15 replies to this topic

[dw1]

About 5 seconds after I start my car I get a squeeling noise which sounds like my fan belt. Haven't got out ot look yet as it has just started a week ago and I keep forgetting before I climb in and go. Seems to be doing it when it's damper. I'm not sure how long it goes on for but at least a couple of minutes of driving. Is this likely to be the fan belt, if so is it something I need to get attended to immediately? Or could it be something else?

[Joe-Turbo]

yep, sounds like the fan belt, had mine replaced at vauxhall on my 40k service. made a awfull noise, make sure when they replace it to also use the new revised pulley bracket. Should not be a big problem but i wouldnt drive it hard.

[ratboiler]

Get it fixed ASAP if you use it on a daily basis. If it is the alternator what it is telling you is, I'm slipping and not giving you the full charge to the battery if you are out today lights, heater (well if you can call it that), radio, you know the rest.

[dw1]

Is there a way of tightening it or does it have to be replaced? Is it a dealer job? - it's just I am loathed to take it in to a dealers.

[RWinstanley]

I had this problem on my NA and it turned out that the tensioner arm had seized due to getting wet, as per the expansion tank it's not designed to be exposed.* To check you can either try to get your hand down the dirvers side of the engine and try to push the arm down against the spring and see if it moves. Or you need to take the drivers wheel off and get to it that way, i had the undertray off at the time so not sure if you need this off or not to get to is TIS has details of removing the Aux drive belt v easy and the arm is simply held on by 1 very long bolt. Putting the belt back on however is nowhere near as easy as getting it off. * i'll post a pic later it exploded when i took it off.

Edited by RWinstanley, 28 November 2006 - 01:10 PM.

[meldert]

FAN-belt??? the enginge is in the back, the radiator is up front and the fan is electric... The altenator/auxillary belt migt be a better guess though... If you go to a garage and ask them to change the fan belt on a VX I thinkt that even the average vauxhall grease monkey will laugh at you (well maybe not...)

[SteveA]

I was just about to mention the fan belt in the front thing If you have a VXT it does not have a tensioner arm like the NA. The NA has three wheels; Alternator, drive wheel and Tensioner. The VXT however has 4 wheels; Alternator, drive wheel, a dummy wheel (in place of the Astra Turbo Air con charger wheel and a small wheel to allow the belt to miss the chassis. The Poly V Belt (VXL technical name) is pretty much a clam off job, I recon it would be pretty much impossible to do with clam on. The big issue it the engine bay sub frame blocks access. I tried to book mine into BSM about 6 weeks ago and they said they couldn't get hold of the modded wheel (part number 93183526) I've spoken to various VXT owners since then and everyone has said "yeah mine does that too, and has been for ages" Still waiting for BSM PS. Any guys at TMS know about the wheel replacement? Every garage I've phoned so far has never heard about this before.

Edited by SteveA, 28 November 2006 - 08:04 PM.

[SteveA]

* BUMP * ^^ Thorney?

[ianrm]

Belt is approx £20 and can be replaced without clam removal

[GruFF]

Belt is approx £20 and can be replaced without clam removal

do you want to post a tuturial? mine has started screaming likea tropper since the weather got wet. It doesn't stop squeeling either, even after long journeys - seems to do it more so on bumpy surfaces...very annoying!!

[smithers]

mine has started doing the same too! although it has got quieter today... it's going into lanceowen on the 18th dec for hose recall, but dare i even get a quote!?!

[dw1]

hmm, the noise is definitely coming from the engine bay and not the front of the car. As you look into the bay from the rear it sounds like it is coming from down the right hand drivers side of the engine towards the bottom of the car. The noise is variable and yesterday was very quiet. So what could it be? And is it serious, does it need rapid attention?

[ratboiler]

I think you should stop mucking around and take it to a dealer and get it sorted, or you will probably break down somewhere remote thinking to yourself I wish I had sorted that a few days ago.

[RWinstanley]

Sorry, took a while to find it, one broken tensioner

[Alex Os]

My VXT was done at the factory when the clam was being replaced under waranty. I believe one of the original pulleys is slightly out of alignment, causing the belt to expire prematurely. I think if you order any replacement pulleys they have the corrected offset and should solve the problem. Not sure if there where simular issues on the N/A though.

[SteveA]

hmm, the noise is definitely coming from the engine bay and not the front of the car. As you look into the bay from the rear it sounds like it is coming from down the right hand drivers side of the engine towards the bottom of the car. The noise is variable and yesterday was very quiet.

So what could it be? And is it serious, does it need rapid attention?

Deffo Poly V Belt slipping on the alternator.