I have a strange problem and need some advice. Few weeks ago I was doing full maintenance for my Nissan Primera 2.2Di. I replaced alternator/water pump v belt with brand new Conti belt. I tensioned it to factory specs. It was all good until i started to hear a belt squeaking after start ups in morning. I checked tension, it was still up to specs. I put more tension to it, the squeaking stopped for few mornings and then reappeared. The chirping is heard on idle, sound rises with rpm’s to high pitched squeak, and disappears after reaching about 3000 rpm. Usually, when car is re-started hot, there is no sound. I didn’t want to put any more tension to the belt, so i bought new Daico belt, but problem still was there. Then i tested battery with multi-meter, the voltage is 14,4 when there is no sound, when sound happens, the voltage drops to 12,3 or so. I thing that indicates that it is definitely not the water pump slippage. So, i took took out the alternator, and gave it to the best re builders in city (guys working just with alternator rebuilds for over 20 years). They put it to test stand, ran it when drawing power, and without power draw and told me that alternator is working like new, there is no bearing damage or else. The pulley is not greasy, brazed or slippery. All three pulleys are in line, i checked with straightedge. When slippage appears, there is no visible wobble or play on the pulley. I’m out of ideas now. I thought maybe battery is shot, and requires more amps, thus creating strain on alternator, but battery showed no signs of weakness even on -25 C (-13 F) mornings.
Maybe someone had a similar problem and has the answer?
My theory is that one of the bearings being turned by that belt, or a bearing that is not connected to that belt but shares a pulley with it, is beginning to seize. It could be any of the bearings, really. It could even be the air conditioning compressor that is beginning to seize.
Hello, @eddo
Yes, i am certain about belt type and size, it was picked straight from nissan catalogue.
There is also air con belt, also v type belt runing on chrankshaft pulley, idler and ac compressor pulley. This one doesnt give me any problems nor sound.
@Whitey alernator belt also droves water pump, i turned it by hand, it looked fine, no resistance. Of couse when there is high speed and twnsion, it could be different…
Anyway, if water pump bearing would be bad, wouldn’t it mean that the water lump pulley should be slipping?
@Whitey thanks for your help.well, i turned all pulleys bu hand, they looked like they have no resistance, is there any way to check it without disasembling half of engine to take out water pump?
If your water pump isn’t leaking and the engine isn’t overheating, I’d assume the water pump is fine. You’ve effectively ruled out my theory.
The only thing I can recommend, other than getting a slightly shorter belt and tightening the heck out of it, is to spray some belt dressing (a.k.a. belt conditioner, bought at an auto parts store) on the belt, but a new belt shouldn’t need it. It might eliminate the squealing though.
Our other regulars might have better ideas than I do. I’m just an amateur.
The car is fine in other ways, maybie someone more experienced in electronics than I could comment my theory of battery drawing to much current on startups. Its a pitty i dont have good spare battery to swap.
@Tester i dont think my engine has one?
Here is the scheme. As i remember crank pulley is just plain metal with two grooves for belts, no rubber or moving parts.
It’s obvious from your description that the car does not have an automatic belt tensioner
That said, how are you determining the belt tension is in fact correct . . . ?
There are belt tension gauges for this purpose . . . did you use one?
The picture you provided wasn’t as clear as I would like . . . is the alternator belt an old-school v-belt or a multi-ribbed belt, in other words a serpentine belt?
