Screetching from engine when starting + panel & paint

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2003
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Raoul Collings

Screetching from engine when starting + panel & paint

Post by Raoul Collings » Sun Dec 28, 2003 9:35 pm

I have a 1990 MX5. When I start it there is a terrible noise coming from the
engine compartment that sounds like a cat screeching. I rev the motor up a bit
and it stops. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing the noise?
Secondly, I have a couple of small dings in the front left wheel panel right
where the panel shapes into the flat of the bonnet. Any recommendations as to
a reasonable panel and paint MX5 panel beater?

Cheers

Raoul Collings

EricW
See my 5 and raise you.
See my 5 and raise you.
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 7:07 pm
Location: Whangaparaoa

[No Subject]

Post by EricW » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:55 pm

This is almost certainly the alternator drive belt. While fan motors will
scream like a banshee if they run a bearing, the fan is not running when the
engine starts, because the engine is cold.

On the other hand, starting the engine places a large drain on the battery,
particularly when, as in an MX5, the battery is some way from the starter. The
alternator has to replace this drain and is therefore quite heavily loaded up
in the few minutes after the start. The electrical load makes the alternator
much harder to turn and this increases the load on the drive belt, which, if
worn or loose, begins to slip until the alternator comes up to speed. The belt
howls like a cat in labour as it runs across the alternator pulley.

As the battery charge comes back up, the load on the alternator reduces, and
with it the load on the belt. The slipping and therefore the noise, stops
until next time the engine is started or the electrical load goes beyond the
point at which the belt slips again.

It is possible that the belt has never been replaced on your car, in any event
they are not expensive and yours will probably have been damaged by heat due
to slippage, replace it and have the new one correctly adjusted and your "cat"
will disappear.

On the subject of the "Dings", if they are quite small the "Paintless Dent
Repair" people do a great job and they give club members a discount, I had
some minor work done on my '94 and both the job and the service was excellent,
took less than an hour, at my house, and cost about $100. I would recommend
them. The Auckland franchise number is in the book and there are franchises
nationwide as I understand it.

Hope that helps

Regards

Eric

Raoul Collings

[No Subject]

Post by Raoul Collings » Tue Dec 30, 2003 9:24 am

Thanks Eric.

Regards

Raoul

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