Bottom pulley going?

[Captain Jack]

Hey guys,

Got a weird sound coming from the engine - only very recently noticed. Seems to go away with a few revs on but doesn't seem to be better or worse whether it's hot or cold. I am thinking bottom pulley as it's been on there for 126k miles and 10 years. Also, when it's idling the aux belt tensioner seems to be "wobbling" about ... it's not smooth, so maybe it's this going and not the pulley?

Have a listen:

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[lozz]

couid be just the Aux belt,

have you checked the Marker on the Tensioner?

thatd give you a clearer idea, if the belt needs replacing or not,

[Captain Jack]

The marker?

[lozz]

Theres amarker on them mate,

il see if ican dig out a picture of one from somewhere

[lozz]

There ya go.JPG

picture

[lozz]

idont think many people look at that marker,

ithink it saves alot of time looking for other faults when it couid just be the aux belt,
or even the Excentric tensioner not set right,

its about the only good thing listed in the haynes bible ithink

[waue1978]

I've had experience of this from my old Xantia HDi. Difficult to tell from your vid, but if it is any help, the Xantia had what sounded like a slightly metallic diesel clatter (which I ignored for ages), but when it hit close to terminal wear I had the heating & power steering cut out intermittently on a local trip & when the mechanic ran it with the bonnet up he found that it was actually spraying out tiny metal particles (like shavings). The replacement pulley looked very different from the old one (but was the correct part number) so it had obviously been identified as a weak point & changed accordingly.

Hence my fitting a new pulley when I got the cambelt changed on this one.

[Captain Jack]

Ah.. hmm! I will check the tensioner marker and see where it is. It doesn't really sound metallic... just loud-ish clatter. There seems to be very little space to see what's what though

[Captain Jack]

Ack! Cannot see the markers at all - only feel. Need to at least remove the ECU housing box. Not easy to do while holding a coffee in Burnham-on-Sea services wearing a suit to work!

Don't really have time to look at this myself with the work and don't want the car to die so have booked it in with my local - the guy already suspected a bottom pulley going when I mentioned the noise and suggested I bring it in ASAP before it disintegrates. At least he's aware of the issue! Getting an oil change done as well while it's on the ramp - too cold to mess around now

[Welly]

I reckon that's just belt noise, a new belt can make a huge difference to all sorts of suspected problems.

Your car is approx 2002? so might have left the factory with the 'improved' bottom pulley anyway, identified by 3 'slots' on the side rather than 2.

When the bottom pulley goes it happens quite quickly and believe me you will not want to drive the thing when you hear 'that' noise

[Doggy]

Your car is approx 2002? so might have left the factory with the 'improved' bottom pulley anyway, identified by 3 'slots' on the side rather than 2.

Ah, that could explain it. AFAIK, mines still on the original at 171k - gave it a good coat of looking-at when I did all the belts etc. last year, but couldn't fault it. My previous Cistern ate the things.

[lozz]

You shouid be able to see the Markers even with the ecu in situe,

its the first thing icheck when i get a Hdi car,

or failing that you shouid be able to feel that middle ridge, its araised pointer

[Welly]

Has anyone else got visions of Captain's work tie getting snarled up in this auxiliary belt arrangement? I know I have and it's worrying me for sure.........

[Captain Jack]

No tie... just a scarf. Could have been in for an interesting morning though...

Hm, would be good if mine was the "improved" version. The car is from Sept 2002 so could go either way. It's not a "OMG, I must stop now!" noise but it's quite noticeable, especially outside. Hopefully it is just the belt...

[Welly]

You'll be amazed at the difference a new belt makes. I thought my Aux tensioner was shot as it was making a squeeky/chattery noise but a new belt sorted it.