Squeeky Poly V Belt?

[pjames.79]

Morning all,

Ive got a 2.0 Turbo Sri 2004 Vectra with a squeeky Poly V belt - think thats how its spelt..(I only know this cause the dealer has told me... didnt have a clue what one was before) that apparently goes around the power steering, air con and alternator.

It went in in October, I had the tensioners and rollers changed (but not the belt?!) for a lovely bill of £400.. and the problem was still there. The car went back in again, and I argued that for £6 they could have easily done the belt at the same time, so finally they agreed to do it labour free... this was just before christmas.. Now its doing it again!!

Basically, when the car is warmed up its fine but on a cold start (even just a few hours in the work car park) and for about 10 mins you can hear a really annoying squeek!

Does anyone know what could be causing it, or if its a common problem (also if its dangerous to the car.. dont fancy my engine blowing up!)

Any advice would be much appreciated, Thank you!

[BigP]

Hi mate, check out these threads, sounds like the same problem:

Loose Rattling Noise

2.0 T Cold Starts

HTH

[Duncan]

Your dealers are muppets for not changing the belt when they were doing that other work - completely idiotic on their behalf. It's npt the cause of the squeaking (see later in my post) but to not put on a new belt when they've got all the bits off is just dumb, completely dumb.

BigP's links will help, as that is what it's likely to be - you'll see a bunch of my posts in there/the linked threads as it's an issue I've had crop up a couple of times.

If it's twittering/sqeaking - which it is - then it won't be the tensioner, it'll be the alternator pulley (known problem). There was a modified part that needs to be fitted - info in those links of BigP's, or the threads linked off them.

They should have been replacing the alternator pulley, instead of (or at least as well as) the tensioner. I also can't help thinking that £400 is a bit pricey for the work they've done. If it'd included the alternator pulley then maybe (just) as that part alone is over £100.

[mark1319]

Mine does this as well mate, it pi$$es me right off and changing the belt alone got rid of it for a few months. Will sort it eventually.

[pjames.79]

Thanks for that will have a look on your posts now.. Actually meant to say, they did change the pulley aswell at the same time, so everything has been changed.

Am i right in thinking that the alternator belt is different to the poly v belt? (well guess it must be!) what sort of cost is that to put right?

And.. yep! they are muppets completely. He called me up (after the car went back in) and said 'Hello mr James, we've found the problem, you need a new v belt... £76.. then he had the nerve to tell me it was 98% labour because 'we've got to take it all apart!' like its my fault.. what a git. Ah well at least its nearly sorted :-)
Thanks again for your advice!

[mark1319]

IIRC I called about the altenator pulley it was around £120 and VAT on top of that as well I think.

[Duncan]

Thanks for that will have a look on your posts now.. Actually meant to say, they did change the pulley aswell at the same time, so everything has been changed.

Ah right, in that case the price isn't so bad then as, as above, the alternator pulley is over £100 alone. If they've changed everything i.e. belt, pulley and tensioner then you shouldn't have the squeaking noise still there.

Am i right in thinking that the alternator belt is different to the poly v belt? (well guess it must be!) what sort of cost is that to put right?

No, it's the same thing. The Multi-V belt (it's correct name) loops around the water pump, alternator and air-con compressor.

[pjames.79]

Thanks Duncan.. this is getting more confusing! just had a look on the other posts (sent earlier) and some really helpful bits. Happier knowing Im not the only one - and not going mad! do you think it is worth me booking it in again? bit worried this could be their green light to go 'ah well... you need this, this, this and this' and get slapped with a stonker of a bill if they're just blagging it

[GoldenWonder]

Does the alternator pulley issue affect the 1.9 CDTi as well? Mine does squeak for quite some time from cold, when hot it goes away.

I found a temporary fix (as worked on my old Focus diesel) which is to spray a very small amount of WD40 on the belt. Works for quite a while!

[pjames.79]

yeah funnily enough I thought of that about 2 mins ago but didnt know if it was a good idea or not... just cause you cant hear it doesnt mean its fixed... sort of thing. I dont know either way so would be good to know!