Squeaking and odd smell from engine bay

[sgregory124]

Hi,

Hopefully this is a relatively simple one to explain! My C36 has suddenly developed a pronounced 'squeaking' noise coming from somewhere in the engine bay.

It always used to squeak a little on damp days and after about 20 minutes of driving, when the engine bay was nice and hot the squeak dissapeared.

Tonight I got in the car at work, it being quite wet outside, the squeak started when I started the car, no problem I thought....however, when I arrived home after 19 miles and 30 minutes, I noticed that the squeak is still there, louder than it is usually and accompanied by a rather strong smell of burning rubber/plastic.....:O

Obviously i'm a little concerned about this, I assume that its a belt of some description slipping so badly that its getting hot and beginning to melt...or a tensioner/bearing somewhere?

Does anyone have any ideas whats gone wrong?....

Thanks in advance for any forthcoming mechanical genius....

Simon

 

[maddog]

Hi,

Hopefully this is a relatively simple one to explain! My C36 has suddenly developed a pronounced 'squeaking' noise coming from somewhere in the engine bay.

It always used to squeak a little on damp days and after about 20 minutes of driving, when the engine bay was nice and hot the squeak dissapeared.

Tonight I got in the car at work, it being quite wet outside, the squeak started when I started the car, no problem I thought....however, when I arrived home after 19 miles and 30 minutes, I noticed that the squeak is still there, louder than it is usually and accompanied by a rather strong smell of burning rubber/plastic.....:O

Obviously i'm a little concerned about this, I assume that its a belt of some description slipping so badly that its getting hot and beginning to melt...or a tensioner/bearing somewhere?

Does anyone have any ideas whats gone wrong?....

Thanks in advance for any forthcoming mechanical genius....

Simon

I'm not familiar with your car but i had the tensioner and idler wheels go on my Sprinter, no smell but an increasing loud noise that i first thought was a slipping fan belt, spraying a little lube onto the idler bearing alleviated the noise for a while

The garage that did the work said it was a very common problem and that they had done a few cars with the same problems

 

[Stevie A]

When it is squeaking open the bonnet and see where the noise is coming from. It sound's like the auxillary belt that drives the alternator etc but best to open up and have a look and listen. If it's the belt either get it tightened or have it replaced.

 

[sgregory124]

Thanks guys, i'll pop the bonnet tomorrow morning and cop a listen to see if I can pin-point the noise....

Simon

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

It does sound like an auxiliary drive belt problem. I've heard of a few similar problems associated with the belt tensioner or idle pulley bearing failing lately and I don't think its just Mercs. Probably due to the belt tensioners being a more complex design nowadays. The burning smell is most likely the belt out of tension or slipping over a tight or seized pulley.

If you have a friendly/competent local garage they should be able to do the job, mine certainly can.

 

[tom tom]

sounds like the drive belt ie alternator belt.

 

[turnipsock]

Belts usually squeak when the alternator is loaded up.

When you first start the car, sit for a minute with the lights, heaters, etc. switched off. If it's a problem with the alternator belt, the squeaking will disappear once the battery has caught up with the charge removed from starting.

At this time of year the load on the alternator is increased as we need our lights and wipers a lot more.

 

[sgregory124]

Thanks again for all your replies folks. I just arrived at work and with the help of the light on my phone and a minute bit of daylight I think I managed to pin-point the noise to the front right lower part of the engine.

It definitely sounds as though its coming from a pulley/tensioner though, i'm pretty sure it isn't anything to do with electrical load on the alternator since the noise is actually almost non-existant when you start the car. Then after the first couple of minutes it starts....and eventually gets more 'vocal'.

So a call to the garage is necessary I think, don't want the damn thing expiring on me this time of year....:O

Simon

 

[maddog]

Thanks again for all your replies folks. I just arrived at work and with the help of the light on my phone and a minute bit of daylight I think I managed to pin-point the noise to the front right lower part of the engine.

It definitely sounds as though its coming from a pulley/tensioner though, i'm pretty sure it isn't anything to do with electrical load on the alternator since the noise is actually almost non-existant when you start the car. Then after the first couple of minutes it starts....and eventually gets more 'vocal'.

So a call to the garage is necessary I think, don't want the damn thing expiring on me this time of year....:O

Simon

My idler wheel did that , silent on start up and then gets louder and louder, apparently they can go on for ages doing that, mine was pretty bad when i changed as i have a loud stereo

Wasnt lots of money , i changed both idler wheels and the belt all genuine parts and it was less than £100 all in, the idlers were £9 and £13 iirc

 

[sgregory124]

My idler wheel did that , silent on start up and then gets louder and louder, apparently they can go on for ages doing that, mine was pretty bad when i changed as i have a loud stereo

Wasnt lots of money , i changed both idler wheels and the belt all genuine parts and it was less than £100 all in, the idlers were £9 and £13 iirc

Yep I have a loud stereo too which is probably how I haven't noticed it gradually getting worse...lol

Anyways, booked in on Monday to Andy Gayle so hopefully it'll all be sorted out then...

Simon