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Noisy idler pulley?

-Rich-

-Rich-

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Location
Rickmansworth
Car
2.4 Tourer Auto
Can any one help diagnose this noise, does it sound like the idler? The belt was changed 2.5 years a go for a gates one but I don't think it's the right kind of noise for that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QziO5DMZZAw
 
Does not sound good, i know that the idler pulley have been replaced, in my opinion if i was to replace idler pulley i would fit new belt at the same time.

https://h-tune.co.uk/
 
Could be the AC compressor, does the sound change when you cycle the AC on and off? Or if you have a very long screw driver you can place it near the pulleys to identify where the noise is from. My AC compressor sounded very similar to this, the pulley bearing then self destructed not long after!
 
I only noticed it when I was trying to sort my starting issues and lifted the bonnet after a spirited run. When I took the video the aircon was off.

I started the car up earlier and it's a lot quieter when cold. Went for a leisurely drive this time and the noise was the same, again with the aircon off. When I turned the aircon on the idler pulley was vibrating/wobbling, but turning it off calmed it down. Sounds like the pulley then?

I'll have to remove the belt and check it for play but should I get a genuine Honda replacement or are cheaper ones ok?
 
-Rich- said:
I only noticed it when I was trying to sort my starting issues and lifted the bonnet after a spirited run. When I took the video the aircon was off.

I started the car up earlier and it's a lot quieter when cold. Went for a leisurely drive this time and the noise was the same, again with the aircon off. When I turned the aircon on the idler pulley was vibrating/wobbling, but turning it off calmed it down. Sounds like the pulley then?

I'll have to remove the belt and check it for play but should I get a genuine Honda replacement or are cheaper ones ok?
Click to expand...
Spin the pulleys when you have the belt off, it might help you find the noisy pulley.
 
I've just taken the belt off the tensioner and spun the idler pulley. It was quiet and I could feel no play but it spun very freely with no resistance at all. Is this normal?

The pulley on the PS pump and alternator had resistance and felt ok. I couldn't really reach the aircon compressor, is access better from underneath the car?

When I put the belt back on it sounded a little quieter but the car had cooled down abit by then. I'll check the noise in the morning when I get to work.
 
Very likely the alternator pulley, and that petrol of yours sounds like a diesel!! is there a short belt mod for the petrols? as with the diesels, I did that to my mk7 and it went almost silent after a new alternator and short belt job.
 
I had a noise like this on my car and changed the PCV valve and all now ok.
Try squeezing the tube going into the valve located just to the right of your Alternator.
This made the noise stop on mine so ordered a new PCV for £20
 
I forgot to say the idler pulley has a different coloured line on it like the belt isn't making proper contact in that area. Could that be a sign the tensioner needs replacing as well. I have noticed it does seem to vibrate a bit as well, especially when the aircon is on.

post-438-0-81145000-1478019777.jpg


This is the diagram for the idler pulley (no.4) or the whole thing with tensioner (no.3) - http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=E__0600&block_03=443&block_05=hcr

E__0600.jpg


There's no way I'm paying £176 for a Honda one but I have found these parts - http://www.buycarparts.co.uk/oen/31170pna023

The gates one seems like a good buy, not really heard of the other brands apart from Febi and Blueprint.

edgeoftime said:
Very likely the alternator pulley, and that petrol of yours sounds like a diesel!! is there a short belt mod for the petrols? as with the diesels, I did that to my mk7 and it went almost silent after a new alternator and short belt job.
Click to expand...
That's only for the diesel I think, the petrol already has a shorter belt. I spun the alternator pulley and there was no noise or play from it.

brett said:
I had a noise like this on my car and changed the PCV valve and all now ok.
Try squeezing the tube going into the valve located just to the right of your Alternator.
This made the noise stop on mine so ordered a new PCV for £20
Click to expand...
I tried that but the noise stayed the same.
 
I decided to remove the belt and inspect every pulley abit more thoroughly over the weekend, they all felt ok with no play. When I got to the idler pulley it felt ok to start but then I turned it and felt a little play, turned it again and there was even more play. So I think I have found the culprit! I've ordered a new pulley from HH (£44) and a new bolt. I have also bought a new Gates belt to fit once I've changed it. Fingers crossed this cures the noise.

After Brett mentioned the PCV valve I decided to inspect this as well. The valve was a little gunked up so cleaned it and the grommet had gone a bit hard. There was a little oil in the hose and also in the holder that the valve fits in.

post-438-0-22738700-1478361062.jpg


When I removed the engine cover to check the other end of the hose I found this! It's collapsed and looking through the hole I could only see a narrow slit so this can't be doing much good. I'm not sure why it's gone like that, maybe the heat? I've ordered a new valve, grommet and hose from HH as well.

post-438-0-52535100-1478361082.jpg
 
Not good on the PCV pipe rich.
With new hose and pvc valve the car will breathe much better.
In the USA PCV valves are replaced every 35 k from memory as part of your service.
 
brett said:
Not good on the PCV pipe rich.
With new hose and pvc valve the car will breathe much better.
In the USA PCV valves are replaced every 35 k from memory as part of your service.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you mentioned it :) I had never heard of them before.

After you did I was reading about them and the symptoms they can cause, one of which is increased oil consumption. My car probably gets through 2 litres between changes (8k miles), which I've always thought is a lot.

