screaming whining noise?

[GaryPatt]

There is a loud screaming / whining noise eminating from the water pump front of enging block high up, checked belts and no other symptoms...any ideas boffins? (just had new cam belt fitted)

Gary

[muddyweb]

Take the belt off and see what the pump feels like.  Should be nice and smooth and free-running.

If it is very stiff or rough, or there is any lateral movement in it.. then it is quite probably dead.

At the same time, check the alternator for similar symptoms.

Is it there all the time, or does it go ?

[Dave]

Could be water pump,tensioner, idler pulley, alternator, power steering pump.  Have you taken the alternator belt and power steering belt off and tryed it. Ps don't run it to long with the belts off. Have you tryed  spraing wd40 on any sqweeky bits. If it still makes the noise with the belts off it might be the camshaft oil seal there is a metal ring inside the rubber and if that rubber has worn away they make hell of a racket. I had this nightmare to find it. If you have a large screwdriver put the blade to the engine and the handle to your ear works like a stetherscope  help locate the noise.

 Good look Gary

[GaryPatt]

The noise is consy=tant but changes in the degree of intensity, all the belts are free moving and i tried the wd40 thing...

Gary

[ChrisW]

Sure it's not the tensioner? They're favourite to go, located in that vicinity and make a noise like that  

[LOFTY]

I had that problem, all sorts of nasty noises, doesnt seem to happen if wifes not in the car.

 :lol:

[TUFFTEE]

First of all! Are your belts at the correct tensions? A loose belt will cause that as well!

[Budgie]

The 300 TDi has a sprung belt tensioner so there is no adjustment that you can make, it does it automatic like.  

It could be a glazed belt or dirt in the grooves of the pullys.
With the engine running spray a small amout of WD40 onto the top of the belt, just before the tensioner pully and see if the noise stops.
If it does then, providing you don't have air-con, look down the line of the belt (from the offside wing) as it passes through the tensioner and alternator pullys and make sure it's alined correctly.
Sometimes the the tensioner pully can be pulled out of line when releasing the tension on the belt and a small packer placed behind the pully body will bring it back in line again.
If this is okay then try a new belt and see if it cures it.

If the noise doesn't stop when you spray the WD40 on the belt then take a close look at the centre bearing on the belt tentioner, as has been said above.