I've got a bit of noise coming from my aux belt/drive. Sounds like a chirping combo'd with a grinding! Decided to change the tensioner and belt with no luck. Still pretty noisy.

When running the engine without an aux belt, it's silent so definitely something to do with either the compressor or alternator? When spinning the alternator, it runs freely without noise. The compressor does't run freely but it's a compressor it's hard to tell?

If I run the engine with Aircon on it doesn't make a difference to the noise or anything but interestingly, when the fans kick in, the noise reduces with each 'fan cycle'. 

The fans come on to get rid of excess heat so it's hard to see why this mutes the noise? Unless the fans put extra load on the alternator and make it shut up? But it should work the opposite way round?!

 

So which is it? Any thoughts on how to sort it out?

Alternator pulley. I had noises coming from mine it was a graunchy bearing noise. Check around the alternator for metal filings.

 

once I heard the noise, mine deteriorated very quickly within 2 days the pulley had thrown the belt off.

 

It's an easy fix but you'll need the correct tool to remove the pulley.

Edited 10 April, 201412 yr by theezenutz

+1 for the alternator pulley. You need to change it reasonably soon or it may well kill the new tensioner.

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Couldn't see any metal filings anywhere. Is there a guide in the Haynes manual? Maybe I could take the alternator to a garage and get them to fit a new pulley.

My alternator decided it no longer needed a pulley an spat it off after a few week of noise lol so I replaced the alternator used a 16mm spanner to release the tensioner think I turned it clockwise and as theezenutz said look for metal filings

Alternator is silent when spun by hand though? Surely it would not free-wheel or make noise if it was breaking?

On my old car the pulley didn't seem too bad until I changed it for the new one. There was no obvious sign it was bust.

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Ok I'll try source a new pulley..they aren't as cheap as I thought! Might be cheaper to get a second hand alternator..suppose a second hand alternator could be noisy too!

How much have you been told. I'm sure they were £20 or less.

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I got one for £25 Second hand

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seem to be about 40 from gsf.

Was that 25 pounds for an alternator?