Squeaking / scraping noises - belts?

[patrickr90]

Hi

On startup, there is a lot of squeaking coming from the belt area. I can't tell if it's belts slipping. Is there a way of testing this. I'm also worried that it could be a timing belt about to fail? On startup the last couple of times, there has been a fairly dramatic noise that sounds like something scraping. It doesn't stop dead when I kill the engine but last for 2-3 seconds after that - like it's something still spinning and coming to rest.

Thanks

 

[Anaconda]

Engine type would be helpful for people to answer your question.

 

[Wildefalcon]

No series engine has a timing belt. Sounds like it could be a fan pulley coming loose and catching the cowl, or an alternator bearing. Check the tension on the fan belt.

 

[tottot]

Cooling fan on alternator loose another check.

 

[Anaconda]

Thought you had a Ninety with a 200tdi in it?
Unless you have a Series aswell?
If it is a tdi take the belts off but don't run it long with no belt.
Stick a endoscope up the timing belt cover drain hole to look at the timing belt.
If it is a Series then ignore the above advice.

 

[patrickr90]

Hi. Yes, sorry. It's a 200tdi - forgot to mention!

 

[steve2286w]

Give the pulleys a wiggle and check the small screws are tight

 

[patrickr90]

I checked the pulleys and they are OK. I tightened the belts. This helped the initial (see below) squeaking. (the belts actually need replacing soon).

But the concerning thing is this sudden sound that comes about 20 seconds after start up. It's like a someone throwing a load of nails into a tin. It continues at low level underneath the engine noise. Then the squeaking starts up again. I turn the wheels and this interrupts the sqeaking. There could be a vague smell - but I can't be sure about that. For about 5 seconds after I kill the engine, there is a sort of descending note as if something is continuing to move and then coming to rest. It doesn't seem to be connected with any of the pulley blocks which have already stopped by this point. I was worried that the starter motor might have continued to be engaged (or had been re-energised somehow) but that wouldn't account for the sound continuing on after engine stop.

 

[Anaconda]

How did you check the pulleys, did you take the belts off?

 

[patrickr90]

How did you check the pulleys, did you take the belts off?

No, I checked with the belts loose. Should have taken the belts off shouldn't I . I'll check again with the belts off.

 

[Wildefalcon]

Run the engine for thirty seconds without the belts. See if the noise reoccurrs. If not then it's probably the water pump, could be the impeller coming loose.

 

[patrickr90]

Run the engine for thirty seconds without the belts. See if the noise reoccurrs. If not then it's probably the water pump, could be the impeller coming loose.

OK. I ran it for 30 seconds without the belts. No noise! Would a failing impeller make a loud noise? I'll try again tomorrow (I assume it's OK to run it from cold for 30 seconds each time?). If it is the water pump and the impeller is coming loose, how driveable is it? Is this the sort of thing that goes gradually or suddenly, ie. catastrophically? Reason why I ask, I was going to get the cambelt changed on Monday and need to get it 5 to 6 miles down the road, no traffic. Good opportunity to look at the water pump then and change it out as necessary....

Also, can you recommend a good one to go for? I presume it's a drain down job to fit it?

There seems to be a slight exhaust leak in the engine bay which accounts for the smell! - I think....

Just a quick thought - it can't be anything to do with the power steering pump? I'm presuming that wouldn't make such a noise?

 

[steve2286w]

I got an AIRTEX 6395G a few years ago £58 , did you check the pulley wheels are tight , and no side play 6 mile should be ok

 

[patrickr90]

I got an AIRTEX 6395G a few years ago £58 , did you check the pulley wheels are tight , and no side play 6 mile should be ok

Thanks for the part recommendation. Looks good. I'll check the pulleys again this morning. Quick guilt thought: 3-4 weeks ago I noticed the coolant was low in the reservoir and topped up with a small amount of straight water! Since then I've read that I should have topped up with 50/50 water/antifreeze. Could this have contributed to a failure.

 

[Dippypud]

Quick guilt thought: 3-4 weeks ago I noticed the coolant was low in the reservoir and topped up with a small amount of straight water! Since then I've read that I should have topped up with 50/50 water/antifreeze. Could this have contributed to a failure.

Unlikely ...

 

[Anaconda]

If you are paying to get the cambelt done then it will cost no more to get the water pump changed, worth thinking about if you are not happy doing such jobs yourself.

 

[Anaconda]

OK. I ran it for 30 seconds without the belts. No noise! Would a failing impeller make a loud noise? I'll try again tomorrow (I assume it's OK to run it from cold for 30 seconds each time?). If it is the water pump and the impeller is coming loose, how driveable is it? Is this the sort of thing that goes gradually or suddenly, ie. catastrophically? Reason why I ask, I was going to get the cambelt changed on Monday and need to get it 5 to 6 miles down the road, no traffic. Good opportunity to look at the water pump then and change it out as necessary....

Also, can you recommend a good one to go for? I presume it's a drain down job to fit it?

There seems to be a slight exhaust leak in the engine bay which accounts for the smell! - I think....

Just a quick thought - it can't be anything to do with the power steering pump? I'm presuming that wouldn't make such a noise?

I can't really see how anything belt driven can spin after shut off, if it does then it shouldn't be that hard to find out what it is.
Can you not run it with one belt on at a time?
It could be any of the belt driven parts if it is a belt driven part at fault.