Clio 172 Aux belt slipping

Clio 172 Aux belt slipping

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don logan

3,511 posts

221 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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StoatInACoat said:
Definitely. Mine in chronological order:

Aux belt kit - No change
Pump - No change
Aux tensioner + new belt - No change
Brand new pump - No change
Rage + shouting + attacking the cap - No change
New crank pulley - Success!

An expensive fact finding mission. If you're having the same problem I'd recommend just changing the bloody crank pulley wobble
I had no idea they had that type of crank pully, I once drove a Supercharged VXR8 that had the crank pulley changed but it actually came off while I was driving it (around a curve on a dual carriageway and the power steering disappeared) because the bolt wasn't changed too!

StoatInACoat

Original Poster:

1,352 posts

184 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
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I've seen them before on Peugeots and have heard of them falling apart when the rubber bit gives up as the metal around it rusts and forces it apart. Mine had a few tiny hairline cracks in the rubber bit but otherwise seemed ok and didn't wobble or anything.

I think it's partially because it's under SO much tension, more than any car I've ever seen to the point of feeling wrong when you release the tensioner. Glad it's fixed though as when that pulley does make a bid for freedom it munches it own belt and mangles the cam belt at the same time.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Monday 15th December 2014
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Mine appears to have the same problem now. Chirp on cold start up (4 degrees Celsius and below) and lumpy steering with a noise like a slipping belt, particularly when dry steering which goes away after about 30 seconds.

StoatInaCoat, what did you pay to have the crank pulley changed?

StoatInACoat

Original Poster:

1,352 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
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Um. Quite a lot. Mine ended up costing just over £570 but that included a pump which turned out not to be the fault although my pump was also pretty ruined (fluid black) so didn't hurt to have a new one.

Easy way to see if it's the crank pulley. Take pass wheel and arch liner off, remove splash guard thing (bit of a faff) and paint a line on the crank pulley through it's diameter. Run around a bit, make it squeak, see if line is broken. The outer and inner parts of the pulley come apart basically and I wish I had done this in the first place instead of convincing myself it was something else.

If it throws the belt or the pulley breaks it will kill the engine. It MUST be locked up to remove the aux pulley as the bottom toothed cambelt pulley is not keyed to the crank and the whole thing is held together by the pulley bolt you can see. Genius.

My symptoms were squeak on start up, screaming/belt stopping on full lock, chirping when cold/wet and generally being an embarrassing pile of arse.

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
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Excellent idea on the line drawing technique. I just need to hope that it's cold tomorrow soon so I can check it! I actually had the driver's side wheel off and looked at the pulley. The rubber had hairline cracks in it and the pulley itself was slight rusty so looks like it will be the culprit anyway! It's going in next week for diagnosis/work anyway so if I know what the issue is before it goes in then even better!

deadmau5

3,197 posts

179 months

Sunday 18th January 2015
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Still not got to the bottom of mine.

I took it to a Renaultsport specialist who upon looking at it said the aux belt was pretty loose so installed a new one. The squealing stopped and the next day it was 0 degrees and still no noise at all! Result I thought.

Fast forward a month and now the squealing/belt slip is back worse than ever. I just went and drew a line on the crank pulley, went for a quick spin and made it squeal a lot. Checked the crank pulley and the lines were still perfect...

Power steering fluid is bang in the middle of the markers and was a 'new oil' colour.

StoatInACoat

Original Poster:

1,352 posts

184 months

Monday 19th January 2015
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Is it worse on full lock? I assume the tensioner and the idler thing have been replaced as well? Does it do it with the AC on?

If you get a mate to make it do it on idle while you watch under the bonnet you should be able to see the belt "seize" when it squeaks if its the crank pulley.