SMARTLY Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Maybe disconnect the belt and listen to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 waterproofing/corrosion prevention Just cut a piece of tin can into a strip and fold it around the post , thats perfectly acceptable , its a Honda Accord not an Airbus A380 ! yes it does sound a bit noisy , like a noisy idler , it might get worse or might quiet down with more use Maybe I'm overthinking it! I was just wondering on the long term effects of using something like that though on both the battery and starting system. Why do these always happen when the weather turns crappy! Although it shouldn't be too difficult to replace the idler pulley if it's that. The belt was changed 2.5 years a go so I don't think it'll be that, plus it's not really a squealing noise. Maybe disconnect the belt and listen to it. Yeah I'll have to, if it's going then there should be play or a noise when I spin it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 I cut a ring of copper, opened it up to flatten in the vice then bent it to shape, it fit around 3/4 of the post but I couldn't get the clamp over it. In the end I had to cut it down so it just covered 1/4 of the post, then I could get the clamp done up tightly. So far I've not had any starting issues so fingers crossed it stays that way. The noise is likely to be the idler pulley, apparently it is common for going on this car. It doesn't sound that loud when cold, only when the engine has warmed up. If I turn the aircon on then the noise gets even louder, obviously with the extra load being put through it. I'm going to remove the belt tonight and check it for play before ordering a new one. If I spin it I assume it should be smooth with no rough spots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 If it makes any noise when spinning its shot , if money is tight at the moment sometimes a squirt with some lithium grease will quiet it for a while but I would replace the belt and pulley personally anyhow , its noisy enough to hear on a video its pretty shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Thanks. I'm hoping to get home before it's dark and take the belt off to check it, I'll check all of them while I'm doing it. A new idler from Honda is £48, a reseller of genuine parts is £40, so only £5-£10 more than a pattern part. Even though the belt is only 2.5 years old you'd still change it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Yep i would unless they are horrifically expensive , usually around £40 i would think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 From Honda they are £53! I bought a Gates one last time for £12 odd, they're around £15 now so I'll get another, I've had no issues with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Gates is a good make but its only an aux belt so make isnt that important imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam_r Posted October 24, 2016 Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Rich... Follow my guide here: http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/topic/11712-7th-gen-new-aux-belt-alternator-diy/ Remove the idler pulley and use the shorter belt. I would advise any accord owner who has not done this yet to do so as the original belt kills bearings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2016 Yours was a diesel though Adam, mines a petrol and already runs the same route as the revised diesel one.I took the belt off and spun the idler pulley, it was quiet with no play but spins freely with no resistance. I've read conflicting info about this but the jist of it seems that this isn't right and it should stop moving when you let go.The PS pump and alternator pulleys have resistance and I can't really get to the aircon compressor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 When I got to work earlier the noise was still there but it wasn't as loud, so disturbing the belt has done something. I'm not sure what to do now, I don't want to start replacing parts but how else can I pinpoint what pulley it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Did you spin the alternator as well ? I'd be tempted to leave it , its unlikely to fail and leave you by the side of the road , time will help pinpoint the noise better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Yes I span the power steering pump and alternator, both had resistant but seemed to turn smoothly and no play that I could feel. I couldn't really reach the aircon compressor, I'd probably have to remove the alternator first but someone did mention the noise sounds similar to theirs before it seized! I could replace the idler and belt and see if that works but if it's not that could whatever pulley is noisy damage the new parts? It's probably been like this for a while, I just haven't noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Unlikely to cause any damage , it will just get louder and louder . Its probably that one on the left , give it a squirt of WD40 and see if it shuts up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 That's the idler pulley on the left, once the belt is off it's one bolt to remove it so I might do that and take a closer look. Could I use a smear of grease on the outside of the pulley but the part that's under the cover? Obviously not where the belt sits! If it quietens down then it must be that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 no you cant get grease in the bearing , a spray grease might work but its only going to be a temporary fix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 I've got the MOT booked for Thursday, is a noisy fan belt a fail or advisory? I assume the latter. I took a photo of the idler pulley last night, I noticed part of it has gone a different colour. Could this be a sign that it's the culprit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam_r Posted November 1, 2016 Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 That's not an idler, that's the belt tensioner. Looks like its being loaded unevenly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2016 The tensioner is the part the idler is bolted to isn't it? Maybe the tensioner needs replacing as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Fan belt is nothing to do with the MOT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 It's more the noise I was concerned with but even if they pick up on it I'd imagine it's just an advisory. This is the diagram for the idler pulley (no.4) or the whole thing with tensioner (no.3) - http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED01&block_02=E__0600&block_03=443&block_05=hcr There's no way I'm paying £176 for a Honda one but I have found these parts - http://www.buycarparts.co.uk/oen/31170pna023 The gates one seems like a good buy, not really heard of the other brands apart from Febi and Blueprint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Out of interest what is the belt like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 It was replaced under 3 years a go and looks ok, still like new TBH. I'll replace it anyway when I get a new pulley and tensioner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Is there a lifespan on auxiliary belts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liner33 Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 I wonder if they actually replaced the wheel on the tensioner , they are usually provided with a kit but often not changed Aux belts usually last 5 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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