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[Lancave]

I realise that its almost impossible to diagnose mechanical issues via web but heres my issue.

I had the cambelt done around 6 weeks ago. 2000 V6 facelift Elite.

When i had it done, upon start up after a few days it seemed like I had a chicken under the bonnet. Not a horrendous noise but you could notice it.

After it was driven literally straight away the noise went. Tended to be just on cold startup.

I went for a long run on the motorway last night.

This morning I started the car up and had a rather loud squeeking noise that persistent when driving.

Inspecting the car tonight the noise, on tick over had turned to a more 'metalic', 'chiming' noise.

It almost sounds like some sort of bearing has collapsed?

Any ideas?

Do the pulleys that drive the aux belt have bearings in them?

I presume the aux belt is removed when cambelt is done? Overtightening of the aux belt on re-installation?

Could it be this?

I think it connected with the cambelt change, although I dont think its the cambelt itself thats making the noise. I dont think this is possible.

Cheers!

[Elite Pete]

I realise that its almost impossible to diagnose mechanical issues via web but heres my issue.

I had the cambelt done around 6 weeks ago. 2000 V6 facelift Elite.

When i had it done, upon start up after a few days it seemed like I had a chicken under the bonnet. Not a horrendous noise but you could notice it.

After it was driven literally straight away the noise went. Tended to be just on cold startup.

I went for a long run on the motorway last night.

This morning I started the car up and had a rather loud squeeking noise that persistent when driving.

Inspecting the car tonight the noise, on tick over had turned to a more 'metalic', 'chiming' noise.

It almost sounds like some sort of bearing has collapsed?

Any ideas?

Do the pulleys that drive the aux belt have bearings in them?

I presume the aux belt is removed when cambelt is done? Overtightening of the aux belt on re-installation?

Could it be this?

I think it connected with the cambelt change, although I dont think its the cambelt itself thats making the noise. I dont think this is possible.

Cheers!

The aux belt has its own automatic tensioner. I would remove the aux belt and start the car see if the noise goes, that should narrow it down a bit

[dbug]

As Pete says, but only run the engine for a very short while.

If noise gone, most likely candidate is aux belt tensioner (top rh side facing engine)  You can get just the pulley from Vx for around £23 on TC - Vx will try to sell you complete tensioner assembly for £65   Stick out for pulley only. 

[The Red Baron]

As Pete says, but only run the engine for a very short while.

If noise gone, most likely candidate is aux belt tensioner (top rh side facing engine)  You can get just the pulley from Vx for around £23 on TC - Vx will try to sell you complete tensioner assembly for £65   Stick out for pulley only. 

if you are facing the engine then its left side.

[dbug]

As Pete says, but only run the engine for a very short while.

If noise gone, most likely candidate is aux belt tensioner (top rh side facing engine)  You can get just the pulley from Vx for around £23 on TC - Vx will try to sell you complete tensioner assembly for £65   Stick out for pulley only. 

if you are facing the engine then its left side.

Whoops    don't know me left from right - must be an age thing/moment 

[The Red Baron]

As Pete says, but only run the engine for a very short while.

If noise gone, most likely candidate is aux belt tensioner (top rh side facing engine)  You can get just the pulley from Vx for around £23 on TC - Vx will try to sell you complete tensioner assembly for £65   Stick out for pulley only. 

if you are facing the engine then its left side.

Whoops    don't know me left from right - must be an age thing/moment 

happens to us all

[jonathanh]

right - although you think it is the aux belt, can you be sure?  if it is the cambelt then you could very easily ruin your engine if it slips etc.  because of the risk to a damaged engine I would first suspect the cambelt and then eliminate that, moving on to the aux belt

Now a few questions: did the garage that fitted it use the proper locking kit?  the point is that to do it properly they need to know what they are doing here. 
Second, and more importantly are you sure they fitted the right parts? there are three cambelt kits and it is possible the wrong one has been fitted or the right one fitted incorrectly.  this could cause the belt to rub, made odd noises and worse

Where are you?  if there is someone knowledgable near you maybe they could take a look?  Otherwise I would

1. slip the aux belt off as per Pete only if you feel like risking the engine if it is the cambelt

2. get the cambelt cover off and check the belt to see if it rubbing etc

[PMitchell]

I'm with the consensus, slip the aux belt off and start the engine, if noise still there stop it and get the cambelt cover off to sort out the bother.  Mine did this twice after the belts / tensioners were changed by Vx and fortunately they accepted the liability, but the problem was an overtensioned belt and the rubber 'swarf' if that's the right word, was collected all over the water pump (twice - I guess they don't learn), plus they hadn't quite timed the cams correctly either.  Anyway I use Darth Loo Knee now and he very careful, knows what he's about and I've had no recurrence of the noise or problems since.
I suspect this is similar to your problem, but get it sorted very quickly as compared to a cam belt kit an engine is expensive!

Cheers

Paul

[Marks DTM Calib]

Did they change the cambelt or the cambelt, tensioner and idlers?

[Lancave]

Alrite guys.

Ok, I think this noise is the aux belt pulley? Please confirm picture below is the pulley you guys were chatting about? Top left of all pulleys.



I removed the aux belt and only needed to spin this pulley to hear its absolutely shot. The bearing is knackered. Metal on metal grating.

I also took it off and the bearing is rough as hell and gives a horrid rough metal sound when you spin it as fast as you can on your fingers. Im convinced this is the issue so I didnt bother starting the engine up.

My main concern starting the engine up was the aux belt coming off and to be quite frank its massive and seems a bitch of a job to get back on the correct path and not being familiar with the routing didnt want to take the chance. Although as Ive not done this I couldnt rule out the chicken under the bonnet noise, which Im hoping is connected with this pulley.

Cheers for your help on this guys. Next step is to replace this pulley and hope all noises are cured!

Next question.Anyone take a guess on where this leak is coming from?

[Elite Pete]

Leak looks like its coming from the cam cover bolt, there are 8 per side and each has an O ring underneath the cam cover.

[jonathanh]

don't worry about taking the belt completely off, just take it off the crank pulley - then start up.  will confirm it is the aux pulley

note that you can get a new pulley and do not to buy a complete tensioner assembly from the stealer.  Ihas to be said that it is prety careless to change the cambelt without checking the aux pulley.  someone has got to take it off to change the cambelt so it is a 2 minute job to check it as part ofthe cambelt job....

good luck

[Boatboy]

Tensioner pulley can be regreased once you have it off. Didn't work for me, and sounds like yours may be beyond redemption, so a replacement pulley only is vx part no 9157962, £26.35 + vat less 10% for trade club card.

10 minute job to change the pulley, different story for the belt. Especiially when a neighbour drops by for a chat at a critical stage and you then start reassembling with the old belt. Doh!


Steve