Hey everyone..

happy new years :)

i have an issue with my TF 3L v6.

There's an irritating grinding sound coming from the cambelt area i think. It doesnt happen on start up. I sprayed the area and all pulleys etc with lubricant and the noise went away for a while. Comes back after about half an hour of driving.

I took a short video of the noise.


http://vimeo.com/34392014


What is it? more importantly.. is this an easy fix and how much would it cost to get this sorted.

cambelt etc all works have been previously done

Thanks.

Sounds like an idler pulley bearing ..... not hard to change or expensive.

Get yourself a long thin screwdriver, CAREFULLY put the blade end on the nut holding each pulley or a place on it that ISNT SPINNING.

Stick yur ear on the other end of the screwdriver and it will work like a doctors stethoscope.

When your on the noisy one you will hear a big difference ... it will sound like its shagged.

Then just buy a nooby and change her over ... jobs done.

If none of em are noisy ........ ask a mechanic for a free listen ;)

With respect to Ol'Fart, I'd go in boots and all and jack the drivers side front up, remove wheel and splashguard, then remove the belts and spin each idler or accessory in turn and check for free play and roughness - it may be an idler/alternator /power steering /aircon bearing that's noisy. This is a much safer process as I speak from experience when the screwdriver slipped from my hand and shredded the radiator when it got caught in the moving belt. (Commodore) From the sound of it, failure will be soon.

Well, he did say CAREFULLY. LOL

Wot Max said :D

Cant say ive ever lost control of one in the last ummmm lotsa years ;)

If you ever find out what it is let me know because that sounds like a similar noise in my car. Just today after Madmax's recommendation I removed the accessory belts and all was fine in that department. Its not a big job, really... And personally im with Hako on the screwdriver front with all respect to Ol'Fart I am much to accident prone.

As you are in Vic you can feel free to book in for a check if you wish, there are a few ways to eliminate things

I have a KJ GTV in my shop now with a shredded timing belt as the water pump was beginning to seize up, the customers mechanic told him the sound was nothing to worry about, pump locked up, shredded the timing belt and bye bye engine

Hi Mal ..

yeah i definitely need you to get this checked out now! wouldnt trust anyone else to do the job. When can I bring it in?

Haha.. yeah thanks for the posts guys.. i think il take a rain check on the screwdriver (as tempting as it sounds :P) i will end up losing more than a radiator ie. vital body parts!