OK, getting sick of the noise i hear from the front on tickover which i think is these belts so i am planning on replacing them.

Problem is, i hear all sorts of things about tensioners and stuff, does this relate to these belts or is that just Cam belts?

If i replace the aircon/ps belts, do i need anything else like tensioners, adjusters etc.? If not, is it just a case of removing old and installing new like on my MkI festa

 

noises normally emanate from the timing belt tensioner. Only rare occurances from air con idler pulley, but easy to tell difference.
if heavy mettallic knock on engine startup, then its timing belt tensioner, if more of a whine or whirring noise, then its a belt idler pulley.

 

It's deffo a more whining squeeling type noise... Any experience of replacing these belts?

 

I just tried to make mine as tight as the ones that i took off, nothing hard about it i just marked the threads before i started undoing anything and had a feel of the tension of the belts.
My thought was that its "only" the aircon and alternator so if they come off its not the end of the world not like a cam belt.
If i remember right to take the aircon belt off you first have to undo a nut the holds the wheel in place on the adjuster and then turn the threaded bar so the wheel mooves up and you can take the belt off.
The Alternator belt is taken off by also undoing a blot holding the adjuster in place and then turning the thread the oposite way to the aircon adjuster.
Very very vague i know but its a while since i did mine but it wasnt hard....1 spanner job in haynes manual terms

Andy

 

Thanks Andy.. Sounds like even i might be able to do it

 

Sounds like the belt is slipping by the sound you described..

As stated it deffo is a 'one spanner' job

if you are worried that the noise may be your timing belt or pulleys then start the car once you have removed the aircon/alternator belts, if the noise is still there then it is down to a timng belt system fault.

Rob

 

Cool. All i need to do now is get some

Anyone know if it's worth getting genuine Scoob ones or will halfords type jobs do? Don't even know how much they are

 

I put a Subaru alternator belt on about £20 and a halfords Aircon belt on, about £10, my local Subaru dealer didnt stock the aircon belts.

Andy

 

I had the same noise with mine and it went away when I tried running without the alt. and A/C belts. I've replaced them with some QH items I got from my local spares supplier and the noise stopped for about 1000 miles and is now back again.
Maybe the A/C tensioner? does anyone know how much one will set me back ?

 

If it was the tensioner it would not stay quiet for 1000miles, my guess is that you may have a slight leak of fluid somewhere that is getting on the belt.
Either that or the pulleys are greasy and have now caused eth new one to slip..
What i would do.. firstly check that the belt tension is definately still correct, it may be teh case that teh new belt has stretched slightly... if it is ok.. take the belts off again and clean them with some brake cleaner, then give all the pulleys a good clean with the brake cleaner and some cloths..
then replace and see..

Rob

 

thanks Rob, I'll try that. I have noticed a small leak on top of the cam belt cover near the centre.

 

Just bought a couple of belts from *cough* halfords *cough* so will be fitting them next month when i'm at my folks

folks have drive, double garage etc. compared to my top floor flat