Noise after cam belt change

[Mike T]

I'm getting a slight whining noise after a cam belt change. It's the first time I've had the belt changed, so not sure if this is normal. Is this to be expected and just the new belt bedding in?

[HJ2]

There's always some whining after a cambelt change. It would not worry me.
However it is impossible to 'hear' your noise on the interweb! For the same money the belt could be overtightened or another potential disaster is lurking around the corner...
If done by a professional... I would let him listen as well if you are really worried.

[esprit888]

I'm getting a slight whining noise after a cam belt change. It's the first time I've had the belt changed, so not sure if this is normal. Is this to be expected and just the new belt bedding in?

Too tight IMHO, the construction of the toothed belts tends to cause them to whine if over-tightened, go back in and re-check.

[tb10]

A cambelt that was over-tightened on one of my cars before I owned it resulted in the warranty rebuild of an engine at Paul Matty's - approx £4,000.00 worth so I would get it checked out.

[Rambo]

You shouldn't be getting any noises after a cambelt change if done correctly

Get it back asap

[Brit-Car-Nut]

It is also possible the water pump supplied has the wrong drive. There is a lot of confusion between rounded and square teeth when GM/Isuzu went to the different design in '94 and a LOT of suppliers just assumed they interchanged and listed them as such which has been picked up and duplicated in a LOT of parts lists.

Take it back and ask them to thoroughly check as there should be no whining other than normal belt noises.

[Giniw]

You shouldn't be getting any noises after a cambelt change if done correctly

Get it back asap

There's always some whining after a cambelt change. It would not worry me.
[edit: added to put back the context]However it is impossible to 'hear' your noise on the interweb! For the same money the belt could be overtightened or another potential disaster is lurking around the corner...
If done by a professional... I would let him listen as well if you are really worried.

Although I am not a specialist I have changed a cambelt on two different cars already (including the Elan of course) and I haven't heard any noise afterwards.
I would say something is probably wrong.

[HJ2]

By quoting only half of my reply you take it out of context, that does not help the topic starter. He should go back to the garage where the belt service was done to make sure it was done OK! Sorry if that was not clear enough to anyone...

The devil is, as usual, in the detail. You cannot manufacture a belt or waterpump pulley without production induced irregularities on its surface and edges. In other words, on a micro scale a new belt is not the same as a one year old belt. It is these miniscule irregularities (within production tolerances that is) that cause an even miniscule audible difference. Or at least i fooled myself that I can hear it it whines, but only if you know what you should hear. If it is audible to your non car loving neighbor for instance, you have a real problem, some possible root causes mentioned above. These cannot be missed by any mechanic with experience and a well developed affection for mechanics, so look one up!

From behind the keyboard i cannot hear nor judge the sound that the topic starter describes. My experience is also limited
To 6 cambelt changes on an Elan + a couple I had on my other cars, by other mechanics. The sound that I am describing (or try to! Fades quikly away after a couple of hours. If this is what the topic starter hears as well

As always, this is my experience, not neccesarily the truth

[Giniw]

All right no problem, it's just that if he not too sure nor experienced and that he hears a noise to the point he is creating a topic here I think he should be very wary ^^'
But as you say, we haven't heard it!

(just added the context back ^^)

[Steve_P]

I've recently had my cambelt changed by a Lotus specialist and it does whine a bit - not really that happy about it - it's a bit of a long distance to go back
Is it a major job to access the tensioner, do you need to remove the engine mount or can it be accessed relatively easily?

Any advice appreciated.

Yes, I know I should take it back but sometimes .... Thanks Steve.

[HJ2]

That depends if the specialist put back the center bolt on the upper cam cover.
If not, it is easy to take the top cover off and measure the tension on the belt to make sure it is within specified bandwidth.

There is a rubber cover on the lower cambelt cover to access the tensioner bolt.
I never had the balls to make use of this this without removing all the covers and the engine mount, as you need to have (and I quote another famous LEC member somewhere in the sun in Europe, or what's left of it) "Fingers like pig tits" But, to keep it in context, he used it to describe how to replace the front bolt on the heat shield on the turbo

[Rambo]

No mention by OP of a change in water pump. Perhaps he's still on the original pump (for some strange reason some people only change the cambelt and not the other stuff ie water pump, tensioner, idlers, associated belts etc...so perhaps this is the case here ??)

Thinking about it, the last time I had a cambelt and associated paraphernalia changed on my yellow car there was a whine/screech on start up after a few days that I identified as the alternator belt. I took it back to the garage who had done the work, they confirmed my prognosis, got out their tools and I was back on the road within 15 mins.

[Jamie N]

No mention by OP of a change in water pump. Perhaps he's still on the original pump (for some strange reason some people only change the cambelt and not the other stuff ie water pump, tensioner, idlers, associated belts etc...so perhaps this is the case here ??)

Thinking about it, the last time I had a cambelt and associated paraphernalia changed on my yellow car there was a whine/screech on start up after a few days that I identified as the alternator belt. I took it back to the garage who had done the work, they confirmed my prognosis, got out their tools and I was back on the road within 15 mins.

That's where my initial thoughts were, a bit tight on the alternator belt, seen it so many times. Its an easy diagnosis for that one... loosen 'n' listen.

[Simon_P]

An overtigh cambelt will get noisier as the engine warms up.

[Mike T]

Thanks all for your advice. Although it seems there can be some change in noise after a belt change, I will get it back to the garage for a check asap to be on the safe side.

[muley]

My friend (cough*) recently changed his cambelt. Occasionally, there was a slight screech on startup that he put down to a slack auxiliary belt. Now the car has a rattle on startup ~ that goes when the engine is warm.

I'm wondering if the cambelt might have been too tight and the cam bearings and/or water pump is knackered. What should I tell my friend?

[HJ2]

Did your ‘friend’ change the oil & coolant in the same go?

[muley]

Yes, 'he' changed the oil & filter. Plus a coolant change (with new rad as it happens)

[HJ2]

Can you ask ‘him’ if the oil is the same spec as the oil he replaced?

[muley]

This change was to Mobil 1 0W40

Previously 5W30 fully synth (not sure of brand)