Do I need a new timing belt?

[kbj149]

Oops, not a timing belt, I mean the PS and ALT belt ! Take a look at the pic, I'm not sure that mm band that runs on the right should be showing.



Earlier today, when I turned the wheel a wining noise was heard from under the bonnet as I rocked the wheel, also if I revved - I thought this could point to a possible belt problem? I left the car for 10 minutes, came back - the sound had gone and now all is fine when I rock the wheel etc, as if it never happened.

If there is a problem with the belt what can I expect to pay, I'll source the part and have my mech fit.

Thanks in advance.

Kev
97 4L Chim

Edited by kbj149 on Saturday 1st January 17:02

[deetes]

Good luck trying to source a "timing belt" for a RV8.............

[scotty_d]

I am 100% sure you do not need a new timing belt in your Chimaera unless you are running a non RV8 engine. I think you mean Aux belt i cant see your pic as am at work but if it looks tierd just change it for all it costs and the time it takes to change out if a serp belt it will take about 2 minutes to switch out.

[loud430]

that belt looks very worn! its the power steering & alternator belt.

[big geoff]

also check for play in the tensioner bearings

[peaktorque]

Don't leave a 'past it's best' belt on a car like I did on my st heap e39 BMW.

The belt started dividing itself into strips whilst giving the old girl some beans and one of these stringy strips parted company from the pulleys and wraped itself around the water pump shaft, getting tighter and tighter.................dragging more strands with it.......eventually wrecking the pump and allowing the contents of the engines cooling system to empty over the engine bay steam cleaning the oil porous V8.

Oh the joys of waiting for the 'forth emergencey service' for over an hour in the freezing cold with no coat beside the M2

[crackedfinger]

It looks like something is out of line to cause that wear, have a look across the pulleys to see which one is not straight. In my case it was the alternator slightly out of line that caused the edges to wear.

[Alexdaredevilz]

Check engine mounts, in case the engine isn't raising up and making the pulley touch the swirl pot

Happened to mine

[pwd95]

Your engine mount has gone & the passenger side top pulley is eating it's way through the neck of your top alloy pipe. Exact same thing happened to me with my old Griff. Had to do this as a temporary fix.........

[kbj149]

Im not entirely sure I can see the fix?

[spend]

Long time ago someone on here advocated pushing a bit of old hose on the neck of the swirl pot so that you'd see witness marks on the hose before it chewed up the ally.

[pwd95]

The top alloy pipe has two jubilee clips holding a piece of rubber hose to block the hole that's been formed under the pipe by the top pulley.

[kbj149]

Ah I seeeeeeeeeee

[pwd95]

When you replace the engine mounts use some SC Power support brackets for them.....

Scroll down this page to...."Rover V8 engine mount restraint bracket"


http://www.sc-power.co.uk/pages/SC-Power-engine-mo...

[kbj149]

Hmm, I dont think I have this problem, take a look at the pics from all angles:






Tell me if im wrong but the alloy is nowhere near the belt so isnt interfering. I have noted the thin rusted band around one of the pulleys, shown in the 4th pic

[pwd95]

Because the engine mount has gone, when you accellarate hard, the engine lifts up enough for the pulley to hit the pipe. Have a feel of the pipe underneath to see if there's a groove beginning to form. But be carefull it'll be sharp.

Edited by pwd95 on Monday 3rd January 21:37

[kbj149]

I had a feel and theres nothing under the pipe, its perfectly smooth ..... hhmmm

Also I've tried to rock the engine, its doesnt budge even an inch

Edited by kbj149 on Monday 3rd January 23:39

[pwd95]

The plot thickens. You won't be able to rock the engine by hand anyway. It's only under hard acceleration does it generate enough torque to lift itself up. Try & have a look at the engine mounts if you can.

[Pvapour]

looking at no.3 pic it doesn't look like the ring of the pulley wheel has been touched, on that basis and looking at the area that has worn, it may be worth looking for some loose bolts causing things to go out of alignment which in turn is forcing the belt to slide to the front of the pulley and wear itself at that edge, there is a gap at the rear side of the belt which ties in with this theory (but no belt sits exactly centre mind)

edited to add: it does look like something has been rubbing on it from above though as there's a black line about 1/4" wide

Edited by Pvapour on Tuesday 4th January 08:27

[kbj149]

I think I've identified the culprit!

Note in the image the small circular metal disc, this is a few mm from the pulley, I think under force, the belt is shaving against the disc.

Pvapour said:

looking at no.3 pic it doesn't look like the ring of the pulley wheel has been touched, on that basis and looking at the area that has worn, it may be worth looking for some loose bolts causing things to go out of alignment which in turn is forcing the belt to slide to the front of the pulley and wear itself at that edge, there is a gap at the rear side of the belt which ties in with this theory (but no belt sits exactly centre mind)

edited to add: it does look like something has been rubbing on it from above though as there's a black line about 1/4" wide

Edited by Pvapour on Tuesday 4th January 08:27