2001 Grand Vitara 2.0 16v petrol, Alternator belt squeal

[jooooles100]

Hi All,

Just joined and yet already looking for some advice!

I was wondering if any of you could help me?

I've got a couple of Grand Vit's (his & hers) but am getting what sounds like a belt squeal from mine during cold start flair.

I've tried to check the belt tension by looking at tensioner markings - but there aren't any! (I presume that this means that my tensioner must be an aftermarket part?)

However I have changed the belt yet still get the squeal. It only lasts for approx. 2 secs during the idle speed flair and then only if engine is properly cold. I have removed fan belt and tried lub'ing pulleys but the squeal persists so I presume it must be from the alternator belt and must indicate that the tensioner unit needs replacing ? However I'm not sure, as it still feels like it's got quite a lot of torque in it when I put a spanner on it.

Anyway, I was hoping one of you might have had a similar problem and might be able to confirm/deny whether I should change the tensioner before I spend ~£100 on a new one and find that it's actually something else altogether !

All thoughts/comments gratefully received, however please note that this is the J20 engine and as such I can't rotate alternator to increase tension in belt.

Hope you can help.

Many thanks.
Brian

[Darrell]

Welcome to the club.
I've had a search to see If there are any torque values for the tensioner but have found nothing.
As you have a new belt I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions.
Tension info - although you know this anyway!

[Ladaman]

Firstly to the club.

Can you explain the lubing the pulleys? The belt surface wants to be clean and lubricant free.

If the squeal is just after starting it will probably be the alternator slipping as it is trying to put charge back.

I'd remove the belt and clean at pulleys and belt, and try again.

[jooooles100]

Hi Darrell, thanks for your efforts on my behalf

Hi Ladaman,
re: "Lubing pulleys", I was having a chat about it with a mate who's a mechanic and he suggested lubing the pulley bearings. I took belt off while I applied a small amount of WD40 to all of the bearings shown in Darrell's photo (apart from the crank), and took some care to make sure that none ended up on belt tracks or belt, and cleaned off excess before starting. I suspect that a little may still have ended up on belt, but it's not squealing any worse than it was before (at the moment).

In the absence of any other ideas my current plan is to try taking belt off altogether and starting it without to at least confirm that it is coming from the belt system rather than say the cam chain.

If this confirms that its definitely coming from belt, I may then have a go at trying to reduce the alternator load (not sure how as yet - warm battery ?) to see if this has impact.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Cheers,
Brian

[jooooles100]

Hi All,

Have now resolved this issue - It was nothing to do with the alternator belt !

Turned out to be the starter motor sticking out after start (didn't half sound like a belt squeal to me)

Anyway, have replaced motor and now all is well.

Cheers,
Brian

[Anton]

That usually results in a kind of "ringing" noise, doesn't it?