alternator belt slipping.

[funkimic]

my alt belt has been squeaking for about 2 months now. i think its the belt cos its noisy when cold and eventually dissapears as the car warms up. is it easy to have a go at adjusting it yourself as its starting to do me ed in?? the haynes says there should be 2-3mm of play and mines seems a bit more than that.

cheers mike

 

[steve_rt]

its not the easiest reach in the world, but yeah its do-able with some muscle on a lever keeping the belt taught while retightening it. though check you dont need a new belt also.

 

[MarkLD]

Not too bad a job as long as you have the right tools. If I remember, headlight out, move wiring sheild from the chassis leg, this should give you access to the adjustable idler for the belt. You then need an allen head bit and short ratchet to undo it and a big spanner to adjust the belt (done with the bigger nut on the idler) If your at it then I would replace the belt as there not to expensive and it is a fiddley job to do again

Hope this helps, have a go its cheaper than paying a garage.

p.s its easier to remove the bonnet to give better access.

 

[funkimic]

ill give it a shot. i just hope it is the belt and not the tensioner cos it sounds awfully squeaky like it could be metal on metal. AA man sprayed wd40 over the area and said power steering pumps bust. 3 months down the line its stil steering so i cant see it being this.

 

[rwaterman]

Im having a similiar problem sounds like metal on metal all the same symtoms are there im thinking mine is a tensioner problem maybe a bearing????? i know its definatly not the belt coz i only had them placed a while back.....

Rob

P.S what miliage you on?

 

[funkimic]

mines a 94(M-reg) too. its just under 90000miles. its been like it for a couple of months now and it does sound very metallic. ive also noticed it seems worse when its been raining or in damp and cold weather.

rwater, does yours eventually die down after about 15-20mins of driving about?? i

ill let you know what happens cos im going to get me garage have a look at when it gos for the MOT next week.

anyone have any ideas whats involved to replace a tensioner if thats the prob?

 

[rwaterman]

Thats exactly what mines did whenever it was cold, damp,raining etc it would always be there then used to die down, completely go when it had been run for a while...

Ive just come back holiday and my car hadent been driven for a few weeks but as soon as i started it it sounded awlful more metalic than it ever sounded before! coz i always thought it was the belt but always had my doughts.... Did you try the wd40?

On the right hnd side at the top of your engine where all the pipes go to your power steering pump if you try and move them to one side you will see where the belt is, the pully tensioner thingy at the top..... i sprayed wd40 not on the belt but just behind in the groove of the pully and the noise stopped for a moment before returning so im pretty sure its the bearing .

Ive got my car booked in for monday hope it aint gonna cost to much this bloody car has cost me a fortune since ive had it a year and a half ago......

Rob,

 

[rwaterman]

mInes on 83000

 

[funkimic]

yeh. ive tried that with the wd40. same result but it doesent come back till i leave the car for a day.

well thats the cv joint/bearing/suspension on the lhs + the squeeky pulley + poss new rear pads + whatever else they find next week on me mot. prob find a columbian coke stash in the boot.