Hopefully, once I've fitted the new parts that will reduce significantly and they only cost £40 delivered.
 
-Rich- said:
I'm glad you mentioned it :) I had never heard of them before.

After you did I was reading about them and the symptoms they can cause, one of which is increased oil consumption. My car probably gets through 2 litres between changes (8k miles), which I've always thought is a lot.

Hopefully, once I've fitted the new parts that will reduce significantly and they only cost £40 delivered.
Click to expand...
It might help with oil consumption as the engine will be breathing better.
That's a lot of oil your using Rich.
What grade of oil are you using as it might pay to go to 5w-40 if not already using.
 
I'm using 5w30, I bought 25L of it from Lubetech, it's the one they recommended for the car. The missus used to have a Civic, which took the same oil, hence I got the big drum. I've just finished it so I might try 5w40 when I change the oil again next year.
 
Chaning this pulley is turning in to a nightmare!!!

I removed the old one which was making a noise and felt rough when I put my finger in the bearing and spun it. I bolted the new one on but it felt loose after tightening it up. I unbolted it again not realising that the nut is loose and can fall out of the bracket, which it did. It landed on top of the alternator and then disappeared, I have spent ages looking for it!

I can't see it anywhere in the engine bay so I think it's either underneath the alternator or behind the manifold somewhere. I have removed part of the undertray but can't see it there, although I may have to remove it completely to check properly.

The alternator looks like it's a pain to remove, the 2 lower bolts anyway as the aircon pipes are in front of it and there's not much space. If I unbolt the radiator fans it looks like they just slot in at the bottom so I should be able to create more access with these out of the way.

If I still can't find it I don't know what I'm going to do. I can obviously get a new nut but I'm not happy leaving the other one in case it damages something.

When I do find it I need to work out why it was loose after fitting it. The bearing has the same part number as the old one but the pulley looks to be slightly different. I did buy a new bolt but didn't bother with the cover as it's only a dust one and the old one will do the job fine.
 
Well the car is back together but it's still not right!

The nut was underneath the alternator, I had to remove it to get it out, a magnet couldn't get close to it.

I can feel a little bit of movement from the new idler pulley but the old one is the same. I think the movement is from the bearings though. I've done a video of it with the cap removed, it's the same amount of movement with it fitted but you can see it better this way. Maybe the speed at which it spins counteracts the movement?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3U5RUyUxs

The idler pulley definitely needed changing plus I've fitted the new belt and although this has made it a little quieter that noise is still there. I've done a little video of before and after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZxf1yfWYLo

So what else could the noise be? The power steering pump pulley seems ok and I've had no issues with steering. The alternator pulley felt ok and usually if that's playing up the battery light flickers or stays on. I did feel a tiny bit of play in the compressor pulley but the noise is there whether it's cycling on or off.

I've done a little DIY on the PCV valve for anyone interested - http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/22672-24-petrol-pcv-valve-and-hose-replacement/
 
I took the car to a jap specialist so they could diagnose this noise and they've come back saying it's the water pump. Now the noise is worse once the engine has warmed up and I took the belt off and ran the engine for a few seconds and it didn't really get any quieter.

So as the water pump pulley is driven by the belt how could it be noisy still when it's removed? I'm going down there tomorrow so will see what else they say.
 
Have you checked the crank pulley?
If you used a new belt when you did the idler, make sure it's the right size or re- use the old one to rule it out.

Hard to say because you said the noise doesn't change much with no belt?

Hit each pulley with a small directed squirt of wd40 while running, see if that helps.
 
In the video in #1 there's a tappety sound, is that the noise you're on about ?

Try making another video with the belt off.

If it's not the tappety sound you're thinking of, then as said above, the crank pulleys make a noise (or so I've read on this forum).

Another possibility is the oil pump.
 
I did check the crank pulley and it felt ok. I made another video with the belt on and off. With it on, every now and again there is a metallic kind of noise, which must be the water pump then.

Without the belt it's still really loud though. I've had the car 3 years and it's never been this loud. Maybe I should try a thicker oil once I've got it running right to quieten it down.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0bMDBdollk8
 
With the belt off its still sounds pretty loud. Check your valve timing lately?

Definitely something driven by the belt also making a noise. Would look closer at water, AC and alternator as possible culprits. If the garage think it's a water pump, might be worth starting there and cheapest. If it's not that at least it been changed.
 
As said might be to valve clearance need adjusting but the sound normally changes as the engine gets warm.
Also check your injectors by taking the cover off and using a screwdriver on each one to see if any noise is coming from them.
 
Just got back from the garage with the car, they've had it for a week! They diagnosed the water pump as the cause of the noise with the belt on so I've had that replaced with a new Honda one, it sounds much better now :)

They listened to the engine and have no concerns about it, it sounds normal. They're a Jap specialist and they came highly recommended so I trust what they say. There is a slight bit of chain chatter but nothing to be concerned about.

I think maybe I had just become paranoid about the noise when actually it's ok but when it's due the next oil change I'll try switching to 5w40.
 
Salim said:
Good result, just enjoy it now
Click to expand...
Believe me I'm going to, especially after spending £1k on the car this month, that hurt!

I really enjoyed the drive home, I didn't realise how much I would miss it :)
 
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