Squealing when cold and damp at start up

[Tizzle]

I wonder if anyone could help me out?
My 1997 Diesel Bongo has developed a quietish squeal that sounds like a slipping fan belt when the engine has just been started. The squeal gets louder when the engine is revved but dissapears altogether after the engine has warmed up. It seems to be much worse when it is cold AND damp/raining. I live in an area devoid of Bongo friendly garages so a quick self-fix would be ideal; I'm hoping it's only a loose fan belt or something.
Any ideas? Thanks

[Bob]

Symptoms would suggest a slipping fan belt, and this is easy/free to check.

[brorabongo]

Or could be your No.1 manifold stud has sheared?

Check theses threads out....

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... mit=Search

[scanner]

Or could be your No.1 manifold stud has sheared?

Check theses threads out....

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... mit=Search

As it's on cold damp mornings and it clears when warm, I reckon it's just the belts.

Certainly the easiest to check - if that doesn't cure it then worry about the stud.

Moonshine is in Herts and knows a friendly garage, try PMing him for advice.

[missfixit70]

Sounds to me like the belts, under the passenger seat, not difficult, there are 3, 1 for the aircon & 2 for the alternator. if you carefully give a couple of tiny squirts of wd40 on the belt, it acts as a temporary belt conditioner, if they've become worn/glazed, gives them a bit of grip. It won't cure the problem, but it should show you if the belts are the problem. If you have to change any of the belts, it's probably best to change all 3, no messing around later

[Tizzle]

Thanks guys, I'll try a squirt of WD40 later today. Hopefully it isn't the manifold stud but if it is any ideas about cost??
I read somewhere else about talcum powder doing a better job on slipping belts. What do you reckon? I've got some nice Chanel No. 5 talc that would make her smell lovely!

[bigdaddycain]

I've never heard about the talc trick, but i have used the WD trick to temporarily shut up squeaky belts on other cars in the past though, it's only ever a temp cure though, the squeaks do return till the belts have been replaced...

[scanner]

I've never heard about the talc trick, but i have used the WD trick to temporarily shut up squeaky belts on other cars in the past though, it's only ever a temp cure though, the squeaks do return till the belts have been replaced...

Also the more you use WD40 the shinier and squeakier the belts get.

You could try - but it is a bit of a pfaff on one belt let alone 3 - using some wire wool to take the glaze off the belt(s) just rub it along the "vee" in one of the gaps between the pulleys move the belt a bit to clean the next length and so on until the whole belt is cleaned.

[Shane]

Ours was the same, we got the local mechanic to give it the once over
and it was as previously mentioned a sheared manifold stud.

[bigdaddycain]

I've never heard about the talc trick, but i have used the WD trick to temporarily shut up squeaky belts on other cars in the past though, it's only ever a temp cure though, the squeaks do return till the belts have been replaced...

Also the more you use WD40 the shinier and squeakier the belts get.

You could try - but it is a bit of a pfaff on one belt let alone 3 - using some wire wool to take the glaze off the belt(s) just rub it along the "vee" in one of the gaps between the pulleys move the belt a bit to clean the next length and so on until the whole belt is cleaned.

I daresay that would do the trick, the wd check was more to determine the origin of the squeak, just so the pulleys themselves could be ruled out, i simply replaced the belts in question...