E36 belt tensioner (alternator/w.p/p.s)

danieljames

Active member
Sup guys. I had a bad noise on my car at cold starts. Unfortunately I didn't take any videos(sorry), but it was a sort of whiny, tscweet tscweet noise that would eventually go away as the car warmed up. I initially thought it to be the alternator bearings that are shot(from experience with other vehicles. So I pulled it off, stripped it down replaced the bearings,cleaned it up and slapped it back in the car....on start up the noise was still there.....and getting worse...

Last night I pulled the belt tensioner off and I seemed to have found the culprit.
The tensioner pulley bolt goes through a bush in the little shock absorber
5aa57f124de01b25879a3e527b7deef7.jpg
see the steel bush surrounded by rubber?
The rubber on mine was completely shot and the bush had mad play in it(infact it slipped out while I was taking the whole thing out off the engine.
2002e2a1e358ee951109126c224da10a.jpg
d433c84cdf76fd4bdde89ae814ac310e.jpg

In the 2nd pic you can see the wear.
Dropped it off at my buddies place last night to have it sorted out. He works for a poly moulding company in ottery and he usually does all my other bushes.

I'm getting it back this evening but was advised to only fit it Saturday night/sunday morning . Will post picks and results once the job is done
 

Peejay

Events Organiser
I think I may have the same problem. Also I have noticed that the sound gets worse when he a/c is on.
 

Cape_Tonian

///Member
danieljames said:
I'm getting it back this evening but was advised to only fit it Saturday night/sunday morning . Will post picks and results once the job is done
Hey bru, you can't fit that part Sunday morning.

We're on our way to Kleinmond Sunday morning or did it slip by you?
 

danieljames

Active member
Peejay said:
I think I may have the same problem. Also I have noticed that the sound gets worse when he a/c is on.
Probably the tensioner on the ac belt as they have separate belts. Atleast the L6
Cape_Tonian said:
danieljames said:
I'm getting it back this evening but was advised to only fit it Saturday night/sunday morning . Will post picks and results once the job is done
Hey bru, you can't fit that part Sunday morning.

We're on our way to Kleinmond Sunday morning or did it slip by you?
I know bru....its looking doubtful for this......If it's not the tensioner then It's the waterpump
 
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