Something doesnt feel right....

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:08 pm

I'm not sure if i've just got used to the acceleration but ever since my car came back from MMC for new belts and hoses it just doesnt feel right....... Feels like its not picking up as quickly as before especially 0-40ish...

Could just be my imagination and i dont want to send it back to MMC to get whacked with a bill for them just to tell me its all ok..!

Also its squeeking everrrr so slightly when i put the foot down, not sure if this has something to do with the new belts??

Any thoughts would be muchos appreciated.....

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:37 pm

The squeak may be your alternator belt belt too slack .

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:45 pm

this a big problem?!
MMC were "supposed" to have checked everything - replaced the timing belt and the alternator belt plus two hoses....
cost over £500 so not wanting to take it back anytime soon...
and as i said the squeek is ever so slight.......

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:14 pm

Might be worth asking them to confirm the valve timing. I'm sure they'll be glad to put your mind at ease.

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:15 pm

Edited my last post to say alternator not fan belt

Its no big thing if it IS your alternator belt , just tighten it . You may be able to reach down and feell ifs slack or stick all your electrics on , lights , fan everything and see if the squeak gets worse. If it does its just your alternator belt.

One of the oracles will be along soon I am sure. If you pay for a job you want it done correctly so should not have to pay again.

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:51 pm

ok done all that and it sounds fine............? only squeeks taking off from first or second for 1 or 2 seconds.... every other gear or time sounds fine..

and the reason i got the belts changed was becuase the alternator belt was squeeking very loud and constantly - this one you have to have the windows down and a completely quiet outisde space to even hear it.....

thanks though - might leave it see if it gets louder or worse before i take it to MMC - could be this bad weather getting to it...

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:15 pm

ok its only when the car is cold i have worked that out......... AND its definately only when its in a low gear low speed - sounds like metal winding up/scratching slightly......

as i said before i'll have to wait to c if it gets any worse but can anyone tell me if Lotus's have their own unique noises so to speak...?

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:21 pm

Mate - go to MMC and ask for Ali

Tell him what the issue is and I'm sure he'll have 2 mins to look at it for you.

Tell him you spoke to me about it

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:37 am

Andy G wrote: Tell him you spoke to me about it

& he'll run a mile

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:57 am

New belts squeel just after they are installed as they stretch making them slightly slack.

Stick it back in and they will tighten it for you. But that will just fix the squeek not the lack of performance (unless your hearing it squeek and backing off without thinking) so as Lawrence pointed out earlier get them to confirm the valve timing, it's not the first time that it's jumped a cog.

Mac

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:07 pm

thanks guys appreciate it all - might give them a quick call and see what they say on the phone - just cant afford another repair bill.....

its one of these things that i cant decide if its a vibration that im hearing or the belt itself....

one quetion for you tho - (last one i promise) - if the car is stationary and im reving it - no matter how hard, even from cold, the car sounds perfect - soon as i pull of it makes the noise - would it do this if it was the belts??

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:41 pm

Nope. Chances are the squeak are to do with the engine moving and something touching somewhere. Probably nothing at all ... put it in gear, handbrake on (somewhere safe - i.e. not facing a brick wall or another car), then raise the clutch slowly and maybe use a bit of throttle (<2000RPM should be OK) to prevent stalling. Does it squeak then?

Get the cam timing checked if the engine doesn't feel right. You can get it done the right way (remove undertray, right rear wheel, arch liner, belt covers, alternator belt, alternator drive pulley, etc., then check all the timing marks line up like they should) or just measure valve overlap at TDC which is easy enough with the right gadgets, but won't expose any odd crap like a loose belt tensioner, etc.

I would offer to look at it for you but cannot do anything in the next month and it deserves attention sooner than that.

Cheers,
Robin

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:53 pm

robin wrote:Nope. Chances are the squeak are to do with the engine moving and something touching somewhere. Probably nothing at all ... put it in gear, handbrake on (somewhere safe - i.e. not facing a brick wall or another car), then raise the clutch slowly and maybe use a bit of throttle (<2000RPM should be OK) to prevent stalling. Does it squeak then?

done this and the answer is no.... doesnt squeek at all until i really start to push away (15-20mph) and it only last seconds....

wouldnt put you our your way but thanks for the help...

just had someone elses opinion and they think its a vibration..........

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:59 pm

oh and the foot has to be full on the floor before it happens if that helps...