Thread: Help with unuasual problem

G'day All,
I have had an issue with my 99 D2 Td5 today, is started to make an different rattle today and after looking struggled to find where it was coming from.
In the 45km drive home it got worse, I promptly had a better look when I got home by taking the radiator shroud off and had intensions of dropping the belt and fan and running engine to rule out any engine rattles.

I then found two out of the three bolts in the power steering pulley was missing (with only one remaining), removed fan and belt, checked all the other pulleys OK and replaced two bolts and tightened the other!

Refitted belt and started engine, it stripped two ribs straight off the serp belt? As I may have fitted it incorrectly in 40deg heat, I fetched the spare I had and fitted that one, started and check OK, stopped and seemed OK.

I then test drove the vehicle about 5 kms, when I returned everything sounded good, popped the bonnet to check only to find it stripped the front rib off the second belt started car and everything seems ok?? just minus rib on belt!

Now two days before we need to travel for our Xmas break, I'm a bit concerned and have the following questions:

P.S.... the power steering pump and water pump were replaced less than two years ago.

1) could the excess pressure on the pulley on the one bolt have stuffed the power steering pump / bearing in there?

2) can odd bolts upset balance?

3) could it be something else all together?

I'm a bit annoyed as I had a spare Power Steering pump and water pump in my shed that got burnt less than two months ago when it was all lost in the blue mountain fires. now when I may need it I have nothing.

Cheers, merry Christmas and thanks in advance.
Jeremy

Hi Jeremy
double check and triple check all pulleys including harmonic balancer. If any pulleys are miss aligned you will strip belts. Check the viscous fan has no play in it. The pulley behind the fan is supported by a bearing pressed into the timing cover.
Regards.
Michael.