running car without the main belt?

[VNV8]

Evening all,

My L98 has started to make an odd medium-pitched mechanical noise (rotational noise, but not squeaking, hard to describe) only when hot, I've already done the balancer, idler pulley (one of), air con tensioner pulley and both belts. So I'm planning to run in hot without the main belt (go for a drive, shut off, remove belt and restart) to narrow down the cause (and really hoping it doesnt happen with the belt off).

My question is, will the engine run OK even if only on for less than a minute? Will I have any problems with trouble codes or lights? I know heat and battery will be the main concern, and my plan is to only run it sans belt for a short time, then replace belt and restart to bring the temp down and the volts up. Will any of the ancillaries run without the belt connected, Or is my theory sound (pun intended)?

Fingers crossed its only the water pump pulley, not a cam bearing or something devastating.

Cheers.

[Jag530G]

Evening all,

My L98 has started to make an odd medium-pitched mechanical noise (rotational noise, but not squeaking, hard to describe) only when hot, I've already done the balancer, idler pulley (one of), air con tensioner pulley and both belts. So I'm planning to run in hot without the main belt (go for a drive, shut off, remove belt and restart) to narrow down the cause (and really hoping it doesnt happen with the belt off).

My question is, will the engine run OK even if only on for less than a minute? Will I have any problems with trouble codes or lights? I know heat and battery will be the main concern, and my plan is to only run it sans belt for a short time, then replace belt and restart to bring the temp down and the volts up. Will any of the ancillaries run without the belt connected, Or is my theory sound (pun intended)?

Fingers crossed its only the water pump pulley, not a cam bearing or something devastating.

Cheers.

Well your water pump won't work and the alternator wont work, they're the two biggies. If your battery is charged up you will go a fair way before you stop but the lack of a water pump working is the limiting factor, you don't want to cook the motor. Just take the fan belt off and idle it, that will tell you what you need to know hopefully.

When my idler pulley died a mate of mine got out his mechanic's stethoscope to find the noise, worked too.

Cheers, Matthew

[1BEAST2NV]

Im no pro,

but imo it should b fine to take off for a quick rev but I wouldnt let it run for ages, as the pump wont be spinning, alternator is no biggy, yes they dash will light up and flash at ya but it shouldnt throw up faults, moment u put the belt back on and start it back up, itll all be cleared.

Its no different to going down the drags and snapping a belt half way down quarter at WOT, doesnt hurt to idle it to the end of the run and shut it off.

[VNV8]

Ok cool thanks fellas. I'll give it a go tomorrow. Fingers crossed the noise goes away!

[1BEAST2NV]

maybe it could even b one of the bearings thats making the noise? water pump bearing, or alternator bearing?


back in the day, I use to get Long screw driver put it against ya ear and hold it to the mechanical part that you think is making the noise, like the housing of the altinator, the bolt on the front of the pulley (as it doesnt spin) etc, and generally checking over them one after the other, u can usually pick up which one is making the noise if its rooted.

[VNV8]

Well I've done it, and the noise definitely stops which is great news. Will start a new thread with a video of the noise, but I suspect it's the tensioner itself (not the bearing). Thanks for all the help.

[tacka007]

Have you changed your belt at all try differnt one as they can make a noise