2001 Focus Engine "Sqeak "at Belt speed'ish when warming up.
Discussion
Its a 67K mile lightly driven 1.6 Zetec.
The noise is a squeak while warming up, just started, which is almost tap like initially and is loudest by the O/S wheel arch.
The frequency is roughly the rotational periodicity of the aux belt. The aux belt itself looks good, not even cracked up. I just did the one on my SAAB 9000 Aero BTW. Have done a few, know what they look like end of life.
I have researched and found some threads which suggest this may be the aux tensioner pulley bearing. Its a bit low mileage but.....
- Do the symptoms fit the diagnosis/do these fail early?
- Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
The noise is a squeak while warming up, just started, which is almost tap like initially and is loudest by the O/S wheel arch.
The frequency is roughly the rotational periodicity of the aux belt. The aux belt itself looks good, not even cracked up. I just did the one on my SAAB 9000 Aero BTW. Have done a few, know what they look like end of life.
I have researched and found some threads which suggest this may be the aux tensioner pulley bearing. Its a bit low mileage but.....
- Do the symptoms fit the diagnosis/do these fail early?
- Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Could just be that the belt has worn a bit shiny & squeaking as it "slips into place" on the pulley.
I have had this before, there is a simple way to check it. With a household hand spray, spray a little water onto the belt (carefully, so as not to also eliminate any noise from any bearings) and if it shuts up for a few seconds, problem diagnosed.
As indicated above you can do the same with the bearings, basically the more accurate the squirt, the more accurate the diagnosis.
If it is the belt, but it is otherwise in tip top condition, you can remove it & "rough up" the belt & pulley with a bit of emery/wet & dry to stop it long term,.
I have had this before, there is a simple way to check it. With a household hand spray, spray a little water onto the belt (carefully, so as not to also eliminate any noise from any bearings) and if it shuts up for a few seconds, problem diagnosed.
As indicated above you can do the same with the bearings, basically the more accurate the squirt, the more accurate the diagnosis.
If it is the belt, but it is otherwise in tip top condition, you can remove it & "rough up" the belt & pulley with a bit of emery/wet & dry to stop it long term,.
I wouldn't bother with WD 40 on the bearing, as it asn't a very good lubricant, it evaporates too quickly.
If you want to lubricate it, the best thing is a drop of engine oil, but it may not be too easy to get in.
That is why I keep my trusty old green squirty oil can, there is nothing better.
If you want to lubricate it, the best thing is a drop of engine oil, but it may not be too easy to get in.
That is why I keep my trusty old green squirty oil can, there is nothing better.
Andy that was brilliant! And I have some value to add to it for others, probably useful on any such auxiliary belt problem.
First off I didn't believe any thing sounding so mechanically squeally could be only the belt. Squirted water at an exposed pulley, SILENCE!
Then thought about how to fix it. Rubbing the removed belt seemed a bit time consuming, so I got an old soft bristled suede brush, bit bigger than a tooth brush (Its softer bronze or whatever bristles than my hard wire brushes, which were also all too big. Put on a big gardening glove and gently held the brush against the moving belt grooves at idle. It didn't grab and in a couple of seconds the belt looked nice and clean black again - and had stopped squeaking altogether.
Job jobbed. Theory? Something a bit tacky got onto the inside of the belt?
First off I didn't believe any thing sounding so mechanically squeally could be only the belt. Squirted water at an exposed pulley, SILENCE!
Then thought about how to fix it. Rubbing the removed belt seemed a bit time consuming, so I got an old soft bristled suede brush, bit bigger than a tooth brush (Its softer bronze or whatever bristles than my hard wire brushes, which were also all too big. Put on a big gardening glove and gently held the brush against the moving belt grooves at idle. It didn't grab and in a couple of seconds the belt looked nice and clean black again - and had stopped squeaking altogether.
Job jobbed. Theory? Something a bit tacky got onto the inside of the belt?
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