2002 C5 2.2HDi noise by aux belt

[Citroenmad]

A friend has a 2002 C5 2.2HDi which has started making an awful noise from what appears to be the aux drive belt. It sounds as if the engine has had a bearing failure, however it is from the belt area. Far to bad a noise to be driving the car or having it running for any period.

I went around to have a look and we found two long bits (about 30cm) of thin metal around the tensioner and belt. It is perhaps a bearing casing or something.

With the car running the belt does not run smoothly, though seems in fine condition, the tensioner bounces around to control the belt.

Unfortunately the battery died so we couldnt start it again, I have suggested turning off the AC to see if it is the compressor which is making the noise. If not then to remove the belt and see how the tensioner spins/feels.

Has anyone any ideas?

[h2ocooler]

Check the crank pully, I had one fail on me, sounded like a box of spanners. It was easy enough to replace but the bolt was VERY tight.

[KevMayer]

Hello citroenmad, hows that Activa running?

I had a terrible noise from my aux belt area on my 2.2 Hdi.
After a bit of searching on the net I found that it was a problem with the pulley on the alternator.

The alternator pulley is a ratchet which is solid in the direction of the belt pulling it, but, freewheels in the other direction. When the freewheel motion jams, it affects the smooth running of the aux belt.

I replaced my freewheel pulley and the noise went away.

There are a few Youtube videos about ratchet pulleys on alternators

[Citroenmad]

Thanks, will check that. Was it the bearing?

This is the scrap metal we removed, it was wrapped around the tensioner. Its came from somewhere on the car ...

[myglaren]

There's an old thread with a similar picture Chris - the outer edge of the crank pulley stripped off IIRC.

Mine has a constant squeak, as did the estate. Going for investigation tomorrow.Wednesday ready for X-rally.
I suspect the alternator pulley too.

[KevMayer]

It wasn't the bearing of the alternator pulley that was faulty it was just the pulley's ratchet mechanism had locked up. It had turned into a solid pulley and this caused noise from the tensioner etc.

[Citroenmad]

Hello citroenmad, hows that Activa running?

I had a terrible noise from my aux belt area on my 2.2 Hdi.
After a bit of searching on the net I found that it was a problem with the pulley on the alternator.

The alternator pulley is a ratchet which is solid in the direction of the belt pulling it, but, freewheels in the other direction. When the freewheel motion jams, it affects the smooth running of the aux belt.

I replaced my freewheel pulley and the noise went away.

There are a few Youtube videos about ratchet pulleys on alternators

Thanks Kev, that is very useful information, with the shredded metal coming form around that area I was thinking possibly something to do with the alternator. I have heard of this problem before but on different cars.

The Activa is going great thanks, I'm planning on taking it to the X-Rally in a few weeks, that'll be a nice run out for it

[Citroenmad]

There's an old thread with a similar picture Chris - the outer edge of the crank pulley stripped off IIRC.

Mine has a constant squeak, as did the estate. Going for investigation tomorrow.Wednesday ready for X-rally.
I suspect the alternator pulley too.

Thanks Steve

It wasn't the bearing of the alternator pulley that was faulty it was just the pulley's ratchet mechanism had locked up. It had turned into a solid pulley and this caused noise from the tensioner etc.

So the pulley is a seperate part from the alternator?

[KevMayer]

Take a look at this youtube clip:-

The latest alternator pulleys are even more sophisticated than a clutch pulley. Now OAD pulley's

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[Citroenmad]

Thanks Kev

It was indeed the crankshaft pulley which had failed. However, there is now a new problem ...

Before removing anything, we started the car to listen to the noise and quickly stopped the engine. Once trying to start it again with the wheel arch liner removed to confirm the pulley was at fault the engine didn't want to start again. However the battery needs replacing so its not spinning over very quickly and by then it had stood for a few days.

Now with the crankshaft pulley replaced the engine still wont start. To me it does sound like there is very little to no compression and as such it is not trying to start.

Hmm, what could the problem be here? Timing belt has come off? Timing it out? If so how? I guess there will be some bent valves on a 2.2HDi in this case? Could the timing/timing belt have been effected by the failed crankshaft pulley?

The timing belt was not touched when the crankshaft pulley was replaced. I didn't see it being removed or fitted but saw it with the crankshaft off and the timing belt was definitely in place.

Any ideas appreciated

[addo]

Possibly in removal of the damper, you rotated the motor backwards; this will affect the timing in a not-good way.

[Peter.N.]

If the engine is turning over very fast it sounds as though either the cam belt has broken or slipped and damaged the valve gear, the 2.0. has sacrificial rockers like the old 2.1, which break instead of the valves but don't know about the 2.2. I'm sure someone does.

Peter

[Citroenmad]

Thanks. I didn't do it myself, its a friends car, but that is a possibility that it has been turned backwards

[addo]

Fairly sure it's the 2.2 which has an hydraulic timing tensioner; turn it backwards and there's no tension so the belt skips. Ask Lighty.