Screeching noise!

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 25 Jul 2007, 20:35

When I start the van it sometimes makes a loud screeching noise (coming from the engine compartment) which lasts for about 20 seconds (feels like longer though whilst passers-by are glaring at us!

) It doesn't happen at any other time, just when the engine is started (but not every time).

I'd be grateful if anyone could shed some light on the cause of this, what the fix for it is, and is it something a novice can attempt or does it need a trip to the garage?

Thanks

Tony

Post by **lloyd** » 25 Jul 2007, 20:37

Alternator belt is my best guess. Check belt tension.

Good Luck!

Lloyd

Post by **R0B** » 25 Jul 2007, 20:40

i will go with lloyd on that one.....

Post by **kevtherev** » 25 Jul 2007, 20:42

About half an inch movement on the longest bit

the Haynes covers this tensioning procedure

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 25 Jul 2007, 20:42

Gosh that was quick!

Thanks for the speedy reply guys at least I know where to start looking in Haynes now!

Cheers

Tony

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:37

Belt tightened and screechy noise stopped (so far!). Replacement belt ordered from VW as current one is looking rather cracked and past its best, with a long journey to Orkney looming in about 10 days time!

Thanks very much for the help. Another garage bill avoided thanks to 80-90, this site should be listed on moneysavingexpert.com!

Cheers

Tony

Post by **HarryMann** » 26 Jul 2007, 10:51

When old belt is off, a good idea to just spin the alternator pulley, listen is OK, not stiff or dry bearings and then check for any play (wiggle it up/down/side/side)

Loosen main pivot bolt as well as adjustment bar bolt, sometimes useful to have a pry bar to hold alternator in correct tensioned position before nipping lock bolt. Careful what you lever against though... re-tighten main pivot bolt

Post by **R0B** » 26 Jul 2007, 12:29

and save the old one as an emergency belt....

Post by **HarryMann** » 26 Jul 2007, 14:38

Absolutement!

Post by **Mocki** » 26 Jul 2007, 14:58

and check the waaater pump for bearing wear too......

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 26 Jul 2007, 15:30

Thanks for the additional advice and info.

I'm starting to think that our coolant leak might be from the water pump. Hopefully I might be able to get a better idea when I take the belt off to fit the new one (have to wait a couple of days for it to arrive). There might also be another leak higher up though (possibly from the header tank or a hose) judging by where the drips and wet patches are!

Thanks again (I would've just binned the old belt!

)

Tony

Post by **kevtherev** » 26 Jul 2007, 16:24

off we go on the winding road

that's how mine started...."I'll just replace this, and that will be it!........"

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 27 Jul 2007, 22:03

I've owned v-dubs for 25 odd years and they HATE being tinkered with. No idea why but left alone to get grubby and oily they seem to have no probs at all but the moment you replace anything - OH that REALLY upsets them then....

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 29 Jul 2007, 06:50

My motto is usually "if it's not broken don't fix it . . . and certainly don't tinker with it, because that's usually how it gets broken!"

In this case though it all started with an oil change before setting off on a long trip to Orkney.

Tony

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 29 Jul 2007, 07:02

Mocki wrote:and check the waaater pump for bearing wear too......

When I was changing the belt yesterday I tried to "wiggle" the pulley wheels, as advised above. The one from the water pump has some play on it. Could this be related to a coolant leak (which looks as though it's coming from down there somewhere judging by where I've seen it dripping from when I'm under the van)? When the engine is running, the underside of the engine hatch cover is being sprayed with coolant which is dripping onto the belt and then being flicked upwards by the belt as it spins round.

Tony