Hi all. Last week the wife's Fabia 1.4mpi had the battery light and temp light come on as the belt had snapped. The belt had wrapped itself round the tensioner very tight and I had to cut it off with a knife. At the weekend I changed the water pump and belt as the belt snapped as the result of the pump going (bearings collapsed and pulley was wonkey). All was well until today when the belt went again. This time instead of snapping it was cut in 2 (I.e into 2 belts) as the result of what looks like something cutting through the back of the belt. I'm guessing it's the tensioner as this could have been damaged by the first belt? I'm after people's thoughts as I don't want to spend £80 on another belt and tensioner if it'll go again in 2 days

On a separate ( I think) note, with the belt off I noticed a noise from the crank. Not sure if this is related or just a timing belt on way out

Thanks for any advice that can be offered

It's a timing chain on the 1.4 MPI.

Yep your right l, meant to say timing chain on way out

Timing chain rattle is almost a given with the MPI engine. They don't have a chain tensioner, so when the chain stretches it just noisily thrashes about. They can go on for years like that and I've never heard of one snapping. People tend to change them when the noise annoys them. Mine does it at 65000 miles and I've just learned to live with it. I might change it at some point.

 

As for the belt - seems very odd for it to strip into two belts. Never seen that before. Can only think it might be the tensioner, as you say.

Thanks. Looks like a new tensioner and belt and fingers crossed. My change the guide aswell to be on the safe side