Squeak under load

[stealthwolf]

Noticed it yesterday on the way back from Inters. If I had AC on and hit the throttle hard, I'd get a squeak. AC off and no squeak. No problems at a steady speed with AC on/off. No problems at idle.

Sounds more like a belt slipping. AC seems to work fine.

Any ideas?

[tony_danza]

Condensation off the compressor wetting the belt, causing slip?

[Top Cat]

Mice ???. 

[bacillus]

I suppose the obvious question is, did you check the drive belt tension?

[stealthwolf]

Mice ???. 

Thought they'd have been fried in the heat!

Bacillus, stupid question but how do I do that? Much of the engine bay is a complete mystery. Though maybe that's why I can't find the mice?

[bacillus]

Bacillus, stupid question but how do I do that? Much of the engine bay is a complete mystery. Though maybe that's why I can't find the mice?

If you look on the left side of the engine when looking directly at it you should see two belts, the larger one is the cam belt and the smaller one for the ac compressor. You'll see how much play the belt has when you press it.

[stealthwolf]

So to update, yesterday I drove around quite, hard at times, with AC off and no squeak. Turning on AC and driving hard, no squeak initially but after 5-10 mins of AC, you get the squeak. Again, steady 70mph on the motorway is fine, but it happens when you hit the throttle to overtake.

Today, drove around with AC on, got the squeak. Turned it off and initially there was a bit of a squeak but after 5 mins of no AC, there was no squeak when pressing on.

I do wonder whether it is AC condensation related. My problem is where do I take it to get it looked at? Car is now out of warranty by six months.

[Phathead]

I guess from what you are saying it is a belt/pulley sound that you are getting...chirping/twittering?

Sounds like the a pulley could be worn on the AC belt area. When you turn the AC on you are putting more load on the belt, hence using more fuel, and therefore working the bearings harder within the pulley / tensioner.

If its purely on the AC side of things I would start here and work backwards.....?

[stealthwolf]

That's what I thought. If I had to replace anything, would it be just the belt or would anything else need to be replaced?

[Phathead]

From what you seem to be describing is a pulley issue.....it's really hard to tell without hearing it myself.... Therefore you are probably looking at a new pulley / tensioner (whichever one is making the noise) rather than the belt.

Depending on how many miles you have done and the state of the belt (cracks in the rubber) it may be worth your time and effort to change the belt at the same time. It'll have to come off anyway to do the pulley.

I had the same problem on mine and it turned out to be the tensioner. I dropped a bit of talc on to the belt. If the noise disappeared then it was more likely to just be the belt. The talc will mask a shiny/worn/wet belt for a short period of time. With talc applied the chirrping was still there.....time to check the pulleys.

[gtlee]

Mice ???. 

 

[stealthwolf]

It's only a 57-plate with 28k on the clock so surprised it's shown up this early. Had better get it looked at.

[Phathead]

It's only a 57-plate with 28k on the clock so surprised it's shown up this early. Had better get it looked at.

Mine is only a 07 plate with 31k on the clock.....I don't think it's uncommon from reading the forums.

[stealthwolf]

So I got it checked out and turns out it's the boost going through the recirc valve and it's normal. It started happening after the boost was turned up to 8 and turning it back to 7 seems to have settled it.

Now it looks like the coilpacks are misfiring.