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[stevejones]

Hi all. I started the car (2.5 V6 manual 99 model) this morning and there is a nasty grating noise coming from the front end. Not very loud but enough to be worrying. I think from one of the pulley wheels (?) driven by the belt that drives the water pump / alternator etc., but not certain about that.  The noise quietens at times but is still there on tickover. I'd say it was a typical loose fan belt noise but it's more grating and not there just on acceleration. It also doesn't sound anything like a squeaky water pump noise that I've heard on other cars.

Any ideas anybody?

Steve

[Markjay]

Yes - do not start the car until you verified the source of the noise. If the cam belt tensioner is failing, the cambelt could snap and the engine will be permanently damaged.

Hopefully it will prove to be one of the auxiliary idlers etc, but this is chance you can't take.

Remove the front belt covers and inspect.

Also, when were the cambelt and tensioner last replaced?

[Marks DTM Calib]

First of all......use a 15mm ring spanner on the aux belt tensioner and remove the aux belt....make sure the belt is clear of the crank pulley.

Start it up and see if the noise is gone......dont run it long though as the water pump is not turning.....if its still there then its a cambelt idler/tensioenr nad the engine should not be run.