Micra squeaking

Dec 18, 2008 11 Replies

I am a mechanical numpty. I barely know one end of a spanner from the other, and can't use a screwdriver unless I really think hard and stick my tongue out while I'm using it. There. That's that out of the way.



Anyway, my SO's '53-reg Micra (K12?) has started emitting a squeaking sound from under the bonnet. It's not particularly loud but it's there on tickover and is stil audible at slow speeds[1].



Now, she wasn't totally enamoured with my comment that we're in the AA, so if she breaks down a Very Nice Man will come to her aid, so, what's the likely candidate for when I acutally get round to opening the bonnet[2] during hours of daylight at the weekend. Fanbelt? If that's the case then it can't be that difficult to tighten it, surely?



Anything else that I should be looking for? I guess I'll have a better clue if I can track down a bit more precisely than "at the front, under the bonnet" the noise is emanating from but any advice would be gratefully received.



[1] It's a 1.2 Micra - what else could it do? [2] Even the thought of this is giving me the willies, although I have managed to check the oil and water on previous occasions without anything untoward happening.

Thus spake CT ( snipped-for-privacy@christrollen.co.uk) unto the assembled multitudes:

Sounds like a worn or slightly loose alternator belt to me. I don't think cars have fanbelts these days.

Alternator (fan, but there isn't one anymore) belt. Splash a little water on the belt & see if it shuts up.

Seconded. An old plastic spray bottle, rinsed and filled with water is ideal for the job. With the nozzle set to give a jet rather than a spray. Mike.

Thanks, sounds good.

Ummm...this alternator belt...it will be obvious what it is and where it is when I lift the bonnet, will it?

What I mean is, is it exposed and just happily spinning (and squeaking) its merry little heart out in all its glory, waiting for a spray of water?

Yeah. It's at the opposite end of the engine to the gearbox and looks like a large rubber band that goes over a few pulleys.

It'll be the one driving the alternator. :-)

It should be exposed and quite obvious. It's normally only the timing belt that is protected with a cover. Mike.

heh.

Cheers.

At least now I can go back home tonight and tell her that I have fully diagnosed the problem with the help of my friends off the internet and I shall fix it at the weekend. Then hopefully she'll let me go down the pub.

Thus spake CT ( snipped-for-privacy@christrollen.co.uk) unto the assembled multitudes:

A complementary shag's out of the question then? :-)

My K12 does the same. I'd not noticed it but when in for an MOT the main dealer spotted it and wanted to fit a new belt. At =A380 I said no I'd look myself.

When I looked, I decided it wasn't the belt, but a squeaky front bearing on the alternator. But I could be wrong. It just seemed the wrong type of squeak for a slipping belt. A loose belt usually squeaks at start up and if you rev up, particularly with the lights on. This squeaks at tickover and just above, all the time. And the belt isn't loose. This sounds the same as yours.

I was going to look anyway, but it looks a right PITA to get at. No access to the relevant bolts. So I gave up. That was two years ago. Still squeaks! But is getting louder.

BobC

Well, the obvious solution (heh) is to spray the belt with water to see if the squeak stops. Using an old trigger-spray bottle is handy I find but remember to put it on jet, rather than spray.

I really can't believe you didn't work that out for yourself :o)

Hmmm...not what I really wanted to hear, but hey-ho!

Next door neighbour's missing cat?

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