Loud "chirping" Under My Xsara's Bonnet?

[Petrolhead]

Six weeks ago I heard a loud "chirping" sound under my Xsara's bonnet on start up. "Ooh, wow - this has to be a failing auxiliary pulley bearing", I thought, as I so carefully listened intently to each of the 5 possible culprits around which the serpentine belt runs.

Surprise! Not a single pulley gave away the game, forcing me to glibly (i) replace the belt and (ii) dump and refill my steering box with new fluid, thinking that I've found  the solution. Not a chance....the chirp, chirp has now dogged me for six weeks and I'm losing my cool with the fact that I cannot isolate where the chirping is coming from.

There are no filings around any of the pulleys, no smoke billowing from over heating bearings; 'anti squeal' belt spray does nothing to relieve the chirping and to add insult to injury .... I about to nervously embark on a 600km trip in 10 days time. 

Another clue: when I turn the steering rack left or right - whether stationery or on the move -  the chirping sound increases in volume - how embarrassing in public parking lots! 

Chaps, I've hit a brick wall as to my next move. HELP...please!

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Chirping belt noises could be an incorrect belt tension, possibly the auxiliary belt but also the timing belt which will be behind some covers. So as well as a worn belt or pulley it could be a belt tensioner fault. How many miles has the car done and how old is it and which engine does it have ? When was the timing belt last replaced ?

[Petrolhead]

Hi Paul, thanks for interest.....the chirp's driving me crazy!

Miles done: 125K

Xsara 2002 ; auto; 1.6 petrol + aircon

Timing belt replaced @ 100K note on motor to say next change @ 200K

Observation: Yes I also suspected that the tensioner could be  due for replacement @ $160 ( rip off!), so before rushing in to Citroen and ordering one, I manually tensioned the belt gently with a breaker bar and the 'chirp' still persists..

Other observations; 

1. With the motor running and in neutral the 'chirp' is erratic;

2. engage drive and the 'chirp' gets louder;

3. turn the steering either left lock or right lock the 'chirp' also gets louder.

4. With the serpentine belt removed from the pulleys and then by spinning each manually ( where possible) , there is no sound of grinding or graunching on any of them.

Best regards, Petrolhead.

[paul.h]

Have you run the engine with the belt off to see if the noise goes ? Turning the steering will put more load on the belt from the power steering pump. When I replaced the aux belt on our C5 I was going to also replace the tensioner until I found it was expensive but it had only done about 30k miles and it seems ok. Rather than a new one, you could try a used one from a breakers yard. The Citroen part number might be 5751A2 for cars from RPO 9156 (production date 3/12/2001). If you search on this you can probably find it a lot cheaper if you need one, as an example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tensioner-Pulley-V-Ribbed-Belt-Fits-CITROEN-Xsara-PEUGEOT-206-1-1-1-6L-1996/141763397417?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D46150%26meid%3D581bc31504ae4176b150c145134549cc%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D132026996504&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

Have you checked the power steering oil level, just in case it is a problem with the pump, was there any play in the belt pulleys which might be letting the belt be misaligned ?  Useful info http://www.daycoproducts.com/diagnosing-misalignment-and-belt-noise

[Petrolhead]

Hi Paul,

Wow, thank you for the huge amount of effort you've offered to finding a solution.

To answer you:

1. 'Have you run the engine with the belt off to see if the noise goes'.....No , perhaps it's coming from else where - I'll try and report back.

2. 'Turning the steering will put more load on the belt; .... exactly, which I mentioned in my note above.

3. 'Have you checked the power steering oil level' ... I replaced and filled the fluid as per my note above.

4. 'was there any play in the belt pulleys' ... I 'fiddled' and spun which ever ones I could and felt no excessive play.

Just yesterday chatted to the service manager at a Citroen Peugeot dealership here on the sunshine coast of Queensland Aus, ( also named Paul and has 30 years in the motor game). 

His suggestion:

Draw 3 lines with a 'wipe out' marker, from the center of the Harmonic Balancer Pulley to it's circumference.( 'cut' the HBP into 3 equal segments).Start the car give it a few revs and cut the motor. Check the lines on the HBP!

If they're out of alignment the HBP is slipping and ....hello chirp!

The result:

My 3 lines are all out of alignment = slipping is therefore happening.Bugger, so now I have another component to have to replace.

I'll report back when the replacement has been fitted. Perhaps some of the other Citroen owners will also benefit from this exercise....I hope so.

Petolhead.

[paul.h]

I have read that the noise these pulleys make when the rubber insert has perished is more of a rattle but maybe you have the belt chirping due to misalignment from the pulley and the pulley making its own noise. The Citroen part might be 0515R8 but this should be checked using your VIN. At least you now know what needs replacing and it should cost less than the belt tensioner, as an example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crankshaft-Pulley-For-Peugeot-206-207-307-308-Bipper-Partner-1-4l-1-6l-16V-/302116926519?hash=item4657927437:g:2~4AAOSw44BYEKRd

[Petrolhead]

29.01.18

Hi Paul and fellow members,

Good news....the 'harmonic balancer pulley' was the culprit, I replaced it with a non OEM pulley and VOILA.....the canary 'died'!

Guess what? It was the simplest job I've done on my Xsara! I've done over 1000km since the replacement and not a single 'chirp' can be heard from under the bonnet.

Thank you Paul for all your speedy inputs....much appreciated.

Now the next job is to replace the fuel filter on my Xsara - the Haynes manual is totally incorrect with their explanation (P. 36 Xsara 2000=2002 handbook), it appears that I have to drop the fuel tank to remove the old filter as the retaining clip cannot simply be 'unclipped' with the filter in situ ! Bugger ....help anyone?

Petrolhead

[paul.h]

If you have to lower the fuel tank a bit, it can not be much of a job since replacing the fuel filter is only supposed to take about 15 minutes at a dealer. I have not seen the Haynes manual but the Citroen service box procedures do not say how to replace the filter but gives the time as around 15 minutes.