Cambelt tensioner or water pump bearing ..any thoughts

[B-Hive]

I have already started the tinkering on my new arrival ..There is only one odd noise under the bonnet ..

Especially/only when its cold I'm getting a tinkling bearing type sound from around the cambelt/water pump..

Only noticeable at one particular slowish engine speed (just above idle) after which the sound disappears ..

Brains trust.. is this more likely cambelt tensioner or water pump bearing?..

The car came with a new water pump ready to go in, so yeah maybe thats why.. the sound is actually quite subtle, but as I intend to be precious with this MK1, I'd like to stay on top of everything..

Thanks Peeps

Ash

[mike22861]

if theres any doubt it may be the cambelt tensioner i'd be looking there failure of that can be a tad catastrophic

[JayW]

I'd change the pair at the same time if there's any doubt whatsoever.

But, as they are both under tension the likelihood of getting a "tinkling" from them is slim (a "tinkling" would usually be from bearings not under load giving them free movement).

The alternator often gives the sound you describe.

[Tim Leech]

As the guys say, if theres a question over the cambelt or tensioner bite the bullet and get it changed immediatly! its the first thing I do on any car I buy where theres no documented proof of it being done recently.

[B-Hive]

I'd change the pair at the same time if there's any doubt whatsoever.

But, as they are both under tension the likelihood of getting a "tinkling" from them is slim (a "tinkling" would usually be from bearings not under load giving them free movement).

The alternator often gives the sound you describe.

My first thoughts were the alternator bearing, as worn tensioner bearings usually make a whirring sound, and pld water pumps make more of a dry rumbling sound...but it really does seem to come from under the cambelt cover,,

Cambelt and tensioner done 5000k ago (albeit 5 years ago).

I also thought originally that it may have been a loose exhaust manifold bolt/heat shield, it had that kind of sound at a very specific (low) engine speed. I had to really try to maintain the exact engine speed to hear the noise..almost like a resonance vibration or something.. Not ruling anything out as I am aware that noises in the engines have a tendency to not come from where they can be heard!!!

[citronut]

first thing to try is drop the alternator belt off then run the engine to check if the noie has gone away,

also you could spin the alternator and its tensioner and listen to them,

i would be changing the cam belt as well as its been on there 5 years no matter what the mileage

regards malcolm

[Tim Leech]

i would be changing the cam belt as well as its been on there 5 years no matter what the mileage

regards malcolm

And Malcs a Citroen specialist so sound advice!

[citsncycles]

I never leave a cam belt more than 5 years old on a car, even if it's never been used - they degrade over time and failure is expensive. I generally replace any tensioners at the same time, again regardless of mileage, at ones that are stood can go rusty, and as you have it there, I'd do the water pump at the same time.

[B-Hive]

I agree with all of your comments..^^^^

Update

..I took the cambelt cover off and listened when stone cold (the car that is). Noise much more pronounced.. I am still thinking it is the tensioner but more alarmingly it being loose on its mountings or internally worn springs etc. This was emphasised by the cambelt being certainly not as tight as one would expect it to be.

So needless to say, the next start will only to be get the car up on some stands, and do the cambelt and tensioner.

[KevR]

So needless to say, the next start will only to be get the car up on some stands, and do the cambelt and tensioner.

And the water pump - daft not to, while you're in there. It's such a common failure point and water pumps cost next to nothing.

Oh, and if you do find out what the noise was, let me know - I've had exactly the same for the past 70,000 miles...

[MULLEY]

I spotted a bit of rust on the tensioners on my TZD Turbo, which has been stood for approx 5yrs, what is the issue with just a bit of rust on it? If the car gets used frequently, won't it kinda get worn off? Reason for asking is that tensioners aren't cheap, so at the worst i was thinking of taking the old one's off, check them for bearing movement quality & then just remove the rust from them & re-fit, if all thats wrong is a little rust, won't they be ok to re-use once cleaned or just left?

[citsncycles]

I'd clean the rust off as an absolute minimum, as I imagine letting the belt do it could shorten its life somewhat! How much are XUD tensioners - the ones for the GS are about a fiver each if you know what to ask for!

[MULLEY]

A lot more than that, & its difficult to actually get citroen one's, so you might end up with some shit make one's that look nice & shiny, but they may fail much earlier than they should, so personally i'd rather run original rusty one's than shiny chinese one's. I'll probably tackle the rust tbh just incase. If anyone knows of a cheapish source for citroen originals, please let me know

[Tim Leech]

Ive been told Gates tensioner kits are quite good.

[MULLEY]

Already got the belt though, so just need the tensioners, but if its cheaper to buy the kit?