Belt makes squeaking noise

[rallen]

Hello

On our old 2001 E320, and with the engine on idle, there is a squeaking noise which must come from the belt at the front of the engine. Trouble is this belt goes around a number of pulleys and I have no idea which one is making the noise. Some of the pulleys are the alternator, crankshaft, two more which must be the steering pump and water pump, and a couple of others one of which must be a tensioner.

I do remember I had to take the belt out in order to remove the alternator and it was a bugger to get back in, I cannot even remember how exactly I did it.

What can I do about this?

Thanks
Akis

 

[television]

It is the idle pulley that normally squeals, just put a tiny drop of oil if you can in the center

 

[Frontstep]

Is your belt in good order ? ie flexible and free from cracks,try some mildly soapy water on it whilst its running just replace if anything amiss.
If not the belt, a long piece of dowel placed CAREFULLY on the engine should reveal the noisy part as you get near.

 

[EmilysDad]

....
If not the belt, a long piece of dowel placed CAREFULLY on the engine should reveal the noisy part as you get near.

I know what you mean ..... used as a stethoscope but it would just fall off if placed on the engine.

 

[EmilysDad]

It is the idle pulley that normally squeals, just put a tiny drop of oil if you can in the center

Just guessing ....... but is the bearing on the tensioner accessible? If so, it might be possible to gently prise the dust cover off it and apply a bit of grease - then replace the cover.

 

[television]

5 and 35, it may be possible to get a little oil down at the rear, never use grease where oil will go

 

[EmilysDad]

5 and 35, it may be possible to get a little oil down at the rear, never use grease where oil will go .....

Looks similar to the tension on my Omega. That has a standard bearing encapsulated in the centre of the pulley, and the bearings are greased from the (bearing) factory

 

[television]

Looks similar to the tension on my Omega. That has a standard bearing encapsulated in the centre of the pulley, and the bearings are greased from the (bearing) factory

That is a hard one, bearings do use a normal grease as we know or use,its more like a mocoma R oil,,you could not get grease in there anyway

 

[cleverdicky]

My belt squeaks, and always has from new. Not under power but just a gentle repetitive rhythmic squeak.
But then I knew my steering pump pulley was replaced (and a few other bits) so I know it isn't a bearing. It's defo the belt and my belief is that it is a rough part that rubs the side wall of a pulley. It's not bad and I keep promising to track it down one day
But with a puff of talc it goes quiet as a mouse and lasts a few weeks.

Perhaps yours is the same ??

 

[WG M-B]

On the OM613 it will be the spring in the tensioner the most likely culprit. Remove it and soak in oil as Mlacolm suggests should do the trick. Alternatively you could get a new one from ECP relatively cheap