Decided to document this while I trouble shoot - hopefully it's resolved later and useful to someone else.
Currently trying to sort out a constant belt/pulley squeal from the motor (like a pig dying). Originally only appeared on occasional cold starts but now is a permanent guest.
Belts
All new belts in and no change. Poo. Must be a bearing or pulley.
AC Drive
I started by eliminating the AC side by removing the belt and starting the motor. No change. The AC pulley had no play, very smooth. Same with the tensioner pulley - no noticeable play and smooth silent operation.
Definitely the main drive side then. By ear, it does sound like it's from the idler/alternator.
Main Drive
Water pump - smooth when rotated by hand, and near no play. I say near as I originally felt 0, but after further push/pulling, could discern something very very slight though I'm hoping it is just some tolerance.
Alternator - no play on pulley and very smooth spun by hand.
Idler pulley - no play, and generally smooth spin by hand slowly though when I try to hard spin it, I hear it sort of "catches" and stops.
Tensioner pulley - this free spins and has bearing noise, very unlike the AC tensioner. There is also quite a lot of play in the pulley. For context, if I wriggle it by hand, I can hear the play as the pulley knocks. When free spinning, it also seems to catch itself and stop. The spring still feels damn strong but I have nothing to compare it to (it's stronger than the AC tensioner that's for sure).
Lower deflection pulley - extremely free spinning. Slight play, but much less than the tensioner. It will spin for a good while when hard spun, though with bearing noise like a skateboard.
Plan of attack
So, I have ordered replacement idler, tensioner and lower deflection pulley - though the third will not arrive for a few weeks due to stock.
I will have the other 2 early next week so will change those out first and see. Hopefully one of them is the culprit so the Z can at least be drivable if needed while the third pulley arrives and be changed as a pre-emptive item.
If anyone has any thoughts or advice please share! I am hoping that it doesn't end up as the water pump as that seems like much more fuss!
Currently trying to sort out a constant belt/pulley squeal from the motor (like a pig dying). Originally only appeared on occasional cold starts but now is a permanent guest.
Belts
All new belts in and no change. Poo. Must be a bearing or pulley.
AC Drive
I started by eliminating the AC side by removing the belt and starting the motor. No change. The AC pulley had no play, very smooth. Same with the tensioner pulley - no noticeable play and smooth silent operation.
Definitely the main drive side then. By ear, it does sound like it's from the idler/alternator.
Main Drive
Water pump - smooth when rotated by hand, and near no play. I say near as I originally felt 0, but after further push/pulling, could discern something very very slight though I'm hoping it is just some tolerance.
Alternator - no play on pulley and very smooth spun by hand.
Idler pulley - no play, and generally smooth spin by hand slowly though when I try to hard spin it, I hear it sort of "catches" and stops.
Tensioner pulley - this free spins and has bearing noise, very unlike the AC tensioner. There is also quite a lot of play in the pulley. For context, if I wriggle it by hand, I can hear the play as the pulley knocks. When free spinning, it also seems to catch itself and stop. The spring still feels damn strong but I have nothing to compare it to (it's stronger than the AC tensioner that's for sure).
Lower deflection pulley - extremely free spinning. Slight play, but much less than the tensioner. It will spin for a good while when hard spun, though with bearing noise like a skateboard.
Plan of attack
So, I have ordered replacement idler, tensioner and lower deflection pulley - though the third will not arrive for a few weeks due to stock.
I will have the other 2 early next week so will change those out first and see. Hopefully one of them is the culprit so the Z can at least be drivable if needed while the third pulley arrives and be changed as a pre-emptive item.
If anyone has any thoughts or advice please share! I am hoping that it doesn't end up as the water pump as that seems like much more fuss!
