e46 325 pulley/tensioner diagnosis

Alanstrainor · 29-09-2013 6:17pm #1

Right, so my car is making a squealing noise from cold. The noise is coming from the front of the engine bay, and I can be pretty sure it's a pulley or a tensioner, or even a water pump. I'm just trying to come up with a plan to tie it down to something so I can resolve.

My plan was to by two new belts, remove the old; and with the old belts removed test each pulley and tensioner to see how fooked they are. When I find the culprit I can then source parts. I'll most likely pop on the new belts in the meantime until I get the parts. How does that sound?

emeldc · 29-09-2013 9:58pm

Just change them all including the pump. If one is making noise, the others wont be far behind it. It's the only way in my opinion.

Alanstrainor · 29-09-2013 10:46pm

emeldc wrote: »

Just change them all including the pump. If one is making noise, the others wont be far behind it. It's the only way in my opinion.

Aye, that is over course the other option! :pac:

Going to price up parts this week and see how bad it is, if I can stomach it I'll just replace them.

Cheers!

Ded_Zebra · 30-09-2013 8:33am

Replacing them all would be madness IMO there is just no need as the others might have thousands and thousands of miles of perfect service left.
What I would do is take the belt off and feel each of the pulleys is loose/ grumbling. If that doesn't work put the belt back on and get a mechanics stethoscope and then with the belt on listen to each or them and see where the noise is coming from. Once you find that then buy what ever you need and then fit it with a new belt.

biko · 30-09-2013 1:12pm

Is the noise for a few secs only or a few minutes?

Does it sound like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3skFC9X2b5Y

Alanstrainor · 30-09-2013 1:17pm

Its a few minutes worth! will listen to the video when I'm on my PC!

Alanstrainor · 30-09-2013 1:42pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Its a few minutes worth! will listen to the video when I'm on my PC!

yup almost identical to that noise. Not as bad as that video.

biko · 30-09-2013 2:07pm

You can put something on the belt itself. If this works you know it's the belt.
If not, pulleys. Tbh, it's prob the pulleys.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDzVDNdcQiM

Alanstrainor · 01-10-2013 12:17pm

Cheers for all the replies lads. Going to look at this this evening or tomorrow.

Just in terms of the tensioners, mine is mechanical, can I replace them with hydraulic?

Alanstrainor · 01-10-2013 11:01pm

Just an update on this one. I got on to my mechanic, who said that I could theoretically put the hydraulic tensioner in, however he didn't recommend it. So I went with the mechanical instead. Have the tensioners, pulleys and belts ordered. Need to source the water pump pulley, but will just pick that up in Murphy and Gunn during the week. Here's hoping for some nice weather on the weekend so I can get this done!

emeldc · 01-10-2013 11:27pm

I did mine two years ago at 60k miles but I'm sure I bought the whole lot as a kit including the pump.

Alanstrainor · 05-10-2013 3:32pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Out with the old and in with the new! The engine is so damn quiet now, before the squealing even started the water pump/alternator pulley was making noise. Now she's perfect.

Only took 1 and a half hours from start to finish, and considering I had no instructions to follow, I think I did rather well!

These are the old Tensioners with pulleys. Only one was gone bad but the other would have failed in 10km I reckon.

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/81540/274655.jpg

Just thought I would post here too!

Job done, very easy to do, and not too much swearing. Even if your pulleys aren't completely gone, I'd recommend doing it, the difference between the idle noise from the engine is immense!

Next job is the water pump and coolant flush!

e46 325 pulley/tensioner diagnosis

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