Squeak/squawk on startup & on bumpy roads - UPDATED

[SurreyMR2]

Hi

Gary Dunn has suggested I post here with my problem.

My 2001 MR2 has 58k on the clock and runs perfectly and is an oil burner but this doesn't give any issues.

On start up when hot or cold I get a squeak/squark. This doesn't happen when belt removed though. Replaced idle pulley, tensioner & belt. Alternator spins perfectly & electric load makes no difference.

I also get a similar or the same noise on bumpy roads & tight bends. But can't see this would be related.

Water pump spins ok, but has slight play. I have a Napa one ready to fit.

I removed cam cover and no evidence of heating due to oil starvation and all cam lobes look the same. And if I start engine with oil cap of it spatters everywhere indicating that oil pressure ok.

Water pump possible issue? Or should I be looking elsewhere?

TIA

Andy

[Ardent]

Who is Gary Dunn?

Not easy I know as competing sounds. But a vid or audio recording might help.

[shnazzle]

We know Gary very well, under a different guise

So the belt is causing some resistance somewhere that's causing it to squeak. 

Idler pulley damper? Much overlooked part. But it takes a beating on start-up

[SurreyMR2]

So the belt is causing some resistance somewhere that's causing it to squeak.

Idler pulley damper? Much overlooked part. But it takes a beating on start-up

Fitted a Gates tensioner that has the damper included.

[SurreyMR2]

New water pump fitted and I still get the squeal at startup.

I've ordered some anti squeal spray so I can hopefully confirm it is purely belt related.

While under car I found that the fuel filler pipe at lower end rattles in the bracket, this could be the bump & bend noise 🤞.

[SurreyMR2]

So anti squeal spray helped as noise reduced.

Decided to try different belt brand and so fitted a continental belt and now no noise on start up, or on bends and bumps. Just a tiny noise at 2500rpm. Interestingly Conti belt was slightly shorter despite both being same spec as brace bar didn't come back as far.

Another member has a good alternator that I am going to fit and I'm certain this will fix it completely.

[SurreyMR2]

It turns out there were actually two squeaks!

Belt area was one of them. After replacing, idle tensioner bearing, water pump, belt, tensioner, water pump & alternator one went and this area is much quieter. Noticeable wear in everything except belt & alternator.

I then started prodding & poking around rest of engine and found second squeak. It's the exhaust to cat joint! If you man handle exhaust back box it squeaks. If you move box to sit differently and start car no squeak.

Car currently has Zero single exit back box with standard cat. Zero box came with new bolts, springs & gasket. As it happens I am waiting for my Zero sports cat to be ready so hopefully squeak will disappear along with old cat.

[SurreyMR2]

All squeaks gone.

Zero sports cat fitted with Zero rear box and squeak gone. Was the joint between cat & rear box.

If you have a squeak on start up and odd one when driving you can test this joint easily. When exhaust is cold move exhaust and cat so joint moves, mine squeaked.

Other squeak was a combination of warn bearings around drive belt area. Engine is super quiet now.