Fan Belt Tensioner AGAIN!!!!

[mikebrennan]

Hi all.

Had the fan belt tensioner replaced about a month ago because it was making an awful noise.but it seems
to have started again!! Makes a horrible rattle when I'm pulling off so before I go back to the garage and kick off
Could it be something else.

Symptoms are:
If I'm in 1st or 2nd and just crawl then lightly apply some throttle,I get a really loud rattle for about 3 seconds
just before the turbo comes on boost.

Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[mick710]

I think I have same symptoms on mine mate, did it make the rattling sound before coming onto boost before you had tensioner done?

 

[Rgm racer]

does it make a sort of "chirpy" noise as well?

 

[mikebrennan]

Hi gents.
I'm still getting the chirping noise,so annoying...
It only seems to happen at low revs,beetween 1k-2k maybe just over and before the boost kicks in.
Not sure what it could be to be honest its really frustrating me now.I'm off for 2weeks so I'm going to have a look around the bay.Any ideas on what could be causing the chirpping

 

[Mk1 banana]

It's possible it could be another pulley causing the noise, but its worth getting it checked by the garage who done it....

Did they diagnose it first, or was it a guess?

 

[Mk1 banana]

If it's chirping it is quite possibly the the tensioner, I don't think the other pulleys can cause the chirping,

A Simple check for the pulleys: get something you can use as a locking pin-an Allen key will do, that fits in the tensioner,
Tug on the belt (by hand,) line the two holes up on the tensioner, put your 'pin' in to lock it, then slide the belt off, try spinning the pulleys, check for play and nasty noises, also see if the tensioner is tight, though, to check if its too loose you will need a 16mm spanner to let the tension on and off fully.

Perhaps a long shot, when was the cambelt tensioner-damper last renewed?

 

[mikebrennan]

When I took it to the garage they straight away said it was the fan belt tensioner.I went to Ireland in the car
and still had the problem.When I got back I had the part replaced incase it was fauilty but the noise still remains.
Had the cam belt and water pump changed 14k ago,is the tensioner included in this??
I'm changing my oil and plugs in the week so ill have a go at checking the tensioners.
Thanks for the info mate much appreciated.

 

[Allan_84]

the alternator pulley can also be source for your noise.
the alternator pulley have a one way bearing, some of them when they get old can get stuck. and then cause noises.

if you take off the poly-belt and take a firm grib on the pulley, then turn it quick and firm without letting your grip go, one way the alternator is locked to the pulley and the other way the alternator spinds some after you do the quick turn, if its locked both ways like a normal pulley would be then its ready to replace, if you know what i mean.

 

[Mk1 banana]

Depends, most garages change the cambelt tensioner pulley, but not the hydraulic unit, I've not listened to one that has given up though, I don't think they are very common...
Does the noise change/ get worse when you put air con on? Sometimes the a/c clutches get noisy also,
Though its more often the fan belt tensioner or alternator,

You're welcome mate

 

[mikebrennan]

Morning.

The noise does get louder sometimes.it depends how low I am in the rev range,if I'm In 2nd gear at crawling pace then lightly accelerate the noise gets quite load then stops once the revs have past the 2k mark.its very strange.
Think the alternator pulley is next to be looked at.
It's seriously annoying the f**k out of me.

 

[James_R]

the alternator pulley can also be source for your noise.
the alternator pulley have a one way bearing, some of them when they get old can get stuck. and then cause noises.

if you take off the poly-belt and take a firm grib on the pulley, then turn it quick and firm without letting your grip go, one way the alternator is locked to the pulley and the other way the alternator spinds some after you do the quick turn, if its locked both ways like a normal pulley would be then its ready to replace, if you know what i mean.

+1 for ^^^^

 

[Rgm racer]

Be very interested to hear what you find as I have had the chirpy noise for some time.

Is the fan belt/poly belt the same thing or different belts? Are the belts and tensioner accessed easy enough via top of engine bay for any checks or would i need to access from underneath or bit of both?

 

[Allan_84]

Be very interested to hear what you find as I have had the chirpy noise for some time.

Is the fan belt/poly belt the same thing or different belts? Are the belts and tensioner accessed easy enough via top of engine bay for any checks or would i need to access from underneath or bit of both?

fan-belt is the same as poly belt, yes, just another name for it.

a fan belt is normal the belt that runs the cooling fan, and fan belt is an old name for it that is just commonly known.
but as "fan belt" on the the leon dont run the cooling fan and never could do this as the engine is transverse mounted in the engine bay, then why stick to the old name that is not so appropriate.

 

[Mk1 banana]

Be very interested to hear what you find as I have had the chirpy noise for some time.

Is the fan belt/poly belt the same thing or different belts? Are the belts and tensioner accessed easy enough via top of engine bay for any checks or would i need to access from underneath or bit of both?

Check my earlier post mate, it's easy enough from up top, (mine is AUQ 180) think all 20vt's are same... The check is probably about 5-10 minutes, just note the route of the belt before removal. (Draw a pic if need be)
I don't think you could get it wrong on one if these any way.

 

[James_R]

The correct term for it is the auxiliary belt as it drives the engines auxiliary components.

 

[Allan_84]

The correct term for it is the auxiliary belt as it drives the engines auxiliary components.

yes thats sounds right.

 

[mikebrennan]

Thanks for all the tips guys.
I'm going to have a good look at it tomorrow and let you know if I find the problem.

 

[tener]

Thanks for all the tips guys.
I'm going to have a good look at it tomorrow and let you know if I find the problem.

Did u solve this problem? I now have the cherping sound, but can't find out where it's coming from.....somewhere around the tensioner area.

 

[mikebrennan]

Hi,
Haven't managed to find the problem mate
I'm going to book into a garage and hope they can sort it.

 

[Jabez]

Has anyone had a problem with the belt being misaligned on the tensioner, which for me seems to be a recurring problem. The belt appears to sit slightly off the tensioner, any thoughts?

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