Squeak somewhere around the cambelt area

Post by **c.morewood** » 05 Feb 2008, 20:22

My Hdi has developed a regular squeak somewhere in the cambelt area.
It seems to squeak twice for every rotation of the belt.
Its a bit annoying and loud enough to be heard faintly, at 60 mph with the radio off.
It doesn't seem to be the belt itsself.. I wondered if anyone else had possibly had this problem?
cheeers
Chris

wrinklet1 · Post by **wrinklet1** » 05 Feb 2008, 22:39

if its on a xantia
A) it may be the cambelt cover rubbing perhaps?
B) Dont turn your radio off!!!!

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 06 Feb 2008, 08:32

It could be a cambelt tensioner collapsing - which leads to belt failure. Same goes for the waterpump which is also driven from the belt.

It could also be one of the ancilliaries - pump, alternator etc or the multigroove belt itself but these sometimes quieten when running at speed.

Ideally you need to use a stethoscope to try and find the source of the noise. Placing a bar or length of wood on the subject and listening with your ear on the end of it may make a substitute.

Silicon sprays, WD 40 etc may help with diagnostics - (spray and it quietens - so that component is likely to be the culprit) - even for the multigroove belt itself (NOT CAMBELT)

Post by **c.morewood** » 10 Feb 2008, 12:03

thanks for the replies.. i just wondered if anyone had experienced this before?
The noise seems to be coming from the bottom end of the belt so i guess i'll have to wait for a day off..take off the wheel arch and see if i can get a better view from there.
Cheers,
Chris

CTR · Post by **CTR** » 11 Feb 2008, 15:47

Check the Aux belt pulley - it is rubber-metal sandwich and may split, producing a variety of funny noises.

Post by **c.morewood** » 14 Feb 2008, 21:22

Couldn't get to the pulley unfortunately... I found out through trial and error that the pulley making the squeaking noise was the lowermost large one.
I sprayed WD40 onto a long rod and located the end of the rod just at the edge of the pulley next to the engine... after a good few seconds spraying the squeaking diminished so that I can hardly hear it.. I hope it lasts.. got to do 1400 mles in 3 days next month.. I'm just hoping its nothing too serious.
thanks for all the advice,
Cheers,
Chris

CTR · Post by **CTR** » 15 Feb 2008, 11:48

c.morewood wrote:Couldn't get to the pulley unfortunately... I found out through trial and error that the pulley making the squeaking noise was the lowermost large one.
I sprayed WD40 onto a long rod and located the end of the rod just at the edge of the pulley next to the engine... after a good few seconds spraying the squeaking diminished so that I can hardly hear it.. I hope it lasts.. got to do 1400 mles in 3 days next month.. I'm just hoping its nothing too serious.
thanks for all the advice,
Cheers,
Chris

Yes, it is the one. And it may cause a Trouble!
If it is split - WD40 can make things even worse, - stop squeak but slip even more!

Check before you go! If You drive at night (light on) it will put extra strain
on the pulley - and it may just fall away - no alternator ant power steering in the best case.

CTR · Post by **CTR** » 15 Feb 2008, 11:49

Post by **c.morewood** » 03 Apr 2008, 09:06

Well I joined the RAC and took the risk... did the 600 miles to Bournemouth, and the squeak stopped!! not a sound.. now I'm wondering if I should be worried about the silence!!
Thanks for all trhe advice,
Chris

Post by **c.morewood** » 31 Aug 2008, 14:30

... and a few days later it was back.. so being totally fed up with the squeak and everyone staring whilst going round town. i decided to give it one more try before replacing the belt. I gave it a 2 minute jetwash whilst the car was running... that was 5 weeks ago and now i have .... silence... at last!!
I hope this thred helps someone.
Chris