Belt squeal

[MBEARDEN]

My 03 Birkin yellow top Zetec has a constant belt squeal. The problem appears to be the junk belt idler bracket. The front of my engine only has 4 pulleys...alternator top left, engine bottom, water pump right below the idler/adjuster bracket. The bracket is a sheet aluminum piece across the entire front of the motor. Apparently engineered by an idiot, over time the sheet aluminum has flexed forward making the belt out of line and squealing at the engine pulley. I have pictures but cannot figure out how to attach from my IPAD. Looked at the Sevens & Élan and the MidAtlantic kits but don't think they will fit. Any thoughts?

Edited October 14, 2012 by MBEARDEN

[MichaelD]

I added this anti squeel pully about seven years ago and it has been great.

 

http://www.sevenselans.com/partsforsale.htm

[MBEARDEN]

I don't have the idler below the alternator or the one midway on the top.

[MBEARDEN]

Could not upload the IPAD photos so the IPhone photos will have to do...any thoughts about how to fix the noise.

[Klasik-69]

Mine squeals at start up as well. I changed the drive belt but it still squeals. I didn't realize the idler was the cause. I spun all the drives by hand when the belt was off, including the idler, and all felt fine, no binding. I found it strange that it never squeals afterwards, even at full load & high RPM. Only upon start up.

[MichaelD]

I know this seems obivious, but have you applied belt dressing?

[Canadian 7]

Mmmmm, belt dressing.....sorry had a Homer Simpson moment!

[MBEARDEN]

I have tried belt dressing...it helps for about 30 seconds. One person suggested loosening the belt...I loosened it to the it looks like it might come off but the noise is gone...at least for now.

[MichaelD]

1. install the kit available at Mid Atlantic Caterham or Sevens and Elans.

2. install a new belt and treat with belt dressing as needed. It may take a few applications.

3. apply Snapp belt dressing when and if squeal returns.

 

It solved the problem for my car. Here is another older source with similar results

 

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/e28/messages/archive/msgsy2001w51/85036.html

[MBEARDEN]

The MidAtlantic kit is the long term solution. I will have to source the idler and tensioner from a junk yard...the MidAtlantic kit shows moving the tensioner from the top right of the engine to its original location...but leaving an angle bracket the the kit bolts onto...does anyone know where to obtain this bracket?

[MBEARDEN]

I bought the Mid-Atlantic kit...I am missing the cast bracket that the pulley bolts to and the tensioner ...No luck at the junkyards...is there any way to determine what year my motor is...Ford may have the parts but it's hard to tell the correct parts.My Zetec has the yellow plastic valve cover.

[MichaelD]

Go here to identify various Zetec engines:

 

http://www.toyne.org.uk/zetec-engine.html

[Klasik-69]

I've got a question about all this fuss on the squeal. Ok, the thing squeals for about 0.8 seconds upon start up sometimes.................and some of you are ready to commit Harikari. You end up modifying the belt path to eliminate this, and may end up causing other issues, who knows. I've run 7 track events last year and two PDX. I set two track records for the SSP class in SCCA, and yes, my belt squeals at times on start up. It hasn't slowed me down, it hasn't caused a single belt failure, and I shift right at 7200 rpm, and when I downshift, and aren't really paying attention, the revs will hit 8000 rpm +..............so where is the problem ? I'm curious. Here in Florida, everything squeals, the illegals picking tomatoes, the governor about the critics, the old people about SS, Hell, we're the squeal capital of the world. Life goes on, and I ain't changing my belt path. When it squeals, I know the engine has fired up.:cheers:

[MBEARDEN]

My noise is constant...I think my problem is a poorly designed kit that warps and keeps the belts out of alignment.

 

 

To reduce the noise I have to loosen the belt so much that I am afraid it will come off.

[slomove]

Mine squeals at start up as well. I changed the drive belt but it still squeals. I didn't realize the idler was the cause. I spun all the drives by hand when the belt was off, including the idler, and all felt fine, no binding. I found it strange that it never squeals afterwards, even at full load & high RPM. Only upon start up.

 

That is quite normal. My car does that once a while especially when the belt is not tensioned properly. I guess when the car is cranked, the battery is discharged a bit and for the first few seconds the alternator has to deliver more current at low rpm trying to recharge it, thus needing a lot more torque than in steady state operation. Well, at least this is my theory. I find it also more likely to squeal when the headlights are running when starting the car. Not recommended anyway but I sometimes forget.

 

...........To reduce the noise I have to loosen the belt so much that I am afraid it will come off.

I suspect when you loosen it that much the belt is just slipping without squeal.

[MBEARDEN]

That is quite normal. My car does that once a while especially when the belt is not tensioned properly. I guess when the car is cranked, the battery is discharged a bit and for the first few seconds the alternator has to deliver more current at low rpm trying to recharge it, thus needing a lot more torque than in steady state operation. Well, at least this is my theory. I find it also more likely to squeal when the headlights are running when starting the car. Not recommended anyway but I sometimes forget.

 

 

I suspect when you loosen it that much the belt is just slipping without squeal.[/quote

 

I agree ...the belt is slipping just not squealing

A

[Klasik-69]

Has anyone experienced a belt failure on the Zetec?