Gave the zed a wash over last night (and no no water got in the engine bay) to get it clean and ready for Saturday and decided to give it a run over to Ashby when i went to play badminton as my parents left.

 

As i followed them out the estate i had to pull over as the fan was making some horrible noises accompanied by the smell of burning rubber belt :(

 

Usually as i switch the car on the fan is quite evident but thinking back the car was very quiet for a change.

 

When i had pulled over the viscous fan was rotating and blowing air at some rate which seemed normal. The rest of the journey it drove fine but did seem to dip the revs a little when trying to move off which it's not done before.

 

Once it warmed up it was fine. Setting off back after it had cooled a little revving it seemed to bring on a smell of slipping belt again.

 

Why do zeds always do this the night before an event(!) :rant:

 

What's everyone's thoughts? 2 years off the road has siezed the water pump? Viscous fan needs replacing (although that wouldn't cause the belt to slip)? take the tools and a spare water pump/fan with me just in case tomorrow?

Was your air conditioning on at the time?

Nope, no aircon at all - always make a point of putting it on econ mode

Check for seized water pump bearing. Take off the belt and rotate the fan by hand, any roughness?

That's what i was planning on doing only i'm out till late tonight and if i start ripping the rad and everything else out tomorrow morning i may not make it to the meet - bloody zeds! :rant:

The aircon compressor is still in situee with a belt I take it? It's probably seized if that's the case, cut the belt.

I thought the aircon was on a separate belt to the viscous fan and the fan was bolted to the water pump? (admittedly it's been about 5 years since i've worked on a VG engine!)

 

Might check the compressor (it's coming out anyway in my weight saving manouver over the summer)

I would assume as well of you pop off the water pulley belt, you should be able to gauge the feel of the bearing from turning the thing by hand. Logically though if the belt is slipping that bad would it not be squealing as well? If it's more of a rubbing noise check the shroud, mine has made some horrific noises when the fan is catching the shroud. (Sorry Andrew I see you did already suggest the turn by hand)

Edited July 18, 201411 yr by Stephen

It did sound like the fan rather than the pump making any noise and temperature is perfect so assuming it might be the fan may have jammed at some point.

 

I've just remembered what a complete ballache it is getting the bottom pulley off to get to the bottom bolt on the pump and that could take hours - more than i've got tomorrow morning.n I'll check belt tensions and clearance but that's all i can do.

 

Think i'll have to chance it, keep an eye on the temp gauge and if it starts to go up or there's any nasty noises stop and get a lift from mr AA back home.

 

I'll be stripping everything down after this show anyway to do some wire tidying/change the rad for the ally one/water pipes etc

 

FAMOUS LAST WORDS......

Edited July 18, 201411 yr by bantambunny

if the water pump is seized it would have over heated if you went more than a few miles

That's what i was thinking - after sitting for 2 years i'm suspecting a loose belt/dried out but checking and tightening the belt is pretty much all i can do before cov tomorrow

 

Fingers crossed