going on my third belt (in 5 months!!)

[Brits97TSI]

Ok, so on my way to school today my power steering went out, then all my power, then my engine overheated. I looked under the hood and realized my alternator belt was gone! After some inspection the power steering, alternator, and water pump pulleys all still spin freely. The car has all new belts, and has been sqeaking for quite some time. I changed all the belts about 5 months ago, and we had problems with this same belt then but weren't sure if it was just a fluke or something. Now positive something's wrong, but what? I thought the squeak was my power steering pump, but the car was squeaking longer than usual and didn't stop til the belt snapped off. It doesn't squeak anymore! Could it be my water pump maybe? Please help me out here! Thanks in advance for any advice! BTW, the car's a 97 Talon TSi, 77k.

 

[TalonRcR]

Ok, so on my way to school today my power steering went out, then all my power, then my engine overheated. I looked under the hood and realized my alternator belt was gone! After some inspection the power steering, alternator, and water pump pulleys all still spin freely. The car has all new belts, and has been sqeaking for quite some time. I changed all the belts about 5 months ago, and we had problems with this same belt then but weren't sure if it was just a fluke or something. Now positive something's wrong, but what? I thought the squeak was my power steering pump, but the car was squeaking longer than usual and didn't stop til the belt snapped off. It doesn't squeak anymore! Could it be my water pump maybe? Please help me out here! Thanks in advance for any advice! BTW, the car's a 97 Talon TSi, 77k.

Is the PS pump pulley bent at all?

chris

 

[Luttrull]

might try adjusting the puleys themselves to ensure there is no rubing ya know what i meaan

 

[BluemeanieTSi]

over tightening

 

[RamenPride]

The car has all new belts, and has been sqeaking for quite some time.

did you recently have the timing belt replaced also? maybe they put one of the pulleys on backwards, or used the wrong accessory belts.

 

[Raph]

remove crank pulley and inspect it..its prolly busted

 

[Brits97TSI]

Checked the PS pump pulley, it's good. I doubt overtightening it would have caused two belts to go, but I'll def. make sure this third belt's not overtightened. All the pulleys seem to be in place. I guess me and my dad will remove the crank pulley when he gets back from work . He's loving my car more and more every day Anyone else have any other suggestions?

 

[wret]

remove crank pulley and inspect it..its prolly busted

I agree. Crank Pulley.

 

[HondaStalker]

Is it an Auto ? if so this could be a sign.......

 

[Brits97TSI]

yes it is an auto acutally im living with it though.. but why does it matter if it's an auto? you lost me there . Ok, anyways, update: installed the new belt yesterday night.. yes i know i haven't fixed anything yet but i NEED to drive and this is my daily driver but we're gonna take it back off this weekend to check the crank pulley since that seems to be the unonymous reason. At first the new belt didn't squeak, but now it is starting to squeak, just for a second, right when i turn the car on.

 

[Brits97TSI]

ooo you didn't mean a sign to sell the car and get a manual did you?!?

 

[Nautica985]

my water pump pulley was rusted pretty bad and it was eating up my belts. I just bought all new aluminum pulleys.

 

[tr5900]

Check to see if the rubber part of your crank pulley is starting to seperate from the pulley.

 

[Brits97TSI]

I'll check that tomorrow when we tear it apart. I hope that's it, cuz that noise is unbearable and needs to just be fixed. It seems that this new belt may go any day, because the squeaking noise has progressed from just a squeak to a sound like it's stuck and about to snap off like the last one. One more question though, if it is the crank pulley separating like most of you seem to think, about how much will it cost to replace (myself)?

 

[ZachM31]

im doing the whole crank pulley/ harmonic balancer removal as we speak, a few days ago i noticed a wobble to it kind of, and then it started rubbing, so i called a friend (DSMRevolution) and bugged him at work for a few minutes, he told me not to drive it, so i pulled it all off, and yeah, went to shit, i can pull the whole thing apart (not a good thing) so i guess i get to buy a new one, probably be around $100, i am going to do the 60,000 mile belt maintenance too now that i have it ripped apart, the power steering belt was squeeling to beat hell, kind of annoying. i had three noises under the hood for a while there, a rubbing one, a squeeling one, and some lifter tick.

Brits97TSI, it isnt that hard to take it off, 4 12mm bolts on the pulley, and there is a roll pin set in to the crank gear, so you cant really get it messed up even when putting it on, i believe the torque on the bolts are around 20 ft/lbs.

 

[Brits97TSI]

Ok, well that's good to hear that it's not that hard to get to. Now I just have to take the $100 i had towards Eibach springs and put it towards MORE maintenance But thanks everyone for your input, I'll let you know how it turns out. If anyone else has any other helpful suggestions feel free to post them

 

[oldman]

Ok, well that's good to hear that it's not that hard to get to. Now I just have to take the $100 i had towards Eibach springs and put it towards MORE maintenance But thanks everyone for your input, I'll let you know how it turns out. If anyone else has any other helpful suggestions feel free to post them

Just one very important thing, do not turn the crank ccw.

 

[oldman]

ooo you didn't mean a sign to sell the car and get a manual did you?!?

He's talking about CW

 

[updoc21]

Be very careful not to overtighten the bolts that hold the pulley to the crank, they break very easily. It is a very easy job once you get all the damn plastic out of your way

 

[XR4TSi]

I just finished up this gs-t the other day. when i drove it the belts wouldnt stop squeaking, i put on new belts and water pump pulley, tensioned right. still squealing belts! So i decided screw it and changed the crank pulley, no more squealing belts! The odd thing is the crank pulley looks absloutely fine, it hasnt started to sepearate or anything. Anyway, i suguesst changing the crank pulley even if it looks fine and throw on some new belts and it will be fine after that

 

[Brits97TSI]

He's talking about CW

oo ok! I feel a little dumb :laugh: Ok I'm getting that new crank pulley any day now. Actually turns out my friend who wrecked his Talon with only 45k is parting it out, and I'm going to get it from him for cheap (same year as mine and everything). I'll be careful not to break the bolts Though with my luck all will go to hell the second I pop the hood. Thanks again guys!

 

[Brits97TSI]

What do you guys think of the possibility that maybe it's not the crankshaft pulley.. could it maybe be that the harmonic balancer went bad ? Someone just gave me that idea and I was wondering what everyone thought of that one

 

[oldman]

What do you guys think of the possibility that maybe it's not the crankshaft pulley.. could it maybe be that the harmonic balancer went bad ? Someone just gave me that idea and I was wondering what everyone thought of that one

Crank pulley = harmonic balancer

 

[Brits97TSI]

wow.. and that's the second time you've made me feel retarded in one thread :laugh: haha.. but thanks! Now i for once know for sure what is wrong with my car.. it's a great feeling

 

[oldman]

wow.. and that's the second time you've made me feel retarded in one thread :laugh: haha.. but thanks! Now i for once know for sure what is wrong with my car.. it's a great feeling

It's all good, we've all been there.