Suzuki Swift HIDS causing problems?

[Zammy]

The missus has a Swift which she inherited from her sister. Since we have had the car for about a year and half the car screams when you set off for about 30 secs or so or when you full lock the wheel, particularly in the winter. Mechanics have put it down to the belt and it has had the belt replaced 3 times but still the screaming sound persists.

Recently the wife has been driving my car so I have been driving the Swift and have realised the HID lights seem to be the cause, once the screaming starts if I switch off the lights it stops. Or if I set off without the lights on for a few seconds (in a safe area to do so) there is no screaming noise either. These HIDs were installed by my sister in laws hubby who likes to tinker with his cars just before we got the car.

I'm going to get the HIDs taken off and back to standard bulbs and hopefully this should reslove the issue. Is it likely the HIDS were too powerful for the belt/alternator??

[Oldandslow]

You also mention when at full lock on the steering. Something on the accessory belt is too tight or the belt is too loose. Since the belt has been replaced 3 times it seems unlikely it has been too loose each time. Could be bad bearings in alternator, idler or steering pump (assuming hydraulic, if electric it would be additional load on the alternator instead). The lights being on is adding a extra load that just tips the belt over the edge so it starts slipping. Changing the lights back might sort it but not convinced it's the root cause. Is the load from HIDS that much more than Halogens?

Also had a belt slip once because I had a pinhole leak in a radiator top hose that sprayed onto a pulley. Any water or oil leaks?

[Oldandslow]

A quick google suggests HIDS use less or similar energy to produce more light so unless the install is deeply flawed it shouldn't help.

[Zammy]

Oldandslow said:

A quick google suggests HIDS use less or similar energy to produce more light so unless the install is deeply flawed it shouldn't here lp.

The HIDs are a lot more brighter than normal to be honest theres not much difference when the beams are on.

I should have added the alternator has been changed too a few months ago and also the steering is electrical so that's a load on the alternator too.

Edited by Zammy on Friday 2nd December 15:56

[Ilovejapcrap]

Sounds like a belt thing to me the lights and steering are both electric so maybe the belt works harder to give more current to alternator and this is issue ?

[BristolRich]

A couple of questions:

Is the squeal related to engine speed?

Have you put your ear next to the HID Ballast/ igniter units (when on) to check its not them?

Edited by BristolRich on Tuesday 13th December 13:20

[Zammy]

BristolRich said:

A couple of questions:

Is the squeal related to engine speed?

Have you put your ear next to the HID Ballast/ igniter units (when on) to check its not them?

Edited by BristolRich on Tuesday 13th December 13:20

HIDS changed to standard bulbs, squeal still there. Nope not related to engine speed. It squeals more at night when lights are on although it does do it during the day particularly if I have to turn the wheel to full lock or near enough.

So far...

Belt changed 3 times

Alternator replaced

HiDS off

It's really doing my head in now so has been booked in for Friday with Suzuki. See how we get on...

[Bdevo3]

Would it be possible the belt is too short. Presuming they have a spring loaded tensioner that automatically takes up the slack it would be possible to fit a belt that's too tight and not allowing enough travel on the tensioner. This is theoretical of course as I'm not familiar with swifts but I have come across the symptoms before where a squealing belt had been replaced over and over again with the same gates part number but turned out it was the wrong belt. Alternatively get a can of wd40 get someone to hold in on full lock and spray small amount on each driven pulley see which one improves the squeak it'll point you in the right direction. Another possibility is that it's the electric steering motor itself not a belt issue

[Zammy]

Bdevo3 said:

Would it be possible the belt is too short. Presuming they have a spring loaded tensioner that automatically takes up the slack it would be possible to fit a belt that's too tight and not allowing enough travel on the tensioner. This is theoretical of course as I'm not familiar with swifts but I have come across the symptoms before where a squealing belt had been replaced over and over again with the same gates part number but turned out it was the wrong belt. Alternatively get a can of wd40 get someone to hold in on full lock and spray small amount on each driven pulley see which one improves the squeak it'll point you in the right direction. Another possibility is that it's the electric steering motor itself not a belt issue

The car went into Suzuki just before Christmas, they told me it was the wrong size belt and at the wrong tension so replaced the belt and so far it has been fine. There was a small squeak cout of it on full lock on a very cold morning but overall it is much better than before.

[Bdevo3]

Sometime it's back to basics to solve a problem