Noise From Engine Bay - Timing Belt?

[rinmak]

Hey guys,

Ever since I have had my car I have noticed a noise thats quite audible from the engine bay.

Its hard to describe but its like a constant high pitched scratching that goes up and down in tones.

Anyway my mates dad reckons its because the timing belt (recently changed) is either too tight or too loose...cant remember which one

Basically just want to know if either of those factors result in such a noise & if so, is it something I should get fixed...cos my friends dad reckons it will go away over time (about 5000kms on the belt so far).

The belt is a genuine nissan product (part #13028-5L327) & the car is a pretty stock standard R33 GTST.

Any input would be great! Thanks!

[prosman]

yeah same thing happened with me actually, after i got my car back from getting a new timing belt there was a squeeling noise coming from my engine bay and its still there after 5000kms :|

although mine is a 32 and i used a greddy strengthened timing belt, it seems ive got the same problem. might not be the timing belt but one of the other belts they took off to get to the timing belt. unfortunately getting a mechanic to investigate may be costly!

eager to hear other ppls thoughts

[TracidTrax]

well were these installed by a qualified mechanic? i wouldnt was this to screw up valve timing

[cowie165]

Try squirting either a little water, dishwashing detergent or WD40 onto the timing belt. If the noise goes away, you've identified which one is causing the problem.

I've found WD40 the best because of the long nozzle. You can squirt a tiny bit on without making a great big mess. I guess you could always put some on before you start the motor?

[Beer Baron]

i can't believe you guys put up with it for 5000kms!!!

FTR i changed my timing belt when i imported my car. it makes NO noises. so no it's not normal for a new timing belt to make a scratching noise.

[lwells]

I'd put my money on the timing belt being too tight: its quite a common mistake. According to SK's guide, there should be about "5mm in and out (ie; 10 mm total movement) using one finger".

I really must get my changed soon (peace of mind, etc). Richard: did you get Nath to change it? Any idea of the rough cost?

Lucien.

[rinmak]

Thanks for the replys guys

How much is a fair price to get a performance workshop to re-tension the belt for me? Just that im not very mechanically minded and as such dont have many tools either.

[gts4diehard]

Theres a good chance that its the tensioner bearings, are you sure the noise is coming from the timing belt area?

If you can you could try disconnecting the air con belt to eliminate that as a cause. And try disconnecting the other belts and seeing how the alternator and water pump bearing feel, they should not feel rough or rumbly...

IN regard to tensioners, there are two down there, they could be showing their wear more now that the new belt is tight and putting more pressure against the tensioners. They will make a squealing type sound if worn. There are two, priced around $75 each, they should always be checked for wear when you replace a timing belt. Unfortunately the labour is going to cost around the same as fitting a belt as you have to remove the belt to do it.

P.S. make sure you check this properly, they say that the bolts that hold the tensioners have a habit of breaking - causing very bad things to happen to your engine - and the only way I could see this happening is if the tensioners seize or something.

[prosman]

im taking my car back to the place i got it done, coz aparantly they often need to make small adjustments after fitting it to get the tension just right... its getting looked at on tues so ill let u guys know how it goes! lucky for me its not gonna cost nething coz its just fixing the problem they created

[rinmak]

Hey prosman

While your there could ya ask them how much a job like that costs usualy? Just that I cant hold the person who changed my belt to fixing it as it was done by previous owner

[TracidTrax]

ye im also up 4 a timing belt change

[gexiaowen]

i got my timing belt changed last week

390 all up with genuine nissan belt and radiator bleed and flushed.

[prosman]

well i am madder than a cut snake... dont mind me always wanted to use that line! theres nothing wrong with my timing belt aparantly, its just the fact that its the greddy strengthened one... according to the performance shop they tend to make noise. not happy considering i spent $170 getting them to check it out and basically reinstall it! but yeah ur looking at 2-3 hrs labour and the initial cost of the belt ppl... the final cost depends on ur mechanic and whether u go for a stock belt or a strengthened one. strengthened ones set ya back over $150. unfortunately my belt is doomed to a life of squeeking

[TommO]

well i am madder than a cut snake... dont mind me always wanted to use that line! theres nothing wrong with my timing belt aparantly, its just the fact that its the greddy strengthened one... according to the performance shop they tend to make noise.  not happy considering i spent $170 getting them to check it out and basically reinstall it!  but yeah ur looking at 2-3 hrs labour and the initial cost of the belt ppl... the final cost depends on ur mechanic and whether u go for a stock belt or a strengthened one.  strengthened ones set ya back over $150.  unfortunately my belt is doomed to a life of squeeking

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This doesn't sound right to me.

If they "knew" they always made that sound, why exactly did they pull it apart to check it out? They should have known straight up what that sound was.

I don't understand how a different belt type can cause a squeaking anyway, unless it's a different size possibly? But either way, it's just stronger...

[1st 32]

I also just had timing belt changed. Used the Greddy strenghtened one also. It 2 makes a squeking noise, a little like a mozzie is under the hood. Guys where i got it done said it's normal. One has it on his new 34 gtt and makes exact same noise. There is nothing wrong with it, just have to put up with it for a while

[Driver]

i got a standard nissan one and installed it myself.

They work fine and dont break either

[prosman]

yeah im kinda thinking the good olde nissan one might have been a wiser choice, seeing as im not doing nethin insane with the engine. and in response to what u said TommO, they tried telling me that it wasnt the timing belt to start off with, which i knew was wrong so i told them to check the timing belt. after 3 hrs labour they finally tell me it actually is the belt and theres nothing they can do. i suppose the sound isnt too bad and when i get my full exhaust itll mask the sound good. im just annoyed about the money! oh well ill live