Squealing noise = alternator belt tensioner seized up | FerrariChat
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Squealing noise = alternator belt tensioner seized up

Discussion in '348/355' started by Pepsi10, Sep 2, 2009.

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  1. Pepsi10

    Pepsi10 Formula Junior

    Nov 24, 2008
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    Mike M
    #1 Pepsi10, Sep 2, 2009
    Was driving the other day, about 40 minutes into a good drive, when after giving it a bit of throttle, heard a squeal that went away, a bit of a strange smell, and a less severe mechanical sound that also went away.

    Watched the gauges and babied it home. Next morning, on start up, there was a squeal, that also went away with a bit of RPM.

    Brought the car to Bill Pollard (Sport Auto), and they were able to determine that the alternator belt tensioner had failed. Looked very similar to carlissimo's from the thread below.

    As usual, Bill and Shaun did their usual excellent job, and the car seems to be running perfectly again.


    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=220075
     
  2. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
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    #2 AceMaster, Sep 2, 2009
    glad to hear it was a minor problem and a minor fix (as opposed to a cam belt tensioner causing the cam belt to snap and blowing the engine)
     
  3. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2005
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    Mount Isa, Australia
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    Pap
    #3 PAP 348, Sep 2, 2009
    Yep, great to hear you got it home and it was an easy fix. :):)

    Nothing worse than being stranded on the side of the road. :):)
     
  4. 355

    355 F1 Rookie
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    #4 355, Sep 2, 2009
    The alternator belt tensioners do let go but they make a roaring noise for thousands of miles before they lock up. When you own a Ferrari you have to learn to listen to the engine and get used to it so that when something sounds different you have it checked out before it goes boom.
     
  5. Pepsi10

    Pepsi10 Formula Junior

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    #5 Pepsi10, Sep 3, 2009
    Oh I'm listening :) It's my first Ferrari and my new hobby.

    I've only owned a couple Lotus/Porsche/Fiat-cars that are either expensive once failed or supposedly prone to failure. But I'm pretty good about listening.

    I've only owned this car for 1000 miles, so maybe, to me, everything sounded normal.

    But two different shops had checked out the car during this initial 1000 miles and also didn't hear anything.

    The top was down, radio off, and I could hear everything very clearly. As I said in my original post, nothing was amiss for most of a good drive, and then during a good bit of acceleration, occurred this strange mechanical noise (bearing failed?), a smell (belt rubbing against failed bearing?) and then a lesser mechanical noise (belt forcing failed bearing to turn?).

    At this point I was going northward of 55 mph :) and just came off the throttle. The lesser mechanical noise slowly (20 seconds) went away, and I figured I had done the damage I was going to do and it was better to limp the ten minutes home rather than stop immediately/flat bed, etc.

    My point is it was a very rapid final demise, and I'm not sure there was an audible warning before failure. But believe me, I'll keep listening.
     
  6. 355

    355 F1 Rookie
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    #6 355, Sep 3, 2009
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2009
    The tensioner bearing can only be heard long before its demise by driving at a steady speed on the highway with the top and windows up. The bearing will make a mild roaring sound that those of us around cars for a while can tell its a bearing. This particular bearing will make that sound for a long time before it lets go. The bearing is cheap and takes about an hour to change if you have a hoist. I hope you didnt pay more than $200 for the part and labour. Anyway...its all good now and that bearing will last you many many years. Have fun with your toy as these cars are amazing to drive. :)
     
  7. Pepsi10

    Pepsi10 Formula Junior

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    #7 Pepsi10, Sep 3, 2009
    Yes, just had a wheel bearing go on the daily driver Volvo. So I know what you mean about a roaring.

    Thanks for the information, interesting, I appreciate it.
     
  8. mcooper

    mcooper Karting

    May 13, 2009
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    #8 mcooper, Sep 3, 2009
    I am curious if something I am hearing is related to this or different. The pat month or so, whenever the car is cold and I start it up and put it in reverse to pull it out of the garage a hear a little bit of a squeak. Not sure if its mechanical or a belt, but about 2 seconds after I am rolling out I don't hear it anymore and it doesn't do it if it's warm and I go in reverse.
     
  9. Pepsi10

    Pepsi10 Formula Junior

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    #9 Pepsi10, Sep 3, 2009
    After the failure, the next morning, I started the car and there was a squealing somewhat like a belt, but maybe more metallic. But before I could pull the car back into the garage to shut it down, it went away, and I decided I could limp it to the mechanic. So the noise would go away once the car was somewhat warmed.

    Likewise, when I got to the mechanic. Even though I shut down the car, it would not make this noise. However, I left the car with the mechanic, and next morning the noise was back and they were able to quickly diagnose the problem.

    Searching this forum, I found there were a couple possibilities for this sort of intermittent squealing including a loose belt.

    I'm wondering if I might have heard a similar squeak to yours during start up. Just the last couple times I started the car before the failure. Something I thought was a cold belt.
     

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