Lude Generation

Started up my 5th gen this morning and was greeted by this absolutely horrible rattle.

I had the timing belt and water pump changed a few months back. As far as I know it's on it's original auto tensioner though.

Does this horrible noise sound familiar to anyone here please?



https://youtu.be/1MQUuecN7RU

Hope these links work.

It was a long time ago, but once my PS pump had no fluid in it (due to a leak in the cooler pipe) and it sounded similar. It sounds too clonky to be a worn bearing, i would expect a lighter ticking noise first before it got to sounding like that video...

It could be the PS pump, could be alternator bearings, could be the air con compressor, but it does sound the same as when my auto tensioner failed. When that happens the whole cam rattles, but I found the sound was mostly at the distributor end, because it causes that to rattle.
Don't run it until you've taken the cam cover off and checked the cam belt tension. When my tensioner went, it also caused the belt to start walking off the timing gear and half the belt had worn away.

Thank you very much for the reply. I'm gonna tow it down to my pal's workshop and strip it down.

I wonder if it's time to do the manual tensioner conversion?

I've had two auto tensioners fail and one DIY manual tensioner (don't ask), but a proper manual tensioner that I fitted has been good for about two years of daily driving so far so I would say yes. But when I first put it on I had it too tight and the pulleys whined, so working out how tight to have it is a bit tricky. definitely not too tight but I don't think there is a measure for how tight it's meant to be because it was designed to be used with an auto tensioner. Also I would imagine a manual tensioner if used with a new belt would need checking and adjusting after a while.
For peace of mind I drilled a hole in the bottom plastic cover before reinstalling it and I have a grommet in there (with a cable tie through it so it doesn't fall inside) so I can check the tension whenever I feel it necessary. Definitely overkill but gave me peace of mind at the time.
The manual tensioner is easier to adjust with a set of crows-foot spanners and stubby spanners, they helped a lot.
Also, I installed the manual tensioner without removing the timing belt, it's a bit tricky but doable.

If you swap the power steering fluid, that's the noise the pump makes until it refills with fluid.

Could also be other things as mentioned above. A screwdriver and your ear should pinpoint it easily.

Cheers for the help lads. I'm afraid to start it again now if I'm honest. When I tow it down to my pal's place I'll have a proper look at everything. It's not a job for the driveway in this cold weather anyway.
Typical it happened after I put three months tax on it @ €300!

No worries. Before you tow it, you could check the power steering reservoir, and maybe try and wobble the ancillary pulleys to see if they have any play

Started stripping it today. Back to it in the morning.

How tight does the belt feel, on the sides and the top?
When my tensioner failed it started to come off, but yours looks ok.