What Could It Be?

[Stevoo]

Evening all,

Been reading some old post about the Dreaded Aux belt scream..... I now have this as well, Just been to my local garage and they said its either the Tensioner or Alternator bearing.

They had two gal in the last month both having same prob as me, and one was tensioner other was alternator.

 

Anyone have an idea which one it could be?? lol, On idle theirs no noise, soon as im moving the screaming noise increases with engine revs. When i come off gas the noise goes away as revs drop.

Ive sprayed WD40 on the small pulley next to the crank one, and the noise stops for a few seconds and comes back after driving... I even went in a big puddle and that stopped the noise, again for a few seconds lol

 

Ive been quoted

[NikpV]

pssibly new fangled alternator pulley ?? if yours has one - yo can at least check it yourself

 

alternator pulley

[HalfPint]

Evening all,

Been reading some old post about the Dreaded Aux belt scream..... I now have this as well, Just been to my local garage and they said its either the Tensioner or Alternator bearing.

They had two gal in the last month both having same prob as me, and one was tensioner other was alternator.

 

Anyone have an idea which one it could be?? lol, On idle theirs no noise, soon as im moving the screaming noise increases with engine revs. When i come off gas the noise goes away as revs drop.

Ive sprayed WD40 on the small pulley next to the crank one, and the noise stops for a few seconds and comes back after driving... I even went in a big puddle and that stopped the noise, again for a few seconds lol

 

Ive been quoted

[Stevoo]

pssibly new fangled alternator pulley ?? if yours has one - yo can at least check it yourself

 

alternator pulley

 

Doesnt the pulley come with a new alt? or can u get one seperately? whats annoying is my alt is working fine. seems a pain to replace it with a new one to stop an annoying noise lol

[Stevoo]

half pint did that really work? i thought the tensioner pulley was their to adjust tension when aircon is on?!?!?

Sounds like a cheap fix if it is my tensioner thats failed.

 

What has is the common part to replace? just wondering from you guys and gals what part you have replaced.

[mikej]

Without sounding to stupid have you tried just changing the belt first ? This actually cured my screeming issue 2001 2.3 gal :blink: .

[Stevoo]

Without sounding to stupid have you tried just changing the belt first ? This actually cured my screeming issue 2001 2.3 gal :blink: .

 

HAHA yer i replaced it in july this year when it was serviced as it started to slip. But hasnt made a noise since this week :P

[sparky Paul]

Drop the belt off and have a play with the pulleys - chances are it will be the tensioner or idler pulley - both known weaknesses.

 

I suspected the tensioner on mine, which seems to be the favourite, and it definitely felt dry when the belt was off. However, the idler pulley was a lot worse and I suspect it was this that was making the noise. I already had the tensioner, so I changed it anyway, but the idler was only around

[galaxytony]

ive just repaired my brother in laws bmw nasty noise from serpentine belt replaced alternator even though it was still working and the noise has gone turns out that the bearings in the alternator had gone

[sparky Paul]

ive just repaired my brother in laws bmw nasty noise from serpentine belt replaced alternator even though it was still working and the noise has gone turns out that the bearings in the alternator had gone

Usually, it is the alternator that makes these noises - but on the 2.3, the two pulleys I mentioned are favourite. Incidentally, the replacement idler pulley is now an improved metal one, rather than the existing plastic one.

 

The alternator on the 2.3 doesn't often give trouble, though worn bearings will be evident when the belt is off.

 

I suspect what Halfpint said about the two pulleys being basically the same is correct - I had both parts to fit, and although the new idler pulley was metal, rather than the plastic one fitted to the old idler, and both new & old tensioners, it does look very similar indeed. Although I didn't take each one apart to check, it does look like you could strip the shaft out of the idler pulley and replace it with the bolt from the tensioner, and then fit it to the tensioner.

 

Although the new tensioner is smoother inoperation than the old one, I would have probably done the same as HP had I known the parts were interchangeable.

Edited November 3, 2007 by sparky Paul

[galaxytony]

sorry sparky im new to galaxys as ive just got mine but i have worked on a lot of motors even so i respect the advice of someone who knows or has more experince on a car than me

[sparky Paul]

sorry sparky im new to galaxys as ive just got mine but i have worked on a lot of motors even so i respect the advice of someone who knows or has more experince on a car than me

Don't apologise, it could be the alternator after all... :blink:

 

I'd check them pulleys first though... :P

 

Part number for the idler pulley is 1139951, cost

Edited November 3, 2007 by sparky Paul

[Stevoo]

Oooooooh more reply's lol.

 

Had alternator checked today by an auto electrican he did the old fashion screw driver test, and their was no grinding noise. Been told to change belt again and replace the tensioner and idle pulley as thats a lot cheaper then alternator.

Will get this done in the week and update yer with results.