Squeaking noise - Cam belt?

mattsleon

Active Member
Aug 21, 2013
9
0
Hi all, I have a 63 plate Leon 1.4 TSI 140 FR. It's done just over 32,000 miles.

This morning I was on my way to work when after a minute from start-up, I notice a faint squeaking like noise like a cog in need of some lubrication. The noise then got a bit louder as I continued. It was very difficult to identify where the noise was coming from and initially I thought it was radio interference as it sounded both mechanical and electrical.
I muted the radio and continued. The noise(s) stopped but then came back whenever I braked or turned the wheels (so when the revs went down). I dropped my wife off after about 1.5 miles, and she said she could here the squeaking sound from outside when I drove off. I carried on and after another mile, the radio oddly creeped back on despite being muted and the noise went.

The rest of the journey (about 8 miles) went fine with no noises.

My suspicions are that the noise is linked to the cam and/or timing belts. I feel that the radio oddity was just a coincidence. Anyone else experienced this?
 

DEAN0

Old Git
Feb 1, 2006
5,439
1
425
Preston - UK
Hi all, I have a 63 plate Leon 1.4 TSI 140 FR. It's done just over 32,000 miles.

This morning I was on my way to work when after a minute from start-up, I notice a faint squeaking like noise like a cog in need of some lubrication. The noise then got a bit louder as I continued. It was very difficult to identify where the noise was coming from and initially I thought it was radio interference as it sounded both mechanical and electrical.
I muted the radio and continued. The noise(s) stopped but then came back whenever I braked or turned the wheels (so when the revs went down). I dropped my wife off after about 1.5 miles, and she said she could here the squeaking sound from outside when I drove off. I carried on and after another mile, the radio oddly creeped back on despite being muted and the noise went.

The rest of the journey (about 8 miles) went fine with no noises.

My suspicions are that the noise is linked to the cam and/or timing belts. I feel that the radio oddity was just a coincidence. Anyone else experienced this?

More likely to be the aux drive belt.
The PAS takes quite a bit of power when turning and that can cause the belt to slip on the alternator pulley.

Cam/timing belts have teeth - if one of those is slipping - the damage is already done and the engine would not be running.
 

LouG

Active Member
Dec 1, 2017
1,319
482
Nelson, New Zealand
I've never heard a toothed belt squeak or squeal. It's most likely the accessory drive belt, or, less likely, a dry tensioner bearing.