MK2 Golf belt

[Jay]

Hi,

I'm getting a noise from the engine bay when I first start the car (but not all the time) it usually goes away if I give it some more rev's or change the gear and accelerate. Could this be the cam belt or fan belt? I don't have PAS so that's ruled out.

[JimR]

What sort of noise? A high pitch squeeling suggests Alternater belt, highly unlikely to be cam belt, but like i said, depends what sort of noise it is.

[Jay]

Yea, it is a high pitch squeeling noise.

[BaxGTI]

Just sounds like your fan belt. If it goes and your battery light comes on, DON'T drive. That' show I've just knackered my head gasket or something around there... lol.

[herbster]

fan belts drive fans! this belt drives the water pump and alternator, normally adjusting the tension on this belt by moving the alternator can eliminate this squeel, but nothing beats fitting a new belt!

[Jay]

I'll try the haynes book way - what tools will I need? Says a special VW tool?
If not what torque wrench would I need?

[herbster]

its a v-belt, not a toothed cam belt, a 13mm (lockbolt)and 19 or 22 mm spanner to undo the tensioner, the adjuster/tensioner is like a cog with a nut head on it that you turn to tension the belt after you have released the lock bolt, although there are alot of mk2's out there which just have a 13mm bolt straight through the hanging bracket, you'll see when you look.

[Jay]

Cool, so now worrying about how tight I have done it up? just as tight as feels right? because I don't know the first thing about using a torque wrench and the nm's and all that malarky.

[herbster]

no torque wrench needed, pick the longest side of the belt between the pulleys and movement should be no more than 15mm each way(up&down) don't twist the belt or ping it, just flex it front to back if it feels tight its too tight 

[Jay]

Cheers mate! Shall give this a go on Saturday in the when I can work on it in some real light