Hi all,i,m now looking for a possible solution to a strange rattle in my car and i hope that some of you more technically minded members can help.I have a 55 plate 2.0 tdi octy with 50,000 on the clock.this car has been brilliant apart from a strange rattle,hot or cold at ONLY 1000-11000-12000 and 13000 revs,not lower than that range nor higher.its coming from the engine side but not the gearbox side.I have perfect gear change and no judder or any other noises.its a kind of resonance that is present also when i shut the engine down.car starts perfectly and quietly and has been totally reliable.My friend has seen the alternator tensioner shaking from side to side on tickover yet its charging the battery at 13 volts+ and the amps are spot on.i just hope it isnt a cam belt tensioner etc.Can anybody throw a light on to this for me?cheers gang!

Ahhh I see your problem 13000 revs in a diesel is a wee bit high ;-)

If the tensioner is moving around then it's likely your alternator pulley needs replaced.

No wonder it's worn out with you revving it to 13000 rpm!

Check your driver side engine mount bolts, you might find one has loosened itself and has undone itself out until it hits the engine side of the arch, should be easy to spot if you look straight down from the top of your cambelt cover.

Btw some of my tensioners move a little, i think thats part of their job.

Have you recently had your cambelt changed as the mechanics need to drop the engine to carry out a cambelt change and might not have torqued/renewed the bolts. Which my friendly Arnold Clark Skoda dealer managed to fluff up only to have my father in law sort, 2 second fix.

Thanks for the help everyone.It was only today at work that i realised that i had put in 13000 revs,its not a formula 1 car!!!!.i,m getting the tensioner on the alternator and the mounting bolts checked at the weekend.Cheers all. 13000 revs HA!