Engine Bay Squeak / Squeal

[jinxedkitten]

I've had an unpleasant squeak /squeal noise coming from my engine bay for a little while.  I'm going to be having some engine work done soon so I'd like some help identifying its possible cause so I can get it sorted at the same time.

I know there have been a few with similar issues, but I am hoping someone can identify this particular one from this short video?

It happens when she's been standing cold for at least 5 hours, disappears after she warms up or has been recently running, the noise goes for about 5 minutes. It appears to be coming from the right hand side of the engine, near the timing chain tensioner, maybe a bit lower. The polyv belt was replaced about 8,000 miles ago during a rebuild, so I don't think that's likely, although I'm not ruling it out.

Potential suspects so far; timing chain tensioner itself, water pump, maybe?

[MartinC]

It doesn't sound like a chain related noise, more an auxiliary belt noise.

Could be loose belt, just slipping.
Belt tensioner
Alternator
Water pump
Aircon pump (if fitted)

There was a time when if you weren't sure when the water pump was last changed, and you were having engine work done, you replaced it anyway.  Not sure if that can be said for the MR2, but as they are only about £40ish I would anyway.

Hope this helps

[jinxedkitten]

I thought it sounded very belt-like also.

She doesn't have aircon, so won't be that puppy.

Ah yes, forgot to add alternator to my suspect list!

[MartinC]

Just another thought, how old is the battery?  I had a Escort XR3i that developed a squeak similar to this.  Turned out to be the battery in the end pulling too much on the alternator when charging after a start.  

Worth a check.   s:) s:)

[StuC]

Worth checking out this thread. I believe Nige had a similar issue a while back.  s;-) ;-) s;-)

On topic, deffo something of the rotating nature.

[loadswine]

Sounds like something on the accessory belt line to me as well. Could be alternator, or possibly an idler pulley. If you, or someone else uses a length of broomstick or similar rod, it should be possible to listen to various areas, but this needs to be done VERY carefully.
I don't think its a rodent commune, like my old airbox. That was a bit odd!  s;) s;)

[jinxedkitten]

No rodents allowed in my ratster!

Can't find my multimeter to test the battery (not sure when it was last replaced, could be quite old)  s:( s:(

[gazza1286]

Not the belt. That's a dry bearing. Spraying wd40 on the alternator shaft on the inboard side of the pulley wheel will probably result in a temporary cessation or variation in pitch. The sound will fade as heat will expand the race to take up the slack. To eliminate anything else you could run the engine briefly with the auxiliary belt removed.

[stupink]

Second dry bearing, So not sure what pulleys you have running off that belt.. but its one of them

[jinxedkitten]

So I had a good listen with the aid of a stick this morning and I'm fairly sure it's not timing chain area, it seems a bit too loud for that, have a feeling it's more likely something along the aux belt.

Getting a new multimeter tonight to make sure it's not an older battery pulling too much from the alternator.

Gazza, I'll give some WD40 on the alternator shaft a go, just to make sure, it's the pulley top right in this image, yes?


If none of those fix it, then I'll investigate water pump and more involved alternator problems.

Thanks all for your advice  s:D s:D

[Joesson]

Top right in that image is the alternator.
When you are looking into the engine bay from the top it is the pulley nearest the front of the car and towards the bottom of the engine.
Good hunting!

[Markb]

I would go for the belt......hit it with a slight squirt of wd40/silicon belt dressing whilst running,see if it goes away.

[jinxedkitten]

WD40 ON EVERYTHING!!!!


It's not like I'll run out...

[Mike G]

If you've got any of that WD40 PTFE dry lubricant in that little lot  
, its ace for sorting out those sort of squeaks .......  but use the long tube they come supplied with and just squirt it locally initially to try to pinpoint the culprit ?

[Markb]

WD40 ON EVERYTHING!!!!


It's not like I'll run out...

Just a small squirt......if its the belt the squeak will instantly go away.

[jinxedkitten]

Battery is reading a good steady 12.64v so I think that's fine.
Just gave the belt, alternator shaft and crank pulley a quick spray with the good stuff, squeak seems to have minimised, buts its only a short period it lasts for after turning the key anyway, and it's not that long since I drove it home from work so I'll see how it sounds tomorrow morning  s:) s:)

[jinxedkitten]

BOOOO
Squeak there just as bad as ever this morning.
So either I didn't actually manage to get any WD40 in the appropriate dry bearing, or it's more complicated water pump/alternator issues.
Thought it was too good to be true  s:( s:(

[StuC]

interesting that you have a squeak/noise on Blondie and you have a dream about Rich's car.
Coincidence?  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

[gazza1286]

The WD40 was only meant to help identify the problem - it would never solve it. Spraying it in more than one place will only lead to confusion as to the source of the problem.

[jinxedkitten]

No, but it has excluded the belt itself from being the problem.
The first place I sprayed it, on the belt itself, did nothing, I did stop and listen for any changes before moving onto the next area.
The last place I sprayed was the alternator shaft, and I'd say that was when it got quieter.
I'll have a go again tonight just on the alternator and see what happens.

[Jandaw]

If you are only doing short runs you are expecting a lot from your battery especially with high demands from heater, lights, wipers etc at this time of year.
Battery volts don't tell the whole story.
Try charging your battery fully overnight, if the squeal, whistle or whine disappears you've got your answer.

[jinxedkitten]

Good suggestion.
I have just plugged the battery into the charger/optimiser and it's flicking straight over to maintain rather than charging, so I think the battery is OK

[krazysteve]

Battery is reading a good steady 12.64v so I think that's fine.
Just gave the belt, alternator shaft and crank pulley a quick spray with the good stuff, squeak seems to have minimised, buts its only a short period it lasts for after turning the key anyway, and it's not that long since I drove it home from work so I'll see how it sounds tomorrow morning  s:) s:)

When you checked the battery voltage was the engine running? You should be getting around 14 volts.

[jinxedkitten]

When you checked the battery voltage was the engine running? You should be getting around 14 volts.

Nope, that was with engine off.

[Anonymous]

interesting that you have a squeak/noise on Blondie and you have a dream about Rich's car.
Coincidence?  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Its her subconscious saying bolt on a turbo.

Please