Rob89

Hey all first post =)

First problem with my Focus =/

When the engine is on and in idle it squeaks constantly over and over again as if it was in a pattern.
I put my put my head in the engine and it seems to be near the only belt that is visible, and I dont know what belt this is or even if it is the problem.

It squeaks as it's idling.
It squeaks as I'm driving and increases alot when I rev it. I've revved it idle too and the squeak gets worse and faster.

It's constantly on but not sure about when I'm hitting 50-70mph.

Any ideas?

I've read other websites and suggestions say it can be cambelt or timing belt.

Also is it bad? lol
I'm going to get it looked at but before that I need to know a rough price on labour and fixing.

Cheers

Adam R4

Sounds to me like it would be a belt of some kind, most probably worn if never changed previously...

Rob89

Yeah, it revolves around that belt area but dunno which belt it is. It;s the only visible one.

Any idea of rough pricing overall?

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Alternator belt? About Ł20 from ford, fitting takes about half hour.

Rob89

hmmm easy to do for non-experienced bloke like me? lol

How about timing belt price? or will it be a full kit change?

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Dunno about timing belt mate, sorry. R.e the alt belt, I did one for the first time ever a few weeks ago, I just found a guide on the internet, that coupled with my haynes manual, and fords 'instructions' (if you can call them that...) I managed to do it relatively quickly.

Rob89

Did you have the same problem?

best try the cheaper option before going expensive i guess.

Im looking at my Haynes and it only tells you how to remokve/replace the actual alternator but nothing about the belt.

Edit: Is this Alternator Belt also know as the Serpentine/Fan Belt??

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Can be known as the drive belt and sometimes the fan belt. Just ask a Ford dealer for an auxillary belt and give them your reg, they'll get the right one (hopefully).

The one on my car wasn't squeaking, was just cracked and old, but the one on my dad's defender used to squeel like fuck when you started it, I changed the belt and it's all good.

Look in the haynes manual under auxillary belt? I think that's what they call it in mine.

If aux belt change doesn't stop the noise, then it could be the timing belt tensioner on its way out, but I don't know if squeaking is a symptom of this.

Rob89

Ah yh it was under auxillary belt. But wow it looks simple enough but I bet when I do it, it wont be lol.

This belt moves faster when I rev up tho right? Revving up makes it squeak faster.

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

Yep, faster it revs, the faster the belt goes as it's run off the crank pulley.

Rob89

Ok I tried someones idea of pouring water onto the belt as it's running and it stopped the squeaking. But after a few minutes or so it returned =/

I've looked at the belt and it looks like it's in good condition, no cracks or anything on the lined side.

Dunno whats going on.

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

The squeaking returns because the belt drys out pretty quickly. Just change it, iirc they're stretchy belts, so yours may have just stretched too much.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Spanner on the middle of the tensior and turn to release the tension, take old belt off, and the reverse for fitting new belt. Make sure you route it the same as the old one came off.

Rob89

How would I try to avoid this again? Stretching mostly, i thought the tensioner is already set.

Also is this an automatic tensioner? or do I need to keep tightening manually?

1.9 xr2 on 40's

sounds like a pulley to me
i had it on a fiesta
get a can of wd40 and put on the red straw and squirt it at anything that spins with the belt, when it shuts up you found your problem


i used to get a good 30 mins quiet from a good wd'ing, time enough to sell it (i did tell the guy tho)

zetec-Sam

iTrader: (2)

He's already wetted the belt and said it stopped.
Al belts stretch over time Rob, so may just be a case of the belt being old. Not 100% but I think it's an auto tensioner, someone'll correct me if I'm wrong I'm sure.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Yes it is a sprung tensioner, so it always keeps the belt at the correct tension.

Rob89

Yeah as soon as I wet the belt, the sound disappeared for a few mins then came back.
I have a belt on order for tomorrow so hopefully it is an easy change. I have access to the area under the car behind the drivers side wheel just as the Haynes manual suggests. Any other tips?

It's just a matter of rapping the new belt around the pullys in the correct order and direction? Oh and correctly positioning it too.
Or is there more to it?

Car is about to hit 70k milage.
It's a Ford Focus Mk1 1999 1.8L Petrol with Air Con and Power Steering.

Sweet, I see it's hard to access though =/ Manual says use a spanner.
I'm guessing I grab the bit sticking out and turn it right? Or do I need to push/pull?

Thanks for all the replies by the way.

If this new belt does not solve it then it will be a pully. And that I'm guessing is a professionals job.

phil_focus

if the belt doesnt cure it then its a pulley. they are only held on with a single centre bolt so easy job to change at home. if its the tensioner thats the problem then thats held on with a few bolts but still easy job to do.

only extra thing i can think you might encounter is a lower plastic cover but thats a few 10mm iirc bolts and its off, easy peasy.

just follow the haynes. the hardest bit is slackening off the tensioner. think its a 13mm spanner on the centre bolt and you pull one way, you'll see, but the spring is bloody strong so either use a long spanner or a socket on a long bar for added leaverage.

Rob89

Thing is I can hardly access any pully, just the 2 bottom ones.
The rest are furthur up and surrounded/blocked.

phil_focus

try the new belt then first mate and if that doesnt cure it and your not happy doing any more yourself then take it to a garage.

by the way when we say pulleys we are meaning the idler pulleys that help to route the belt, not the pulleys that drive components such as water pump, power steering pump and air con pump.

Rob89

Are the idle pulleys the ones that dont rotate? The ones the belts run on the smooth side?

The other pullys are the ones that do rotate and have the lined side of belt running on them?

Edit: according to my haynes, i have 1 idle pully which is at the top

phil_focus

everything the belt touches moves mate all the pulleys rotate.

iirc the only pulley that drives something (ie a pump) which doesnt run on the grooved side is the water pump. someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

the tensioner pulley and idler are the two smallest ones, the others that drive stuff are a lot lot bigger.

hope this helps mate.

Rob89

Ill be taking a better look tomorrow when I start working on it. So maybe ill understand after.

I'm just worried I cant get the belt around one of the pullys because there isnt much room to play with.

phil_focus

dont worry about that mate, you will. i've done timing belt on a 1.6 zetec e engined mk6 escort and the timing belt on my 2l mk 1 focus all on my gravel drive which requires removing the auxiliary belt as well as more covers and even the drivers side engine mount so have to support the engine

after doing that the auxiliary belt is easy hehe. i cant picture it all in my head at the mo so cant really help you any further but once you get going and using the haynes manual you'll soon see.

also helps to raise the front drivers corner of the car and support it on an axel stand. gives you more room to work. have a quick read of the haynes first to familiarise yourself with whats involved.

Rob89

I managed to get the new belt on and there is no squeak or anything so seems fixed upto now. =D

I will be checking now and then as the temp outside gets cold so see if it returns.

But I also got a quote from a garage about getting pullys replaced if needed and the quote was Ł70ish. Sounds fair?
Ofcourse wont need to get it done if the sound doesnt return.

I'll say thank you all, in advance if it doesnt return =)

ernie1690

i have a 2001 focus tddi diesel doing the same do you think its the same trouble even its a diesel engine