ADVICE NEEDED

[stryder]

Started my baby up this mornin and for some reason she sounded bad. the engine sounded rough.... started with what sounded like a tapping noise this went away after a short drive but when i got home there was a second noise.... slight squell at idle but it comes and goes..... i only have the car a week now and i have already spent £300 getting droplinks and bushes replaced

[Muad_dib77]

Squeal - that sounds like either a belt or something belt driven.

Check your belts for unusual wear - if you find a worn belt - ckeck the pulleys it runs on.

[stryder]

thanks muad.............. think i will have it left in and get all the belts changed

[kevinod]

Is your aircon on when the squeal happens? maybe its that belt when its coming and going, air con kicking in and out.

[stryder]

ok.....checked belts and they all look new so while i was under the hood i checked oil level it was ok, i then checked my coolant level..it was empty and i just filled it up last weekend so i topped her up and turned the engine over after a few seconds the noise stopped and she is purring like a kitten, but why is it using up so much water???????

[Myfeckin FTO]

One of your aux belts is likely damp or could be slightly loose - you shouldn't be able to twist them more than 90 degrees by hand.

Try sprinkling some talcum powder on the aux belts and see if this stops the noise (keep your hands away from the moving belts - Doh!).

[stryder]

thanks for the advice guys i will get things sorted next week.............any ideas why i am using up so much water , i have had to top the coolant level up fully twice this week????????

[Muad_dib77]

Does it look like she's leaking for somewhere when she's running?

Try sqeesing the coolant hoses - do you see bubbles in the reservoir?

the squeeking was prolly just a damp belt - but it may be worth your while adding some tension if they're a bit slack.

[stryder]

probably right on the damp belt as it has been raining up here now from like time began maybe should of bought an ark instead of an fto................but then the ark would not have put a large grin on my face everytime i turned it on. cheers for the help guys i will check for leaks when the rain stops

[kevinod]

As you say, it must be going somewhere. Hopefully its a leak in the coolant hoses, otherwise its gone somewhere it shouldn't be... check it sooner rather than later!

[stryder]

ha ha ha .....found the leak the hose under the rad has a hole in it.

[Muad_dib77]

Mystery solved!

Shouldn't be too difficult to source a replacement. Camskill, RR or Steelroe would probably have one floating about.