Squeeky engine

[seadoon1]

I have a 97 metro 1.0L. At idle, it has a constant squeek coming from the crank to center timing belt area. I can't seem to isolate it with a metal rod. Yet it seems to be more in the timing tensioner area. Yet I put a new tensioner on last week as the old one was bad. The squeek is cyclical where its loudest then not then loud again.

[seadoon1]

No idea's?

[Twidget]

I've gone through this with several of the metro's I've had. It's only there at idle. Same issue? Sometimes it will clear up, sometimes not.
My 99 does it, my 94 did it.

Could be a couple of things. The idler may be the culprit. A tad less tension on the timing belt may get rid of it. I don't know. Check with the service department before trying that.
Another thought may be something related to the tensioner plate. Once the belt is replaced, the tensioner may not align appropriately with the belt.

My 92 never made that noise, but the belt is different. The same with my 86 Sprint. It just leaked all over the place.

I've done 3 Belts on the '94, two on the '99. No damage or issues so far. I put a '96 Engine in a '94 that did it as well.

Interestingly, the original belt didn't make the noise on the '99. After the belt was replaced it began to make noises. Perhaps the belt isn't the same as Suzuki OEM, but Chevy replaced a couple of mine, and they all sing to me at stop signs.

Be careful. If you break time with the cam you may find yourself buying valves, pistons, or complete engines. Check with your local dealership before experimenting. I can't think of any efficient modern engines that aren't interference.

Twidget

[Woodie83]

The Suzuki three cylinder G10 is non-interference. There is a reference chart out there (I think by Gates) that lists it as interference, but that is wrong.

[HannabilRox]

If you have the time, I would remove the timing cover then put everything back together ( except the timing cover ) and run the car to see if you can isolate what is squeaking. Just make sure you get the wire harness that runs over the top of the timing cover out of the way! I drove my 1.0L around without a timing cover for a couple days to make sure my front seal wasn't leaking oil.

I have seen where the alternator belt would rub against the timing cover or the crank pulley would rub on the timing cover as well just because the plastic has warped out of shape over time, and removing to replace the belt caused it to have issues.

Could be the tensioner is too tight. The proper way to adjust is to loosen the tensioner, then turn the crank (2) full revolutions clockwise ( with a ratchet on the crank bolt ), then tighten the tensioner.

[91Caprice9c1]

I agree. I have had trouble with more than a couple of my geos with the timing cover. Check to make sure nothing is rubbing on the cover. Pull it off and look for rub marks. Try to isolate the water-pump also - I've never had one make noise on its way out, but it is very common for them to get noisey on other cars. The belt stuff is spot on, be sure they are tight, and be sure your alternator is aligned straight, and not cocked.

-MechanicMatt

[seadoon1]

Update-I took it all apart. Re adjusted timing belt. This time I made sure to torgue adjuster bolt and tensioner bolt to spec. Had them a little tight before. Put it together with cover off and started it. Listened with a rod and found then squeek to be in that adjuster bolt. The bolt that has the long section for a wrench and tightens down the adjuster plate. Can't hear it at all anywhere else. This bolt screws into the water pump housing on the farthest ear of the pump. And its hollow behind this part of the pump. So one would think its water pump. Well, if I listen to water pump housing right behind pulley you don't hear a thing! The timing tensioner also mounts in front of water pump housing. Listen close to tensioner and nothing! Its just on that adjuster bolt, wierd. If engine is off and belts are off and I turn water pump pulley side to side I get a squeek noise, and this is a new water pump by the way. But if I turn it fast, there is no squeek. And as I said there is no squeek from water pump when running. So I am at a loss.

It does seem to be less now that I torqued the tensioner correctly. Maybe that helped????

[geoidis]

After washing the engine on my 95 metro, I noticed it started to squeak at idle and was very annoying, hard to locate where it was exactly coming from,
I sprayed on some fan belt contioner, and it seemed to hush it up a bit, after
three more applications of this stuff the squeak is completely gone!