Aux Belt Idlers

[Guest yurir]

Does anyone know if the bearings in auilliary belt idler pulleys can be replaced without having to remove the whole assembly (for the tensioner idler, does the whole tensioner need to come off ?) ?

 

Many thank,

Yuri.

[Denis]

Yurir, I take it you are experiencing the (not uncommon) squeaking fanbelt tensioner problem, my 2.3 suffered this at about 20k miles. The tensioner I am sure, had to be replaced as an assembly, I think it was

[Guest yurir]

Hi Denis,

 

Thanks for the reply and advice.

 

I've been away, hence my late response.

 

Anyway, when I had a quick look under the car, it appeared as though the air-con compressor has to come off, to get at the tensioner assembly.

This means the system will have to be regassed, so perhaps it may be better to leave it to a garage.

 

I'm acctually experiencing a very curious effect.

 

The belt seems to creep (outwards) across the surface of the tensioner idler pulley,sufficiently to cause the edge of the belt to rub against the flange on the main drive pulley.

This is results in a horrible rubber to metal screechy squealy noise.

 

I've slacked and re-positioned the belt several times, which cures the problem temporarily; but whenever it rains or gets damp, it seems to slip back to this offset position.

 

The only thing I could think of that might be causing this, is wear in the tensioner arm spindle bearing or the pulley bearing.

 

I've been quoted

[Guest yurir]

Just an update to this.

 

Finally took this to the garage.

Apparently the water pump bearing is worn, allowing longitudinal play in the shaft, and thus causing the belt to weave from side to side on the idlers.

 

Water pump is a big job on the 2.3, so I'll have to let them do it.

 

Many thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Best wishes,

Yuri.

[Maggot]

Yurir

Please let us know if it fixes the problem. My 99 2.3Si has the same belt squeal that come & goes with the weather despite having fitted a new belt only 3K miles ago. This fixed the problem for a while but it is back & it annoys the life out of me.

I have taken it off a couple of times & had a good poke around all the various turning bits but can detect no 'play' in anything.

Water Pump, sounds a costly garage job!

 

Cheers

Maggot