Seems I have developped another little noise from the engine. Mainly heard from cold only - it's a bit like a sqealing noise coming from around the left hand side of the engine. Pitch changes with revs, but the noise does disappear as the engine warms up. Could it be the auxiliary belts? Although I believe 406's have auto tensioned belts so doubt it would have gotten lose.
The noise tends to accompany the one described here but that one is present all the time.
Seems that bank holiday took everyone away from here :p
OK, I am now fairly convinced that it's the alternator belt that's making a squealing noise. When I replace it, do I need to replace the tensioner as well? The cost is £30 for the tensioner - something I'd rather avoid!
I assume it's an easy job compared to the cambelt change - something I would never want to attempt by myself!
Can you spray a little oil onto the tensioner to see if the noise stops for a wee bit?
The noise is possibly the tensioner, but more likely to be the belt.
Throw a new belt on first and see if its that. The belts are only a tenner. Mine will be done shortly when I do my bottom pulley.
Good luck.
PS- some of us are at work on this fine English bank holiday.
Damned English again- Oh flower of Scotland, when will we see...........................................................................
Not on the face that the belt runs on anyway!! Try to keep the spray WELL away from that. Spray it onto the side of it. Use the wee straw to prevent getting spray onto the belt. If the noise stops, then its the bearing thats fooked. £30 from Euro car parts or thereabouts. And thats cheap!