More problems with the C5 the drive belt has jumped three groves ?

[spiff]

Good evening after a beautiful day in Mullion Cove Cornwall.

The replacement belt is fitted, nothing else looked too bad so we decided not to spend out on the idler and tensioner.

There is no play in any of the other pulleys.

It arrived two days early which was great, we can now drive to the boot sale on Wednesday instead of having to take the bus : )

I have loaded a short video up to You Tube, to see if any of you most Knowledgeable gentlemen can tell me what this sound is.



I had always thought this shushing noise was the air conditioning pump.

However the belt that drives it, as well as the alternator and steering pump, was broken when I made the recording so it was not running.

The sound however was still there.

I heard it on a van passing today and if I recall correctly my Xantis which was diesel made the same sound.

The rattle is the catalytic converter.

God Bless Allen & Alanna

The image below is the shiny new belt : )

[xantia_v6 edited youtube link]

[GiveMeABreak]

If I hadn’t known you were driving a petrol C5, I would of suggested that sounded just like an XM or earlier Hydropneumatic Citroen Allen. Is your power steering pump making the noise?

[spiff]

Hallo Marc,

No the drive belt was off when I made the recording, I think the BX did it as well, not sure ?

Sounds like a traction engine, but a lot quieter.

It is not really noticeable when the bonnet is closed or during normal driving.

It is not a problem I am just curios, at least I hope it is not a problem : )

God Bless Spiff

[Zelandeth]

I'd keep a careful eye on that belt for a while to make sure it doesn't wander off centre again.

On the Xantia I've seen the bearings in the tensioner pulley fail which resulted in the pulley sitting slightly squint, causing the belt to be pushed off the correct line. Grinding, scraping, squeaking, rattling or hissing noises can also be a tell tale - though I've seen ones that are shot also still be silent! If there's any perceptible axial play I'd change it. Hopefully they're cheaper than the ones for the 1.9TD Xantias were when I bought mine!

If the belt was damaged though it will have tended to push itself off anyway - so let's hope it was just a dodgy belt, it does happen sometimes.

[spiff]

Good evening Zelandeth,

Thank you for your interest.

I remembered that in the past fan belts often broke with out there being a reason, other than that the belt was just worn out.

There is I realise a lot more to the path of this belt.

I shall check it regularly as you say, at least for awhile, the old belt could have done 159000 miles : )

The car is due a second cam belt as far as I can tell, but not quite such a simple job.

The belt was £11 inc postage with good feed back, so not too bad : )

God Bless Spiff

[white exec]

To eliminate belt noise as a possible source of that 'wheeze', squirt a little water at the running (grooved) side of the belt while the engine is running. If the note changes/goes, you know it's belt related.

Some noises can be located by listening to the engine with a length of tubing, one end to your ear, the other moved around suspect areas.

[Gibbo2286]

That noise sounds like something rubbing on a moving part and bouncing off, maybe touching the back of the flywheel, try with the clutch pedal depressed, does it go away or get louder? End float on the crankshaft?

[white exec]

Noise seems less than once per engine rev., which made me wonder about the belt.
Couldn't be the slurping of low-level hydraulic fluid could it?
Or the car struggling to maintain height (hydraulics again)?

[GiveMeABreak]

I don’t think it will be the BHI as that is electronic and has a distinct electronic whine, but I did suggest the PS pump/ pulley which this model has.

The only other thing I can think of is something related to the cooling system gurgling away....

[white exec]

Yes, could be a large amount of coolant sloshing back and forth, in an air lock.

[spiff]

Thank you all for your interest : )

It has been making that sound for awhile.

It is not the suspension pump as I am very familiar with the sound of that.

Neither can it be the steering pump as the belt was off when I made the recording.

Something's I can try are, dropping the suspension to low, though I cannot see why that would effect it.

Take a note tomorrow when we drive to Rosudgeon boot sale to see if it comes and goes when the car is hot.

I only hear it from inside the car if the window is open and a sound reflecting wall is next to the car.

I am fairly certain the BX did something similar, I always thought it was the suspension pump on that which I think was mechanical, but took it as normal.

It would help if a member has a petrol Mk1, to see if the car normally makes that sound : )

God Bless Spiff

[spiff]

Good evening after a beautiful day in Mullion Cove : )

This morning the noise was present just after I started the car, but was gone after driving 1 mile.

We drove about 20 miles to the boot sale with no sign of it.

When we came back to the car after a couple of hours and started the car, still no noise.

Drove back home 20 miles all OK.

Have to see how it goes : )

God Bless Spiff

[lexi]

Spiff: Why has your engine jumped 3 Groves? Were you doing a stunt with it in a Vineyard?

[spiff]

I once turned a Standard Vanguard over on a golf course : )

You may well ask.

Spelling not my strong point : )

God Bless Spiff

[white exec]

Heck, I'm old enough to remember The Grove Family . . .