise changes, I will be investing in the shorter belt!

[Hell Razor5543]

If that changes the noise, I would be inclined to get it re-gassed. Including the cleaning option, it cost me £49 to get Gracie re-gassed, and it is now a lot colder. It took about an hour for the process to complete (which checks for leaks, amongst other things).

[bigblackfalco]

Well that didn't change a thing!
I'm at that point where the car needs a few things doing to it ... and it seems like a good time to call it quits.
It needs a timing belt, radiator (full of holes), one strut top is very 'frilly', the handbrake cables need replacing, there's LHM leak above main front accumulator, the heater matrix is knackered, and there are various leaks where water gets in when it rains ... oh and the tax runs out end of month!
I'll be looking for newer Xantia shortly!

[bigblackfalco]

Either a badly worn automatic tensioner (most likely) or a worn eccentric tensioner are good suspects.

Needs to be sorted ASAP as the auxiliary belt can throw itself off and wreak havoc, especially if it gets tangled up with the cambelt.

This tread might help identify and show the job of sorting out the tensioners.

The other potential cause of this issue is the aircon compressor. The clutch bearing can wear and cause this sort of racket. It's easy to tell, slip off the belt and spin the pulley by hand.. Likewise the alternator bearings too... Also, if it's the aircon clutch then engaging it by switching on the aircon will show it by causing the noise to substantially change or disappear.

If it's the aircon then that needs sorting soonest as the next stage is seizure. A short belt can be fitted to bypass the aircon compressor. I can't recall the size now but Xac will as his is so fitted at this time...

I think it's the automatic tensioner bearing. The pulley is not running smoothly around it's axis.
It's been progressively getting noiser over the miles, and I've been up to the top of Scotland and back over the past week. That's when it started to sound much noisier.

[Xaccers]

I think it's the automatic tensioner bearing. The pulley is not running smoothly around it's axis.
It's been progressively getting noiser over the miles, and I've been up to the top of Scotland and back over the past week. That's when it started to sound much noisier.

To be sure, with the engine running, give the eccentric a spray with silicon or light oil, that made mine go silent for a few minutes showing which one was at fault.

[bigblackfalco]

I think it's the automatic tensioner bearing. The pulley is not running smoothly around it's axis.
It's been progressively getting noiser over the miles, and I've been up to the top of Scotland and back over the past week. That's when it started to sound much noisier.

To be sure, with the engine running, give the eccentric a spray with silicon or light oil, that made mine go silent for a few minutes showing which one was at fault.

Good thinking that man

[bigblackfalco]

Can the needle roller be replaced separately??

[CitroJim]

Can the needle roller be replaced separately??

No, because it will have wrecked the ground shaft and housing

[Xaccers]

And the needle roller being duff would stop auto adjustment rather than make a noise.

[citronut]

also the needle roller bearings are in the pivot arm of the auto tensioner, not the tensioner pulley bearing its self,
is thee auto tensioner running true to the end of the engine,

this doesnt mean your tensioner pulley bearing is not shot as well/or only,

but to replace either they come as one unit