Hi guys, Going to do some more investigation but about 500m from home I heard an almighty squeal come from the engine and the smell of burning belts. Turned off the engine straight away. I managed to freewheel the last 200m and pulled up at the house. I tried to start the car again when I got home and it struggled a little to turn over... a bit like a flat battery for half a second. I shut it down straight after it fired up. So I think the cambelt tensioner has seized. So does this sound plausible? And where can I get new tensioners in Brisbane? Cheers Beavis
Checked the drivebelts, nothing seems to have got hot or shredded/frayed edges. Going to pull the timing covers off and have a look this afternoon. That will hopefully give me the answer. Beavis
Really hope you haven't damaged your car by trying to start it that second time and the belt skipping teeth. Make sure you look up the section about counting teeth on the belt. A belt skipping more than a couple of teeth might have smashed your valves. http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/search.php?searchid=5042664 Stuff replied in the hitmanz thread.
Yeah I know what you mean, at first I was thinking was drive belts/ac etc which is why I started it just to check. I have 100k service done about 40k ago so the tensioner wasn't my first thought. Seems unfair if the tensioner has gone within 40k Will get counting when I get the timing covers off Good thing this all happened 500m from home and not running down the highway at 110km/h Beavis
Sounds far more likely to be A/Con, Alternator or P/Steering Pump seizure(with resultant slippage/squealing of V belts)rather than toothed belt. As has already be mentioned, slippage of the toothed Timing Belt would have disastrous results(if not switched off instantly). One can only hope(with fingers, legs, eyes and anything else, crossed).
Rub each belt with your finger then have a sniff of your fingers after rubbing each belt. If the belt has slipped a fair bit your finger will stink of belt rubber. Hope it's not the timing belt. Cheers Dave
Yeh - that would be a good thing considering..... A/Cs and water pumps are definitely known to do this. Let us know how you go and what it is when you have a look - please Good luck! JC
Should get a look at the car tomorrow, Will let you know the results. Cheers for all the input. Beavis
Right had a little investigation can't find anything obvious. I have taken the timing cover off the passenger side and just wanted to see if this is a tooth out. I don't think the cambelt has slipped but just wanted someone to take a look at the picture. I tried rubbing my fingers on the belts to see if any smelled of burning belts. They all seemed the same. I think I am going to have to strip the front down and try and take the accessory belts off and see if any of the ps/ac/alternator is seized. What a pain in the arse!!! And its bloody raining and its parked on the road. Is there a way of taking the accessory belts off without taking the radiator out? Beavis
Just having another think, I thought the squeal might be coming from one of the cambelt tensioner and that actually runs on the back of the belt (not the toothed side) As it smelled real bad the other day I am assuming it would have rubbed a lot. I tooke a look further round the cambelt and I could still clearly see the timing marks and the "gates' logo clear as day. I am assuming that the cambelt is ok - just checking on the timing. Now time to look at the ps belt and other belts in the front. Beavis
Take a bunch of clear photos around and under the engine bay. It is amazing what the experienced eyes on this forum can pick from a good set of photos. Can you push your car undercover, or in your yard and put a tent over it?
Will do. Unfortunately my driveway has a serious slope on it and can't push it there. The road is quiet. I could do some work on the road. No tent lol!!! Beavis
Found the problem!!!!! FOUND THE PROBLEM!!! This is the Aircon tensioner....its totally stuffed. Anyone know best practice from here? Buy a new bearing or buy a new pulley? Beavis
Pardon my ignorance but what does the aircon tensioner do? Did your problem only occur when you had the aircon switched on?
As a "betting man" my money is firmly placed on the theory that the A/Con Belt Tensioner Pulley, actually applies tension to the A/Con Belt(the one and only way to adjust said A/Con Belt).:zlove::rofl: BTW, in the unlikely event that your A/Con Compressor seizes internally, the Electric/Magnetic Clutch in the A/Con Pulley will slip(and become a glowing yellow mass)which is capable of melting the belt and causing major burns to any part of your person that may come in contact with same. BE VERY VERY CAREFUL!!!!
All fixed Thanks given to all involved in this threat. I thought about just leaving the belt off but as I had the day off work I would get it fixed. Popped to a pulley and bearing shop and managed to find a replica pulley with bearing installed for $40 Threw it on, tensioned everything up and decided to throw some new oil and filter in as the car was being nice for once giving me one of the easier repairs. Car is all good and everything works as it should and no squeals Just out of interest did the timing look out by a tooth? Car runs fine. Cheers again to the forum and its members for the motivation/advice etc Beavis
Got more details on this? I was looking at getting one. That is half the price of CZP! For 40$ Ill def get one.
