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[biggriffin]

Start with the easy, cheap, obvious things.
You've got to remove the belt.


Examine the covers and pulleys for wear marks


Next is the tensioner: is it noisy/gritty/rotating correctly? This is the likeliest problem with a serpentine belt assembly.


Then the water pump.


The the PAS pump.


Alternator


A/C compressor - this is the hardest thing to check.

While aux belt off, strip down tensioner bearing, re-pack with grease.
Air-con compressor, get a spray oil, not wd, or silicone, spray a small amount on the front, and down the back of the pulley(clutch).

[Bojan]

Did you manage to find out what is the problem, or at least eliminate some posible sources?

You have mentioned twice the car heated up too much. When did this started happening?
Are you sure about the airlock? As the cooling system is more-less self bleeding.

PS. regarding the regreasing of pulley bearings -> this is OK as preventive action.
However, if the bearing is dry and started making noise, I would rather replace it with a new one (eventually using old, regreased as a temporary fix). If it was running dry, the inner surrface of the bearring could got damaged, and this damage would only progress over time (althought it sounds OK). Its not very likely, but for 20 pounds (cost of tensioner pulley) i wouldn't take that chance on a long run.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

UPDATE:

Water pump! Belt off - no need to even turn her over. Checked the aux pulley, ran like a dream. Main middle pulley, groaned and 'honked', feels like dry rubber. So.. need to see if a decent mix of 50-50 antifreeze-water will quieten it down, or just bite the bullet and swap the water pump over.


I have, of course, got a spare GM water pump waiting, because I'm sad like that. Picked up a new o-ring from Vx today just in case, too.

[Nick W]

You've diagnosed the problem, have a replacement part and are still going to piss about hoping that new coolant will make it better? Another ten minutes and you'll have the new pump in place and will be able to forget about for another 17 years.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

It's purely because I've got some cleaning agent in the system which would apparently have caused the squeal, either that or just pure coincidence, which is possible.


I've been told, I'll have a bash at it tomorrow