Squeaking cam belt?

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

Hey guys.

My cam belt has started squeaking a bit. It sounds like when an old fan belt started to go. Its not LOUD but you notice a bit of a whistle. Does this mean the cam belt is on it's way out? Or maybe the water pump squeaking a bit? Or just spray some oil on it like the pyki's do with fan belts?

It's done 39,800ish miles and is due a cambelt service at 41,000. Any help is appreciated!

 

[Nath.]

A cam belt is a toothed belt so should never squeek. The bearing for the tensioner can squeek along with the alternator belt (if loose or worn) and tensioner. (no fan belt as the fan is electric these days).

 

[RUM4MO]

I'd say the smart thing to do is, as you are as near as damn it at 40,000 miles, get it changed asap along with the water pump - but make the "fixer" aware of the new noises you are hearing so that he can check them out prior to stripping the engine down - just in case it is something else that he would not normally change - but I think that all the rollers etc are supplied in the VAG cambelt kit anyway (unlike the petrol ones!).

 

[Aimez]

surprised you not had it changed yet, not cheap mind, had mine changed at lower mileage than yours, saying that you didn't say what year your car is?

 

[beezanick]

I'd say its the aux belt slipping. Timing belt is about £350 including aux belt, waterpump and coolent. Better to be safe than sorry imo with the timing belt.

 

[rosssifr]

Are you sure it isn't the alternator belt? I had this problem with my last car (Vauxhall Vectra) and the garage told me it was a "dry belt". Spraying it with WD40 will stop the noise for a short while but the only way to cure it is to change the belt.

 

[Altech]

My alternator belt squeaks sometimes when I first start up my car. After a while it stops. I'll most likely replace it along with the cambelt and water pump soon.

 

[RUM4MO]

My alternator belt squeaks sometimes when I first start up my car. After a while it stops. I'll most likely replace it along with the cambelt and water pump soon.

I'd think that that is due to the extra work the alternator is doing after a cold start - it will be loading up the belt more at that time.

To the OP, the reason I asked you to get the "fixer" to hear what is worrying you before changing the belt is just in case it is something simple like the auxilairy belt tensioner pulley bearing that is u/s.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

Tbh I havent heard it so much today......

The car is a 53 plate.

 

[RUM4MO]

One thing to consider is the change in the cambelt replacement time/mileage was prompted by mainly the PD engines being "hard" on their camshaft drive train components!

You say your car is a "53" and its done 39,000 miles - and you have a intermittant "cambelt area" noise.

The normal thinking and the advise from VAG is change cam belt at 4 years or 40,000 miles - across the engine range to save confusion. You are well past the 4 years, I hope you stay lucky long enough for your engine to survive until you eventually get this work done. Your engine might survive another 2 or 6 years "as is" - but most people can't afford to take the risk.

 

[kriso]

Yea I would get that belt and pulleys etc. changed asap if it's a 53 plate!

 

[Aimez]

Yep mine is 54 plate and I was a bit late gettin it done really was a relief getting it done now I can spend money on what I like (after a pause since the £400 bill for it to be done!) Maybe you should have waited on you hybrid as I am guessing you have just forked out alot for that?

 

[robreidmotors]

I read somewhere that VW/Audi reduced the mileage advice for belt changes from the ones specified on sale to new figures a lot lower. I think it was something like 60k to the 40k mentioned above, after a lot of blown engines having to be repaired under warranty.

 

[Ibiza 130 tdi]

Noise has totally gone now. It'll be booked in for service very soon though as it's turned over 40,000 today, nearing 40,100 and it's due at 41,000. I think i'll get an independant garage to do it though as it's not worth the cost of SEAT doing it. Plus the nearest SEAT garage is 30 odd miles away so it's just a pain tbh!

 

[robreidmotors]

I think Gates do a very good cambelt kit, in terms of being known and trusted. Just keep the receipt for the kit and the garage receipt and im sure any potential buyers would be fine with that in the future.