2005 XC90 2.4 D5 engine rattle near timing belt

[stJanis]

Hi!

My volvo diesel recently started making some kind of rattling/grinding noise near the timing belt. I honestly have no idea what could cause it. The timing belt has been changed a few months ago along with the water pump and also oil has been changed recently. (everything changed by a professional) It's the older engine type. Also no leaks at all.

yes, yes, I know there are multiple threads about engine rattle but I could not find any that match my problem. Please no ''take it to the volvo dealership/service'' advices, I'm the kind do it at home guy with minor things.

Please see video for the exact sound. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjAxS_gGrvs ) Also there is a small ticking noise coming from somewhere in the same area not in sync with the rattling noise. The rattling noise appears once in a full cycle. The engine seems to have a bit more vibration than before but at the same time it could be just me. Also, the turbo has gotten a bit louder but that may not have anything to do with the rattle and ticking. I have noticed that the steering has gotten harder when stationary (I know it gets harder after a few hard turns when trying to park but now it's coming on way earlier than that).

OBD scans show no result so that technically means the timing itself is fine for now. Also I'm a calm driver so I don't rev it high.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

[paddy74]

Originally Posted by stJanis

[...]

yes, yes, I know there are multiple threads about engine rattle but I could not find any that match my problem. Please no ''take it to the volvo dealership/service'' advices, I'm the kind do it at home guy with minor things.

It would be helpful, to know what you've checked, if you have already read the threads regarding the usual suspects. Just a short list.

Originally Posted by stJanis

Please see video for the exact sound. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjAxS_gGrvs ) Also there is a small ticking noise coming from somewhere in the same area not in sync with the rattling noise. The rattling noise appears once in a full cycle. The engine seems to have a bit more vibration than before but at the same time it could be just me. Also, the turbo has gotten a bit louder but that may not have anything to do with the rattle and ticking. I have noticed that the steering has gotten harder when stationary (I know it gets harder after a few hard turns when trying to park but now it's coming on way earlier than that).

OBD scans show no result so that technically means the timing itself is fine for now. Also I'm a calm driver so I don't rev it high.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

Sounds not original How did you check? VIDA or a general OBD reader?
Did you check both belts? And if so, does the sound correspond to one round for each belt? You could make a dot or something similar on the belts...

[stJanis]

I checked a couple of threads in this forums that popped up first, some 10 of them, none of them matched the sound so I moved on.

I used a general obd readed that has showed timing problems in other cars, one of them also being a volvo.

Yes, the sound occurs exactly for each round of the auxiliary V belt (the one that drives the ac and power steering).

I guess that makes it no longer a timing problem 😄

Thank you for your time!

[Harley Dave]

Belt beginning to break up and split?? - part of it rubbing/hitting against something??

I had that happen on a SAAB 9000 back in the day

If its once per revolution, its pretty well got to be the belt

Cheers

Dave

[Farmer Joe]

Were the idler and tensioner replaced with the timing belt? What about the aux belt tensioner assembly? All were shot on my car when I did the timing belt recently, so I replaced them all. Got rid of a rattle/chirping noise.

[stJanis]

Originally Posted by Harley Dave

Belt beginning to break up and split?? - part of it rubbing/hitting against something??

I had that happen on a SAAB 9000 back in the day

If its once per revolution, its pretty well got to be the belt

Cheers

Dave

The belt seems to be in a really good condition, no cracks nothing rubbing/hitting against it but I'll check it closer a tad later.

Thanks!

[stJanis]

Originally Posted by Farmer Joe

Were the idler and tensioner replaced with the timing belt? What about the aux belt tensioner assembly? All were shot on my car when I did the timing belt recently, so I replaced them all. Got rid of a rattle/chirping noise.

I'm unsure when the previous owner changed the pulleys and tensioners, might be one of the reasons for the noise. The AC makes noises sometimes (louder than normal) so that could also be the ac compressor malfunctioning.

[Tannaton]

Check the overrun clutch on the alternator.....

[reggit]

I'd go for the alternator pulley, however considering the price of changing the aux belt, tensioner and alternator pulley, I always change these when I change the car.
I did have the belt itself causing the noise, on my last car. When I took it off, there was a very slight kink on the length of the non-genuine belt that was causing the noise.

Have you run the car with the aux belt off to see if the noise clears? At least you'd then know if it is on the aux run.

[stJanis]

Originally Posted by reggit

I'd go for the alternator pulley, however considering the price of changing the aux belt, tensioner and alternator pulley, I always change these when I change the car.
I did have the belt itself causing the noise, on my last car. When I took it off, there was a very slight kink on the length of the non-genuine belt that was causing the noise.

Have you run the car with the aux belt off to see if the noise clears? At least you'd then know if it is on the aux run.

I'll check it out some time soon, I just didn't want to take anything apart before even knowing what was causing it.
Yeah, it is the aux, because it happens exactly once a aux belt cycle. I have suspicion that it probably is the belt but the ticking noise that sounds LIKE a spark plug (not an actual spark plug on a diesel obviously) so that might be something hitting against it? But visually there is nothing hitting or scraping. Also, it disappears after driving when the engine is warm. I'll come back in a few days I just don't have the time for it now.

Thanks to everyone for the help! You guys rock