220 CDi flappy ribbed belt
Discussion
Yo, checking under the bonnet today and noticed a bit of 'rubber dust' around the belt, and when the engine runs the longer runs of the belt and the tensioner vibrate around quite a bit.
The belt and tensioner are newish and were a decent make, tension feels fine, but I read that a failing alternator pulley is a common cause of this symptom.
Has anyone experienced this and replaced the pulley to resolve it?
The belt and tensioner are newish and were a decent make, tension feels fine, but I read that a failing alternator pulley is a common cause of this symptom.
Has anyone experienced this and replaced the pulley to resolve it?
Well, it was the pulley 
The alternator pulley is supposed to free-wheel one way and lock the other way, mine was locked up solid and the whole belt system was vibrating a lot on idle, the tensioner was flapping about by about an inch no joke.
Got a Gates pully off ebay for £30 and the special tool to remove it for £7, also needed a long 10mm spline bit, did it on the car just slipped the belt off took about 30 mins all told. The Gates pulley had INA on the side of it as did the original.
Belt now running smoothly
If your steering groans at low speed and/or you get the odd chirp from the belt when turning the wheel at idle when cold it's definitely worth checking this out.
The alternator pulley is supposed to free-wheel one way and lock the other way, mine was locked up solid and the whole belt system was vibrating a lot on idle, the tensioner was flapping about by about an inch no joke.
Got a Gates pully off ebay for £30 and the special tool to remove it for £7, also needed a long 10mm spline bit, did it on the car just slipped the belt off took about 30 mins all told. The Gates pulley had INA on the side of it as did the original.
Belt now running smoothly
If your steering groans at low speed and/or you get the odd chirp from the belt when turning the wheel at idle when cold it's definitely worth checking this out.
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