Hi all - nice to see a healthy forum!

The missus has a 2000 Fabia 1.4 8 valve as a daily. She's been having this problem for a while with the car making a really bad whining noise - I can pick her car out when it's coming down the road, in fact sometimes when it's around the corner.

Originally I thought the box was on the way out as the noise is engine speed related but I think I've traced the source to the air con pump.

The A/C doesn't work, never has and she won't miss it.

From what I understand pumps are a small fortune to replace, and if this thing seizes it can do some damage.

What are my options here - what else does the Air Con belt drive - can I just cut it off? Or if it's driving between cam and crank can I get a non-AC belt and fit that?

Thanks in advnace for your replies,

Chris

hi 1985sport,

my air con compressor is not working on my fabia vrs and i have got like a strange noise from that area, hi squeaking sound, 2 things to do either change the air con £500 + vat for my problem, or try and get a shorter drive belt, someone bount to do one. hope this will soften the blow. lol

Could also be the aux belt tensioner.

First test is to take the belt off an turn the engine on - see if the noise vanishes.

Tis an easy enough task to do:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=313104

it was the alternator bearing. got it sorted. well, for a week - we think the differential bearing has gone now, new noise, speed related. Considering scrapping it....