GDI engine Auxiliary belt tensioner

[Worms]

Sorry, if there is a previous thread on this that I've not found. I have a start-up squeal from my auxiliary belt (the one that does AC and Power steering). 2003 V40, 1.8i GDI engine with 195,000 miles. I've replaced the belt and no matter how much tension, the squeal remains.

There is no feeling of roughness from the ac or ps drive bearings. I've had the tensioner out and it's bearing seems ok, but the face is very highly polished and has lost nearly all of the fine cross-hatching it obviously once had.

I would replace the tensioner just in case it is the bearing, but I can't find one on-line (a search only shows the one that is excluding-GDI). Any suggestions of a source or is it a trip to the local dealer?

Since it is a very simple pulley wheel (it really just needs to be roughly the same diameter and accept the central bolt) is there an alternative from another marque that might be appropriate?

[ilikewatch]

Originally Posted by Worms

Sorry, if there is a previous thread on this that I've not found. I have a start-up squeal from my auxiliary belt (the one that does AC and Power steering). 2003 V40, 1.8i GDI engine with 195,000 miles. I've replaced the belt and no matter how much tension, the squeal remains.

There is no feeling of roughness from the ac or ps drive bearings. I've had the tensioner out and it's bearing seems ok, but the face is very highly polished and has lost nearly all of the fine cross-hatching it obviously once had.

I would replace the tensioner just in case it is the bearing, but I can't find one on-line (a search only shows the one that is excluding-GDI). Any suggestions of a source or is it a trip to the local dealer?

Since it is a very simple pulley wheel (it really just needs to be roughly the same diameter and accept the central bolt) is there an alternative from another marque that might be appropriate?

Aren't these the one's? Or am I looking at the wrong one:

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/driv...6472_g310.html

Eurocarparts also do one by INA - It wouldn't surprise me if INA were the OEM supplier.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Worms

Sorry, if there is a previous thread on this that I've not found. I have a start-up squeal from my auxiliary belt (the one that does AC and Power steering). 2003 V40, 1.8i GDI engine with 195,000 miles. I've replaced the belt and no matter how much tension, the squeal remains.

There is no feeling of roughness from the ac or ps drive bearings. I've had the tensioner out and it's bearing seems ok, but the face is very highly polished and has lost nearly all of the fine cross-hatching it obviously once had.

I would replace the tensioner just in case it is the bearing, but I can't find one on-line (a search only shows the one that is excluding-GDI). Any suggestions of a source or is it a trip to the local dealer?

Since it is a very simple pulley wheel (it really just needs to be roughly the same diameter and accept the central bolt) is there an alternative from another marque that might be appropriate?

The reason you cant cure the noisy auxiliary belt is because it is not the auxiliary belt , It is the Alternator belt behind the engine !! better slacken off the Auxiliary belt before it causes the tensioner to fail ...

[Worms]

Originally Posted by ilikewatch

Aren't these the one's? Or am I looking at the wrong one:

http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/driv...6472_g310.html

Eurocarparts also do one by INA - It wouldn't surprise me if INA were the OEM supplier.

Thanks! The top one on that link is the one I am looking for. The lower one is the same as the INA one that Eurocarparts already sold me, which I will be returning.

[Worms]

Originally Posted by Clan

The reason you cant cure the noisy auxiliary belt is because it is not the auxiliary belt , It is the Alternator belt behind the engine !! better slacken off the Auxiliary belt before it causes the tensioner to fail ...

Thanks, I will adjust the alternator belt. The noise seems to be coming from higher up in the engine bay and seemed to vary a bit with the tightness of the auxiliary belt.

I did already slacken the auxiliary belt back, I only over-tightened it as a test.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Worms

Thanks, I will adjust the alternator belt. The noise seems to be coming from higher up in the engine bay and seemed to vary a bit with the tightness of the auxiliary belt.

I did already slacken the auxiliary belt back, I only over-tightened it as a test.

The alternator belt gets forgotten down there . Once the belt has been slipping it needs renewing to prevent the noise otherwise it will be tensioned too much .
When was the cambelt last changed ? They are usually all done at the same time .

[skyship007]

Originally Posted by Worms

Sorry, if there is a previous thread on this that I've not found. I have a start-up squeal from my auxiliary belt (the one that does AC and Power steering). 2003 V40, 1.8i GDI engine with 195,000 miles. I've replaced the belt and no matter how much tension, the squeal remains.

There is no feeling of roughness from the ac or ps drive bearings. I've had the tensioner out and it's bearing seems ok, but the face is very highly polished and has lost nearly all of the fine cross-hatching it obviously once had.

I would replace the tensioner just in case it is the bearing, but I can't find one on-line (a search only shows the one that is excluding-GDI). Any suggestions of a source or is it a trip to the local dealer?

Since it is a very simple pulley wheel (it really just needs to be roughly the same diameter and accept the central bolt) is there an alternative from another marque that might be appropriate?

First of all I would do an Aux belt off check, just to confirm the noise is from that belt and not the cam belt.

Has the alternator been changed before, cos 195K is a lot of miles for one ??

If it has not, then I would change it for a good Recon, new tensioner, new belt and an idler pulley (If required).

Volvo alternators cost one arm and two legs and their tensioner will not be cheap either.
Any well know brand should be OK. I've got an SKF made in Germany Aux tensioner, a Conti belt and a Hella alternator.
Skandix will quote for any manufacturer, assuming you give them a part number etc. They also do some own label parts.

[Worms]

Originally Posted by Clan

The alternator belt gets forgotten down there . Once the belt has been slipping it needs renewing to prevent the noise otherwise it will be tensioned too much .
When was the cambelt last changed ? They are usually all done at the same time .

I've been carrying a new alternator belt in the car, but not replaced it yet. When I am investigating the alternator belt tension, I'll put the new one on.

It's booked in for a new Cam belt and MOT the week after next, I'm just sorting out as many of the potential pitfalls ahead of that as possible.

[Worms]

Originally Posted by skyship007

First of all I would do an Aux belt off check, just to confirm the noise is from that belt and not the cam belt.

Has the alternator been changed before, cos 195K is a lot of miles for one ??

If it has not, then I would change it for a good Recon, new tensioner, new belt and an idler pulley (If required).

Volvo alternators cost one arm and two legs and their tensioner will not be cheap either.
Any well know brand should be OK. I've got an SKF made in Germany Aux tensioner, a Conti belt and a Hella alternator.
Skandix will quote for any manufacturer, assuming you give them a part number etc. They also do some own label parts.

Thanks. As far as I know, it's the original alternator. I've had the car from about 35k and the last 6 years, so it's not had an alternator in the last 160,000 miles!

Despite its mileage, it's in pretty good shape, only got its first new exhaust last year! Discs are another matter and it seems to eat these annually .

[druid]

Hi Worms, i had squeal on mine, thought it was the alt' pulley but the GDi has a soilid pulley. Fitted 2 new Contitech belts and its all good again (old belt was dayco - don't they are awful) hope you get sorted mate!
I had visions of cambelt and tensioners etc but just belts fixed me.