Squeal On Start Up

[flintstone]

'M' reg 4.0 Chimaera, 38,000 miles.

Whenever I start from cold there's a squealling noise from the engine.

Checked under the bonnet for trapped wildlife but nothing.

It's definately not the fan belt but sounds more like a bearing, alternator maybe? Tensioner? Pump?

The noise goes away as the engine warms up (not just when it gets louder).

Any ideas?

[GreenV8S]

flintstone said:

It's definately not the fan belt

That would have been my first guess, why are you so definite it isn't this?

[ntel]

GreenV8S said:

flintstone said: It's definately not the fan belt That would have been my first guess, why are you so definite it isn't this?

Me too. Just give the belt a squirt of belt dressing spray ( available from any engineers merchants ) and see how it goes.

[Else]

I would definately suspect the fan belt. there is always a momentary squeal when i start mine from cold after it has been left a few days. A new belt cured it for about a month but it came back, haven't tried belt dressing though .

[zumbruk]

I'm told that talcum powder will do instead 'in extremis' but I've never tried it myself.

[flintstone]

Mmmm, I thought I was certain it wasn't the fanbelt. Whenever I've had one slip on other cars it's been a higher pitch and more persistent.

Mind you, my mechanical knowledge would fill a postage stamp. Ok, two stamps.

What is dressing spray?

[ntel]

flintstone said:

Mmmm, I thought I was certain it wasn't the fanbelt. Whenever I've had one slip on other cars it's been a higher pitch and more persistent. Mind you, my mechanical knowledge would fill a postage stamp. Ok, two stamps. What is dressing spray?

Belt dressing spray is widely used in the engineering industry to give additional grip to partly worn pully belts. It does exactly what it says on the tin. I use it a lot on industrial heaters. I've also stopped my serp belt from slipping with it.

[flintstone]

Ok, I'll get the yellow pages out on Monday (unless anyone knows of a supply in the Hertford area).

[jwt63]

flintstone said:

Ok, I'll get the yellow pages out on Monday (unless anyone knows of a supply in the Hertford area).

Try
http://rswww.com

Belt Dressing
RS Stock No. 388-8459
Manufacturer ROCOL
Part No. 34297
300ml £6.80


>> Edited by jwt63 on Sunday 23 January 01:29

[flintstone]

Thanks!!

Wow, you lot know EVERYTHING

[Flintstone]

Bought the ultra-sticky belt spray. Squirted some on and the squeal got MUCH louder.

Seems it's the alternator. I can only assume that the spray somehow had an effect on how the belt moved the alternator pulley (maybe slipping before and so the alternator wasn't under full load).

The tensioner bearings are a bit loud too so I'll have to replace those at the same time.

Can anyone tell me which (amp) alternator I'll need on a '95 4.0 litre Chimaera? The bible doesn't say and There are no marks on the alternator itself.

[ntel]

flintstone said:

Thanks!! Wow, you lot know EVERYTHING

Oh well, maybe not