Sqeaking Noise At Start Up.

[Guest Safety Dave]

Hi,

 

I have a ZX temptation 1.9d, which I have owned for nearly two years. It has 120k on the clock, and just lately it has developed a squeaking noise when it starts up from cold. The noise goes completely after a couple of minutes running, but will go if I rev the engine slightly. Adjusting the fan belt has eased it a little.

 

Has anybody got any ideas as to what it is, please? From my understanding there is only the alternator and the power steering pump driven from this belt.

 

Cheers

Dave

[Guest rowls]

the tensioner pulley wheels seize on these but i'd expect it to squeel all the time if that was the problem. maybe the belt is worn and needs replacing, i'd check the pulleys spin freely aswell.

[Stevie]

Sounds like one or both of the belts need replacing.Often they start squeaking when worn and easy way to check is look at the underside of belt-it will likely be perished and cracking.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

It's very likely to be the drive belt tensioner assembly. My next door neighbour's one siezed completely and made the most godawfull noise ever. You could hear him coming for ages! It was replaced when the car stopped charging, He thought it was the alternator which had siezed up but it was only the tensioner pulley wheel. Much cheaper! Our local car Guru replaced it and all was rosy again. In the interim, try spraying the back of the belt with silicone spray. Quietens my Hdi Xantia which sounds like a nest of starlings when it's damp weather! Cheers :rolleyes:

[markwade]

Hi Dave,

My ZX does just the same as yours, it started doing it after I replaced the alternator for a Slovenian pattern item. My theory is that the heater plugs stay energised for about 5 minutes after the car is started from cold and the squeaking noise is simply the loading on the alternator and its drive belt is slipping slightly. I tried a pattern drive belt but the problem got worse, I suspect a genuine Citroen drivebelt might cure the prob, thats what I intend to do anyway.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Do you really think that Citroen make their own belts? Get real! Chances are that all belts for all applications, not just cars, but Trucks, Busses, etc, ad infinitum, are made by specific belt manufacturers and packaged as the customer requires. You'll probably buy the same belt on a market stall as in a dealers. There was a tale once that if you bought a clutch for a vauxhall from a motor factor and it said Quinton Hazel on the box you were actually getting the OEM part. If you went to a dealer you got a refurb! Doesn'y allways follow that the part sold over the dealers counter is any better than one from "Halfords" or GSF or whatever. Truth is, if you sell shite you'll be found out! Getting back to your belt, Check out what it drives. Go back to basics. Take it off and check that everything that is driven is free. Check the idlers/tensioners and if they are at fault, replace them! :angry:

[Guest Safety Dave]

Hi guys,

 

Thanks for all your input. I have just removed the belt and started the engine - no noise. I checked the tensioner, alternator and power steering to see if any of the bearings had gone, and they seem to be all right. Replaced the belt with another pattern part (Quinton Hazel actually, so that may be of some help to you, Mark). Anyway, since the belt change the noise has gone. If it comes back, I'll let you know.

 

Cheers

Dave

[markwade]

Cheers Dave, thanks for letting us know how you got on.

 

Mark

[markwade]

Do you really think that Citroen make their own belts? Get real! Chances are that all belts for all applications, not just cars, but Trucks, Busses, etc, ad infinitum, are made by specific belt manufacturers and packaged as the customer requires. You'll probably buy the same belt on a market stall as in a dealers. There was a tale once that if you bought a clutch for a vauxhall from a motor factor and it said Quinton Hazel on the box you were actually getting the OEM part. If you went to a dealer you got a refurb! Doesn'y allways follow that the part sold over the dealers counter is any better than one from "Halfords" or GSF or whatever. Truth is, if you sell shite you'll be found out! Getting back to your belt, Check out what it drives. Go back to basics. Take it off and check that everything that is driven is free. Check the idlers/tensioners and if they are at fault, replace them! :)

 

Colin,

I agree that some pattern items are the equal of the original equipment and in some cases may be identical, But, in the case of the aux drive belt on my ZX the pattern item which I fitted (a QH item I believe) the V's were narrower than the original causing it to sit further into the V's on the pully, I think the pattern belt had bottomed out and was losing drive.

I used to own a 1991 BMW320, the diff output shaft seals stated to leak, I asked my local indi BMW tech if I should buy pattern replacements, he said that the originals were modded to include a double lip and that these mods hadn't filtered through to the pattern part suppliers, hence the original BMW items were a better buy.

My motto now is, ask questions, read forums, then make my own mind up. It works for me, usually.