184FR TDi - Squeal noise when engine is cold

SteveGSXR600K1

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May 6, 2017
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When I start the engine from cold, I get a squeal noise from the engine bay which sounds like something from the shower scene in Psycho! It's a pulse, probably two a second, and sounds like a belt or water pump noise. If you rev the engine, it does speed up the frequency of the noise. Once the engine is warmed up, it goes away. Seems to be worse at startup during this hot weather.
When it went in for its first LongLife service in April, I explained it to the service manager, and got the classic 'They all do that', which has got to be rubbish. My friend at work has the same 184FR and she's never heard the noise. I've emailed another local SEAT dealer to ask them, but haven't heard back.
Is it something I should get looked at sooner rather than later as it is still under warranty?

TIA
 

xyz

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Feb 28, 2004
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Some do, some don’t. It sounds like a classic fan belt squeal. Possibly worn belt or might need the tension adjusting. If it’s worn and gone slack, adjusting the tension COULD not definitely, end up snapping it. How many miles has your car done and what age is it as these factors make a difference?


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xyz

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It's a 2016 (26 months old) with 19.5k miles.

So shouldn’t be a worn belt then. I’d say it might just need adjusting. I’d find a good independent specialist tbh - dealerships can change oil etc and that’s about it. My Golf R goes to a specialist I’ve used for years - he knows what he’s talking about, doesn’t me, doesn’t rip me off and doesn’t drive my car like he’s nicked it - unlike some of the young oiks VW have working as “technicians!”


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SteveGSXR600K1

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May 6, 2017
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It's going into the garage today, for a few days, to see what the issue is. Hopefully, I'll get a half decent courtesy car!
 

SteveGSXR600K1

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May 6, 2017
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As soon as the technician read my description of the problem, and watched my video footage of the noise, he said straightaway that it will be the cambelt. Must be a common problem, as he was fully aware of it and said, 'I bet it goes away after 5 mins', which it does.
 

BoomerBoom

Active Member
Jun 1, 2018
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Cambelt? You meant fan belt (serpentine) surely?

If the cambelt slipped and hence made a squealing noise you would need a new engine.
 

Harry213

Active Member
Aug 11, 2014
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West Midlands
I had the same problem in my 184 FR (64 Plate) with 55K on the clock.

I took three trips to the local dealer till the problem was found and rectified!

The belt was fine and the noise was coming from a tensioner pulley as far as I can remember.

This was covered under warrenty however they said as they are changing the pulley and it’s being paid for by SEAT UK it’s best to change the cambelt and water pump at the same time as they won’t change me labour costs

So I ended up paying £95 for cambelt and water pump change!

However difference between mine and yours is thats yours hasn’t done much miles and isn’t that old but as I was nearing the cambelt replacement limit (time & mileage) it was cost effective
 
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LouG

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Dec 1, 2017
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Harry 123 is probably right. The belt can't slip on it's drive pulleys, but they can make a noise on the tensioner pulley which runs on the back of the belt. It might even be tensioner pulley bearings, but the mileage seems low for that.
 

SteveGSXR600K1

Active Member
May 6, 2017
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Harry 123 is probably right. The belt can't slip on it's drive pulleys, but they can make a noise on the tensioner pulley which runs on the back of the belt. It might even be tensioner pulley bearings, but the mileage seems low for that.
I've been putting my money on it being the tensioner pulley. When the technician mentioned the cambelt, I think he was just generalising the area where the issue lies.

Harry - Sounds like your issue came up at a good time! I was wondering where to ask them, if it is the tensioner pulley, that they replace the belt and water pump.

Thinking back, I had a '97 Ford Escort and that had a similar issue but was a constant squeal. The garage replaced the cambelt, but as part of that package, they replace the pulleys as well regardless of condition.
 

LouG

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Dec 1, 2017
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Nelson, New Zealand
If I didn't do my own work, I'd be replacing the tensioner and waterpump (if it's under the belt housing) with a cam belt change. It's cheaper than ripping all that stuff off a second time.
Hoyles law says that anything you don't replace when you can, will fail soon after.
 

SteveGSXR600K1

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May 6, 2017
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They confirmed that they are replacing the tensioner pulley. I mentioned if it would be a good idea to replace the cam belt and water pump, but they said it wasn't neccessary due to the mileage.
 
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Big Vinny

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Oct 14, 2012
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There is another classic cause of the squeel on startup from cold you describe.

The old OHV Fords would do this and it was caused by the phosphor bronze type bush at the end of the crank drying out say overnight. Upon startup there would be metal on metal contact until enough oil got splashed onto the bush to lubricate it. The squeel usually only lasted a second or two.
 

SteveGSXR600K1

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May 6, 2017
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As the warranty was nearing its end, I thought I'd get this issue looked at again. It went in a couple of times, and they decided that the timing belt (toothed belt) needed replacing. All done now, so fingers crossed. Gutted that they didn't tell me they were replacing the timing belt until it was done, as I'd have asked to have the water pump replaced as well. Not sure if there's a maintenance period for replacing the water pump, or you just do it at 5 years with the timing belt..
 
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