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[BazaJT]

The last time I tried starting the car[last week]it had been stood a while,as soon as it started there was a loud squeal[as you'd get from a slipping fan belt]but I had to leave it alone at that time and just turned the car off straight away.Today I've been to the garage to investigate possible causes-and also found I'd only closed the boot lid down without shutting it properly so the battery had gone flat Took off the auxiliary belt to check if any of the pulleys were stiff/seized,the belt did seem "stuck" to a couple of the pulleys[took no effort to "unstick" them though[but could be a cause of the squeal]is there anything I can put on the belt/pulleys to stop this as it's not a problem I've ever come across before?Rotating the pulleys by hand showed no stiffness/roughness,but rocking the pulleys up/down and side to side produced a noticeable amount of movement on the aircon pulley and an audible knock when it was moved,so presumably a bearing or something is shot?Is it thought this could produce the squeal?As the aircon doesn't work and never has while I've owned it I'm minded to but a non-aircon belt for it to bypass the aircon pulley,but will delay for others opinions ideas on the squeal.

[STEMO]

Sounds like the culprit to me. Why take a chance on it seizing if you can put a shorter belt on?

[terry paget]

Belts in pulleys can squeal if they feel like it, just the action of the belt entering and leaving a pulley can do it. When I bought my PFL 2.5 estate there was a squeal, whih I eventually traced to the auxiliary belt, by changing the belt.

[zirk]

While your there, if your still there, make sure the Water Pump pulley wheel is securely bolted to the Water Pump, as that can cause a high pitched noise if loose followed by all sorts of problems if it throws the Aux Belt off.

[BazaJT]

Didn't detect any wobble to the water pump pulley but will certainly check its security next time I'm down at the lock up.What length is the non-aircon belt?Not waiting for it to seize Stemo just delaying buying shorter belt to check out others thoughts on the squeal and meanwhile I have either of the two Volvos to run about in.

[biggriffin]

Spray belt with, silicone spray, or dashboard polish. If squeak goes it's the belt not pulleys.

[STEMO]

Spray belt with, silicone spray, or dashboard polish. If squeak goes it's the belt not pulleys.

Still wouldn't trust a wobbly pulley.

[Lizzie Zoom]

A past 3 litre Omega of mine let me down in Manchester, the only one to let me down ever.

The car just would not start, nor the engine turn-over. The AA soon established the air con compressor had seized, and after being relayed back down country, a garage had to replace it.

So, if the pulley is not right, beware Baza, it could suddenly let you down away from home.

Either replace compressor or bypass pulley is what I recommend

[BazaJT]

Yes Lizzie going to bypass compressor with a shorter belt,just need to know what length of belt to buy as looking on e-bay there seems to be a whole assortment of lengths listed as fitting the Omega V6 starting with 1900 then 1903 2200 and 2260 even one listed at something above 2800!Obviously I'd need a shorter one but which?

[Enceladus]

Your V6 currently has a 2020mm (6PK2020) belt since it has aircon.
V6 with no aircon has a 1900mm GM 93181719 or Contitech 6PK1900.

Gates list the belt as 6PK1903 at 1903mm. Presumably because this length fits a wider range of vehicles and as the additional length is minimal and within the tensioner tolerance it can be used in lieu of 1900mm without issue.

2260mm is for an early engine configuration apparently not sold in Europe. These engines had an additional guide roller that's not fitted to your Vauxhall. In any event this belt was discontinued and a service bulletin published to replace the belt with the standard 2020mm and omit the additional pulley.

Might it actually be your tensioner bearing that's squealing?

[BazaJT]

Thanks for the size information Enceladus,I'll get a 1900 ordered.The tensioner pulley had occurred to me as a possible suspect spinning it by hand showed it to be running freely and I could detect no roughness or wobble.However once I get the shorter belt on it I'll see what happens and if a new pulley is needed i'll get one of those also.

[biggriffin]

 The auxiliary pulley will probably need re-packing with grease,. Just remove tensioner, undo bolt, pop seals out, re-grease. Job jobbed 

[Andy H]

Before a tensioner pulley fails it can sometimes 'lock' (I assume due to grit or rust in between the ball bearings )

If it frees itself then you have dodged a bullet. If it stays locked then bearing spins in the plastic pulley, which melts, and throws the auxiliary belt

- edit - OOF wisdom says that re-greasing the bearing will prevent the bearing locking. I believe that it works but I haven't tried it personally.......

[biggriffin]

You can buy new pulley on eBay for about £15.00.

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tensioner-Pulley-V-ribbed-Belt-Fits-Vauxhall-Signum-Omega-Vectra-2-5-3-2L-1994/131804519300?hash=item1eb0295b84:g:T20AAOSwb8Vb7XhL

[dave the builder]

You can buy new pulley on eBay for about £15.00. £17 Standard Delivery from outside UK and wait weeks

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tensioner-Pulley-V-ribbed-Belt-Fits-Vauxhall-Signum-Omega-Vectra-2-5-3-2L-1994/131804519300?hash=item1eb0295b84:g:T20AAOSwb8Vb7XhL

FTFY 
Or
You can buy new pulley on eBay for £8.10 with delivery from UK
clicky