Squeaky belt

[RobMorris]

Chaps

Car is an Audi A3 8P 2.0 tdi 140

Since yesterday I have noticed my engine squeaking loudly at times.
It sounds like a fan belt slipping? But I assume we dont have fan belts anymore?

As you look into the engine bay at the front left, there is a belt that goes round the starter motor / some adjuster 'thingy' and I believe this is the culprit?

On tick over the squeak comes and goes. If you give it a little rev the noise goes away. At the same time the adjuster 'thingy' seems to move and the belt does slip anymore.. (Tightens the belt perhaps?)

What you reckon?

Cheers

 

[cheekymonkey91]

Sounds like the alternator belt. That belt won't run the starter motor, it runs the alternator and a/c normally. Try some WD40, if not expect a new fanbelt and possible tensioner.

 

[RobMorris]

Ah thats what i meant! the alternator - not the starter motor!...
Il give it a squirt of WD40 then

Strangely enough it didnt do it this morning? Its cooled off down here.
It was squeaking whilst the weather was hot?!

 

[Silky-S3]

Don't be spraying WD40 on V-belts, it will just make them slip more. WD40 is a lubricant you know!

 

[Rom]

Most belt noises these days aren't from being loose.
They are from worn or perished belts.

Check the belt, general rule of thumb is to be able to twist the belt 90 degrees on it's longest run.

If its lose, and doesn't have an auto tensioner, tighten it.

A squirt of lube will normally work for a while. But will dry out.
There is proper belt sprays. Something like silicone spray or ptfe will last longer.

 

[RobMorris]

cheers - a new belt is less than a tenner - should i just change it / is it difficult?

 

[dex140]

My ond man has just done his! Alldegedly its easy ....hardest part is gettting the arch liner off!

 

[The Engineer]

Mine did this for around a month, I left it and left it then it got worse.

Ended up replacing the belt, tensioner and alternator as somehow the alternator pulley bearings perished resulting in it falling off.

Get it looked at ASAP as you may save yourself money.

 

[The Engineer]

 

[RobMorris]

Ouch! thanks for the heads up!

 

[Von Maximo]

Mine did this for around a month, I left it and left it then it got worse.

Ended up replacing the belt, tensioner and alternator as somehow the alternator pulley bearings perished resulting in it falling off.

Get it looked at ASAP as you may save yourself money.

I did the same with exactly the same result.

 

[RobMorris]

i did actually give a squirt of wd40 to the tensioner trying not to get the belt and so far so good...?