It's getting worse.... it used to be once in a while, now it's pretty much every time I start up...

 

It's a damn fan belt squeak (at least I think it's the fan belt). Very loud squealing which doesn't go away until about 3,400 rpm's. Which i don't like revving the car to when it's cold. Once i've revved it though the squealing stops.

 

Now i presume all I have to do is take my car to the garage and ask them to tighten the fan belt but I was wondering if there's anyway I can fix it myself?

 

Also, is it likely to be the fan belt? - there seem to be quite a number of belts lurking down in the depths of my engine... I want to make sure i'm blaming the right part!

 

Any advice would be most welcome, i'm sure this must be a fairly common problem - with hopefully an easy solution..... the wailing banshee impression is really detracting from the overall image of my car in front of groups of easily impressed members of the public!

Well you could follow the destructions in the manual for checking the respective belt tensions and then tighten/replace the one that is slipping.

It can be done DIY!

 

I did my own (when I was a Z owner...) there is a couple of bolts to loosen and then adjust the tensioner and then tighten them back up..............

 

I have told Mr.Duff to reply to this but he's a bit busy at the moment................(Mr.Duff is set to away!)

 

But I thought Iwould let you know not to visit a garage........it can be done by you.

 

Matty.

Originally posted by AndyP

Well you could follow the destructions in the manual for checking the respective belt tensions and then tighten/replace the one that is slipping.

 

Is that a Freudian slip or intentional? :D

 

My main fear is that attempting anything at all on my Zed will result in destruction!! Whether instructed to or not!! I'll have a look for the bolt tensions you mention.

 

Will have a look at the online manual and then go in search of those bolts you mention Matty. Just hope my future posts aren't along the lines of "i tried to tighten my fan-belt but succeeded in dropping the engine out..."

 

Cheers guys.

 

Chris

Easy job ;)

 

All you need is a 12mm spanner and I think a 17mm. Look for the alternator - that is what you are adjusting. Looking from the front of the car, its down at the bottom left of the front of the engine. Undo the pivot bolt at the top of the alternator (17 or 19mm can't remember) then get under the front of the car. Now just hope the bottom cover isn't on the engine ;) If it is, you've gotta remove it - 10mm bolts all round just keep removing them til it comes off - there are 2 up the insides of the wheel arches which are quite tricky but the rest is fine... Next, undo the bottom clamp bolt at the bottom of the alternator (just a few turns so the clamp can slide. The bolt goes through from behind if that makes sense. If you look at the clamb bolt you'll see the tensioning screw - follow that to its head and tighten to tighten the belt and vice versa. Tighten all bolts back up and you are done. Looks complicated reading it but when you have the car in front of you its not hard ;)

 

HTH

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

It can't be hard as I managed it!

 

:p

 

Matty.

i am as useless mechanically as you on this one matty, if i touch it, its gonna break - fact!!!

 

just read through andys reply and my head fried half way down.

 

same problem on my jap start of winter, 4 garages lifted the bonnet and just laughed, couldn't do it, little local garage stuck it on ramp and went in from underneath to tighten the belt , took 5 mins and cos £15.00

 

hope this may help;)

Chris

 

If its a slack belt causing screeching especially after starting it is most likely to be the one on the alternator - there are 3 belts in all under the bonnet, one to the aircon compressor and one also to the power steering and water pump. Cant remember which does which.

 

Reason I think alternator is that just after start the alternator draws big current to replenish the battery and the load makes a slack belt slip and screech.

 

I had another cause make mine screech, that was one of the top cylinder head water hoses springing a leak and the water made the belt slip and screech. Same can happen if the water pump fails. Water leak causes it only when the engine is well warmed up and leaking! Yours is most probably slack alternator drive belt.

 

Willie

Originally posted by WillieO

...Reason I think alternator is that just after start the alternator draws big current to replenish the battery and the load makes a slack belt slip and screech...

 

I think the slip on cold is actually caused by the viscous coupling. The alternator belt also drives the large fan for the radiator through a viscous coupling. This has paddles inside and is filled with oil. When cold the oil is stiff so the fan is driven - as you get to optimum temp the coupling slips a lot so hardly drives the fan. As the engine heats up past optimum the oil thickens again and starts to drive the fan harder - I know what I mean LOL

 

Basically when cold, the fan coupling is basically locked so there is a large fan to drive with a belt which isn't quite tight enough. Result is screech until the viscous coupling warms up. If it was the alternator it would do it on hot startup too ;)

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

is that how it works? That's quite clever isn't it!

 

It does it on cold startup so sounds about right.

 

Anyway, whatever the reason my alternator belt's going to get tightened to within an inch of its life....

 

Cheers for all the help and advice guys,

 

Chris

Chris

 

small word of caution - dont overtighten belts - its a good way to ruin water pump or alternator bearings.

 

Andy

 

Your right about the fan I forgot the additional load from the cold viscous fan coupling on start up but beg to differ on hot starting - It takes much less battery current to start a warm engine and at the same time the belt is flexible and grips better. This is from my own experience with an old sports car with an ammeter.

 

Also correct me but I thought the viscous fan also had a bimetal spiral coil thingy that did the lock up bit when really hot so that the viscous coupling was by passed and the fan was then direct driven.

Willie

1. Open bonnet

 

2. Spray Wd40 all over every moving part you can see.

 

3. start engine

 

This wont cure the problem (fact it will make it a shedload worse, bur it should be quieter until it dries out!!)

So,as I have the very same problem as above:

What is the final conclusion?Viscus fan coupling or Belt? other belts?

Banshee stuck on rad?Jerbel caught on manifold?Neighbours lost cat,or WHAT,

Pretty please;before my neighbour shoves my head up my exhaust pipes.Phone for chat.E-Mail first

 

Yours very deaf

 

CM:confused::( :confused:

Belt! The viscous coupling is the reason it only does it when cold ;)

 

See post above for how to adjust...

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

Would a new viscus coupling sort it out?:;., or is it really just a case of tightening the belt

 

:confused: :confused: :confused:

 

CM

just tighten the belt :)

:( Thank you,thank you thank you:D

 

CM