///E46 M3 squeeling noise on the belt system

H

haXor

Member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #1

Please help diagnose.

I've checked the power steering liquid levels - looks fine.

The noise seems to be coming from the alternator, belt tensioner side. The Noise increases with RPM increase.

[video=youtube]

 

individj

Well-known member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #2

i would imagine its a bad pulley

 

Gizmo

Banned

• Feb 25, 2016

• #3

Use an engine stethoscope or a long screw driver to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. Could be a bearing in the alternator or the idler pulley.

 

Xack

Active member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #4

My money is also on a bad pully, check your tensioners...

 

H

haXor

Member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #5

ok thanks guys. Will start with the stethoscope. Also suspect its one of the pulleys. Will report back.

 

AdiS

Well-known member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #6

My money is on a bad pulley.

 

C

ClaudeR

Member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #7

Don't rule out water pump. Sounds to high pitched to be the water pump, but don't rule it out.

 

Crash_Nemesis

///Member

• Feb 25, 2016

• #8

bad pulley, possibly the tensioner. Get it changed soon, before the thing seizes whilst you doing 7000rpm and the belt snaps and hits your viscous fan. Then you'll have parts flying all over your engine bay, cut your water line and put holes in both your hood and your radiator.

Happened to me. My tensioner pulley did not sound half as bad as yours and I left it, only to have it seize on me when I was driving, luckily I was only at 1300rpm and parking the car when it happened, but it still cut my water line and power steering line. Luckily I was literally turning in to park the car when it happened so I was able to shut the car off right away. This has the potential to cause some serious damage. It's not a case of if it will happen but rather when.

Book the car in and get the pulleys inspected.

 

H

haXor

Member

• Feb 26, 2016

• #9

Thanks Crash_Nemesis. I bought both pulleys yesterday from BMW and should be DIYing later today.

Do you guys reckon I should change the serpentine belt as well whilst I'm at it. Its condition is still good.

 

individj

Well-known member

• Feb 26, 2016

• #10

how old is it? might as well

 

H

haXor

Member

• Feb 29, 2016

• #11

Just an update.

Video tells the story. Basically, all pulleys are shot.

[video=youtube]

(few errors mentioned in the video - my bad)

Decided to replace the Serpentine Belt(Main belt) as it had a few cracks on the V-shaped side.. The aircon belt is still in very good shape.

The Power Steering and Alternator seem to be okay. So is the 'clutch fan'.

Just waiting for parts from BMW which I should be picking up tomorrow.

BMW only sells the lower pulley with the tensioner included. Is there a place I can buy just the pulley(AC pulley)?

 

Xack

Active member

• Mar 1, 2016

• #12

So basically we nailed it :=):

Good diy fix there mate

 

H

haXor

Member

• Mar 7, 2016

• #13

Found the exact same AC belt pulley from Bemows Pretoria, without the actual tensioner.

All the noises are gone and car is humming along quite nicely now.

Very simple DIY in the end, even hammering out of the manual fan wasn't too difficult.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

Xack

Active member

• Mar 7, 2016

• #14

haXor said:

Found the exact same AC belt pulley from Bemows Pretoria, without the actual tensioner.

All the noises are gone and car is humming along quite nicely now.

Very simple DIY in the end, even hammering out of the manual fan wasn't too difficult.

Thanks for the help guys.

Click to expand...

Cool man, thanx for sharing:=):