Hello,

 

Had this chirp on cold for pretty much ever. The old AUX tensioner shock had spat it's innards out, so assumed it was that. 

The chirp has stayed on constantly recently, so I changed the tensioner. No change. I then looked into the alternator pulley, that seems ok, it doesn't seem to flap about like other videos I've seen. 

Also the noise is alot louder / clearer nearer the crankshaft pulley :/. 

 

I noticed my coolant was on minimum. This isn't unusual as I have a known leak fixed with rad weld (yes I know), but that got me thinking if it could be the water pump leaking onto a pulley / bearing that could cause this? 

 

I can't seem to find any other videos with the same noise, if you make it to the end, you can see it's louder when directed at the crankshaft. 

 

https://youtu.be/1pWJ09iTzCE

 

Please note, the car is on 233k miles. Haven't the foggiest when the timing belt or water pump was last changed. 

Aux belt changed about 3 years ago. Aux tensioner 2 days ago. 

am i right in thinking youve had the car over 5yrs now? 

and if you have no idea when the timing belt was done last, its at a minimum more than 5yrs ago?

 

change it. and the water pump.

even if it doesnt solve the whine, at least it wont shatter and take out the entire engine - an engine capable of double that mileage if given a bit of half decent maintenance.

4 hours ago, mac11irl said:

am i right in thinking youve had the car over 5yrs now? 

and if you have no idea when the timing belt was done last, its at a minimum more than 5yrs ago?

 

change it. and the water pump.

even if it doesnt solve the whine, at least it wont shatter and take out the entire engine - an engine capable of double that mileage if given a bit of half decent maintenance.

Yea! 

 

Fair point. Do you know the best place to get timing belt kit and water pump? Or how much I should expect to pay a garage? 

Im in the wrong country to give an uo to date cost, but garage rate probably around 350-500 quid inc kit

1 hour ago, mac11irl said:

Im in the wrong country to give an uo to date cost, but garage rate probably around 350-500 quid inc kit

Ah fair enough. 

 

I'm a little concerned that I could throw £500 at it and it's actually the crank gone or something. 

Chirping sounds like the one way clutch on the alternator pulley, they dont have to have any apparent movement to make a hell of a racket but chirping is the right description.

 

Best way to check is to remove the belt and rotate the pulley in both directions by hand, you can also use a hex key in the centre of the shaft and rotate it counter clockwise (easy) and clockwise which should pull the belt and turn the engine with enough force.

50 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Chirping sounds like the one way clutch on the alternator pulley, they dont have to have any apparent movement to make a hell of a racket but chirping is the right description.

 

Best way to check is to remove the belt and rotate the pulley in both directions by hand, you can also use a hex key in the centre of the shaft and rotate it counter clockwise (easy) and clockwise which should pull the belt and turn the engine with enough force.

I have an alternator pulley removal tool on the way, and actually have a spare alternator sat in my shed somewhere, so may aswell swap the pulleys over and see if it cures it I suppose! 

Well if anyone is still following this. 100% the timing belt. 

Unclipped the timing belt cover. Ran the car, chirp chirp. Squeezed a bit of water onto the timing belt and no more chirp. 

 

Chirp comes back when it warms up and the water goes!

https://youtu.be/zR5JrrezR5JrreBDww

 

And video

Really recommend you get that waterpump changed ASAP in that case.  If a seal has gone in the waterpump, then you are snookered.  If the impeller is dying and putting stress on the internal bearing inside the waterpump, that would also cause that "chirp" noise.

I'm really torn to be honest. It needs a couple other bits and bobs for the mot. I'll be £600+ down and even then it may fail on something else. 

How I miss that engine, best economy and longevity by a million miles, and I took it to nearly half of that with just one cambelt change.

 

I really like your diagnostic method and will remember it for the future, cant work out what would be making the squeak other than perhaps a breakdown of or contamination to the surface finish of one of the idler or toothed pulleys.

 

It definitely will not be the water pump impellor or any of the bearings as putting water on the belt would not change that.

 

I also think it will be the tensioner pulley or an idler pulley if there is one (cant recall) because a tiny bit of water on the outside of the belt stopped the noise immediately so it has to be something that bears on the outside of the belt.

 

On mine the covers had not been correctly located by someone before me, is it possible that one of them is contacting the outside of the belt, that would be a strong suspect, try removing the top one completely and then pushing and pulling the lower one if it still makes the noise.

8 hours ago, J.R. said:

How I miss that engine, best economy and longevity by a million miles, and I took it to nearly half of that with just one cambelt change.

 

I really like your diagnostic method and will remember it for the future, cant work out what would be making the squeak other than perhaps a breakdown of or contamination to the surface finish of one of the idler or toothed pulleys.

 

It definitely will not be the water pump impellor or any of the bearings as putting water on the belt would not change that.

 

I also think it will be the tensioner pulley or an idler pulley if there is one (cant recall) because a tiny bit of water on the outside of the belt stopped the noise immediately so it has to be something that bears on the outside of the belt.

 

On mine the covers had not been correctly located by someone before me, is it possible that one of them is contacting the outside of the belt, that would be a strong suspect, try removing the top one completely and then pushing and pulling the lower one if it still makes the noise.

Alright! This is good, I'll have a go today if I get some time! 

 

Many thanks

22 hours ago, J.R. said:

How I miss that engine, best economy and longevity by a million miles, and I took it to nearly half of that with just one cambelt change.

 

I really like your diagnostic method and will remember it for the future, cant work out what would be making the squeak other than perhaps a breakdown of or contamination to the surface finish of one of the idler or toothed pulleys.

 

It definitely will not be the water pump impellor or any of the bearings as putting water on the belt would not change that.

 

I also think it will be the tensioner pulley or an idler pulley if there is one (cant recall) because a tiny bit of water on the outside of the belt stopped the noise immediately so it has to be something that bears on the outside of the belt.

 

On mine the covers had not been correctly located by someone before me, is it possible that one of them is contacting the outside of the belt, that would be a strong suspect, try removing the top one completely and then pushing and pulling the lower one if it still makes the noise.

Pulled cover off. Started her up and silent. Put cover on, silent. Left it running and the noise came back. Took it off again and sprayed clutch cleaner (I know probably not the best on the belt) on the tooth side, flat side and all the pulleys I could get too whilst it was running. 

It's now quieter and sometimes goes altogether.

Will be ringing to get some quotes tomorrow for cam belt and water pump. 

 

Oh yea, definitely have a coolant leak, topped it up to max a few days back, it was between max and Min today and I haven't drove it!

Oh yea, if anyone is at all interested. 

 

Had cambelt and water pump done. 

The water pump was actually seizing apparently, so caught it just in time.

 

If you hear the same god awful squeak, get yourself a new waterpump etc!

Also explains your coolant loss.

On 28/06/2020 at 08:26, mac11irl said:

am i right in thinking youve had the car over 5yrs now? 

and if you have no idea when the timing belt was done last, its at a minimum more than 5yrs ago?

 

change it. and the water pump.

even if it doesnt solve the whine, at least it wont shatter and take out the entire engine - an engine capable of double that mileage if given a bit of half decent maintenance.

 

so... you shouldve taken the advice from June then??