Been running perfectly until I started it last night when out. Horrendous squealing belt noise and engine juddering. Took top covers off and cam belts looked ok thank goodness but it was dark and had no tools so had to resort to the AA (who I couldn't praise enough).
Anyway, AA found the main auxiliary belt to be slightly loose and whilst he was looking at it it stopped completely. Decided to cut it off so we could drive car without risk of it flying off and damaging vast amounts of stuff. Obviously no power steering or alternator. After cutting it and having to tug very hard it came away with a bit of its plastic casting embedded in it. I assume it got caught on an edge when it was going round loose.
Being lazy and letting garage fix it this time as can imagine myself stripping the car down, finding the problem then going "o SH**, its not just simply the tensioner needing retightening". On the phone to the independent he suspects its the bolt that holds the tensioner that has sheared and is a bit of a sod to get out to replace. I changed all the pulleys when I changed the belts last year but from memory I don't think the actual bracket of the tensioner gets changed, just its pulley. Anyway will keep you all updated.
Anyway, AA found the main auxiliary belt to be slightly loose and whilst he was looking at it it stopped completely. Decided to cut it off so we could drive car without risk of it flying off and damaging vast amounts of stuff. Obviously no power steering or alternator. After cutting it and having to tug very hard it came away with a bit of its plastic casting embedded in it. I assume it got caught on an edge when it was going round loose.
Being lazy and letting garage fix it this time as can imagine myself stripping the car down, finding the problem then going "o SH**, its not just simply the tensioner needing retightening". On the phone to the independent he suspects its the bolt that holds the tensioner that has sheared and is a bit of a sod to get out to replace. I changed all the pulleys when I changed the belts last year but from memory I don't think the actual bracket of the tensioner gets changed, just its pulley. Anyway will keep you all updated.
