Is My Timing Belt On The Way Out?

[brodie_84]

I just picked up an R33 gtst s2. It needed a new diff and radiator so I've just finished replacing those and today I just noticed a slight whirring noise, which I think is coming from the timing belt cover.

Has anyone had this noise before? It only does it just off idle then it's fine after that. I've already ordered a new timing kit and water pump today which I'll fit on Friday, and hopefully that fixes it.

The motor has done just over 100,000kms so I'm gonna play it safe and replace the belts and pulley, and water pump while I'm at it.

[Kinks]

100k service = change timing belt. you're due so change it, interference motor means things get ugly if it snaps.

aftermarket belts eg gates make some noise anyway, but if yours hasn't been done and it's the OEM belt then it could be a warning sign that you should change it!!

i never heard a peep out of my OEM belt, got a gates on there now and it does make a slight whirr just off idle but they often do that.

[brodie_84]

Yea I'm prayin it's only the timing belt. I bought the car off a mate and he was straight up with the few things that were wrong with it and he did mention the timing belt hasn't been done yet. The motor sounds perfectly smooth, only the slight whirr just off idle. My parts should get here Thursday, so I should have it all completed by Friday arvy. I'm massively keen to get it on the road but don wanna playin Russian roulette n end up blowin the motor by drivin it with the old belt.

[Andy R33 GTS]

Hey guys, I am having the same issue ....HOWEVER,

my 96 R33 GTST (100km covered), was due for a timing belt, especially as I only just got the car a few months ago and didn't know if its been done.

I bought a timing kit, had it fitted, and within 2 weeks I am getting a whirr/growl from top of timing cover,

the noise only happens a few hundred RPM over idle and goes when revved higher, I have noticed that the growl goes once its warm (after a few mins) but have also notice when quite hot... I am getting a high pitched groan/moan from the same area.

Is the idler bearing shot? or tensioner? or is it just a noisy belt?

My other concern is that the tensioner has been set too tight and its worn the bearings ... is this possible?

Note, The noise wasn't there before the timing belt was done.

Muchly appreciated if anyone else can shed some light?

Andy

[Moodles2]

New belts usually do that before theyre settled in, If it's a Gates timing belt, completely normal, might need retensioning down the track if it still does it

[Andy R33 GTS]

New belts usually do that before theyre settled in, If it's a Gates timing belt, completely normal, might need retensioning down the track if it still does it

So a little growl just above idle for a few minutes is normal?

will it quieten down with age? Is this the same for the hum/whine when it is warm?

Thanks

[Moodles2]

When I changed mine (genuine nissan belt), it whirred abit at idle for about 2-3 weeks then went away

[Andy R33 GTS]

When I changed mine (genuine nissan belt), it whirred abit at idle for about 2-3 weeks then went away

mine isnt so much a whirr, like a growl

[brodie_84]

so, i changed the timing belt yesterday and changed the tensioner and idler pulley while i was at it. The water pump was weeping out of the 'tell tale' hole so i replaced it as well.

It would have been approximately a 4 hour job, but my mate that was helping me accidently snapped off one of the 6mm bolts that holds the top timing cover on. Then it turned into a big mission to find a small enough ezi-out kit in town. And in the end I ended up drilling out the bolt and tapping it to an 8x1.25 hole instead and now its all sweet.

Anyways, now the new belt is fitted, the whirring noise that was there before, is now completely gone :-)

There is now the higher pitched whining/whirring noise... which is obviously characteristic of a new timing belt until it runs in.

But other than that, everything looks fine.

[lookingforboost]

just did my timing belt and all the belts etc, pay's to change the air con bearing to they make some noises when they are on there way out mine was now its quiet as a mouse

[flipridah17]

yeah past 100K they give you this squeaking noise which needs to be replaced.

Pricey but worth the piece of mind