It looks ok to me (on the bits I can see), but any comments on my two photos welcome 

It looks fine, the fraying at the edges is normal.

Something a little odd? Wear pattern is uneven. Sitting well on alternator pulley. Two unused grooves on the other pulley. Might not be properly lined up. If so polly V grooves are shallow and only a little wear can reduce grip. I would change it. (On the assumption that you have a worry which has led you to examine the belt in the first place!)

2 hours ago, LB123 said:

Something a little odd? Wear pattern is uneven. Sitting well on alternator pulley. Two unused grooves on the other pulley. Might not be properly lined up. If so polly V grooves are shallow and only a little wear can reduce grip. I would change it. (On the assumption that you have a worry which has led you to examine the belt in the first place!)

Get an odd whining noise coming from the engine occasionally, and wondered if this is where it was coming from 

2 hours ago, LB123 said:

Something a little odd? Wear pattern is uneven. Sitting well on alternator pulley. Two unused grooves on the other pulley. Might not be properly lined up. If so polly V grooves are shallow and only a little wear can reduce grip. I would change it. (On the assumption that you have a worry which has led you to examine the belt in the first place!)

Are you sure about that, where it leaves the lower point on that other pulley it looks like it is fitting it okay, so what appears as 2 ribs out is probably due to that belt not passing over the top point of that pulley where/when you think it is, but some point later on?

Ah, yes possibly parallax error from the viewing angle. Simple eyeball test for the OP. Also remove belt and run engine. Does it still whine?

1 hour ago, LB123 said:

Ah, yes possibly parallax error from the viewing angle. Simple eyeball test for the OP. Also remove belt and run engine. Does it still whine?

 

Yes parallax error, OP never complained about whining, simply asked if it 'looked' ok.

 

You're the one catastrophizing here, the rest of us think it is ok.

No intention of catastrophizing. Does a suspected or even actual problem with the alternator drive belt come into such a category?

I assumed the OP posted as they had an idea that all might not be well and had an idea that the 'problem' might be related to the drive belt. 

If its only driving the alternator and is not causing issues (Battery flattening, warning light), Leave it. Water pump and timing belts are usually more concern. Might just be worth looking out for a good deal on a replacement and keeping it in the boot but I would leave it on.

1 hour ago, LB123 said:

No intention of catastrophizing. Does a suspected or even actual problem with the alternator drive belt come into such a category?

I assumed the OP posted as they had an idea that all might not be well and had an idea that the 'problem' might be related to the drive belt. 

I have a problem, the whining noise! I’m aware that drive belts slipping can be a cause of it. It looks perfectly fine to me, however I’m no expert so thought I’d ask for opinions before looking into other options!

Is there a tensioner and any idler pulleys in the belt run, doesn't look like it from your photos?  As someone suggested above, see if the noise goes if you run briefly without belt.

39 minutes ago, Wench said:

I have a problem, the whining noise! I’m aware that drive belts slipping can be a cause of it. It looks perfectly fine to me, however I’m no expert so thought I’d ask for opinions before looking into other options!

 

The whining noise won't be that belt, it's fine.

55 minutes ago, Wino said:

Is there a tensioner and any idler pulleys in the belt run, doesn't look like it from your photos?  As someone suggested above, see if the noise goes if you run briefly without belt.

 

This looks like an idler or tensioner pulley to me? The belt is running over it on the non-ribbed side...

 

Edited 5 July, 20187 yr by TMB

Is this a 1.4 mpi 8 valve?

 

If so there is definitely an idler pulley (and the retaining bolt has a left-hand thread!) They can whine like mad when the bearing is shot.

 

Item 3 for non-A/C cars. Part number 047145276 ...

 

 

 

Edited 5 July, 20187 yr by TMB

1 hour ago, TMB said:

Is this a 1.4 mpi 8 valve?

 

If so there is definitely an idler pulley (and the retaining bolt has a left-hand thread!) They can whine like mad when the bearing is shot.

 

Item 3 for non-A/C cars. Part number 047145276 ...

 

 

 

Yes it is the 1.4 mpg 8 valve.

 

interestingly i topped up the oil last night and it hasn’t done it yet today. Will see what happens when I go out later today 

8 hours ago, Wench said:

Yes it is the 1.4 mpg 8 valve.

 

 

 

1.4 mpg?

 

They are not quite that uneconomical?

Predictive text is a wonderful thing.

 

and the topping up of oil didn’t sort the problem :(

Need to run the engine without the belt on to see if the noise doesn't happen.

40 minutes ago, TMB said:

Need to run the engine without the belt on to see if the noise doesn't happen.

Think I will leave that one too the garage!