240 alt belt squeal?

Hey everybody. You were all so spot-on last time, so here's a new one:

Recently my 86 240 (106,000 miles) has been making a hellaciously loud
squeal when accelerating from a stop. More gas, more squeal, and then
tapers off with coasting.

Seems to be coming from driver's side engine. Sometimes does it even
when stopped. Seems correlated with cold temps/wet weather.

Alt belt and bushings seem to be the usual suspects in other forums
I've checked.

Is that definitely what it is?

 

For a definite diagnosis I would have to hear the noise (and where it is
coming from). send me an e-mail and i will give you my address.

OTOH, does it make the same noise when "gunning the engine while you are
parked? If so, then lift the hood and listen while someone else guns the
engine. Otherwise, take the car to an independent volvo specialist who
knows 240s.

No definite diagnosis here because there are just too many "seems to..."
for correct (aka accurate) diagnosis. We can all suggest - but then free
advice might be wrong :-(

Ken
Canada

 

Hello:

If belts look good and are correctly adjusted, my FIRM opinon is that
the alternator bearings are nearly gone.

You mentioned this happened more in wet weather, right?

If I were you, I'd not drive far without having the alternator
replaced or rebuilt.

If we were neighbors I'd bet my next paycheck and I am not a gambler.

My guess is that this is only an issue when it gets wet and cold,
right? And sounds like a screeching maladjusted power steering belt or
something like that?


Alternator..but as I've not seen the car or heard it that's only my 2
cents.

Cheerio,

Doc

 

Might wanna check the belt tension first. If the alternator and crank
pulleys don't align then replace the bushings, if the belts are old
replace them. Check the water pump shaft for play as well.

 

I've never even heard of a Bosch alternator having the bearings go out.
Not to say it can't or never happens, but it would certainly be far down
on the list of things I'd suspect. The mounting bushings are the usual
failure in these cars when they get to be 15-20 years old.

 

Since the sound tapers off when coasting, it sure sounds like the belt
itself making the noise. Others have mentioned the bushings - I forgot about
those, and if they are deformed they are a prime suspect. They are available
on-line ($5 apiece for stock, $8 for urethane at
http://catalog.alloemvolvoparts.com/ for example) and are not hard to
replace. If you replace those and the belts - why wait? - your noise should
be gone.

Mike

 

Okay. Order of trouble-shooting, then: 1)Belt 2)Bushings 3)Bearings

Thanks so much, all. I knew nearly nothing about cars when I got my
240, and it has been a crash course. Fun, though.

 

On a B230F motor when there is a loud squeal that sounds like a belt but
the belts are all tight suspect the crank pulley. The outer sheaves are
a press fit onto the center via a rubber sleeve. Over time the sleeve
cracks and the outer sheaves will rotate around the center hub making a
hellacious squealing sound.

Bob

 

Thanks Bob!

 

Dribble some water right on the pulley where the belt makes noise ,if it
goes away the belt might be loose ,glazed, or the pulley to hard to turn
with a worn bearing .Steel wool or brass brush will deglase it .Some times
the pulley bearing has worn, or lost its grip, so again either rough it up
or replace it .

 

Just ran into this thread. My 1990 volvo 240 DL wagon was recently serviced and had new timing belt put in, which likely means a couple of the other belts are new too. Today I ran it on the highway for its first long-ish trip, at about 70 there and back 30 minutes each way.

It got me there and back flawlessly with the exception of a couple of random times in which a few second-long squeal emanated from the front of the car. It would quietly start and squeal and then taper off and not.

This happened about 2 times going 70 on the trip.
Any ideas? Does the Alt belt need tightening?
Are the new belts wearing themselves in still?

Thanks