Nissan Patrol 3.0 serpentine belt issues
Submitted: Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 12:47
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Martyn (WA)
Forumites,
About 12 months ago I replaced the serpentine belt on my 2000 3.0 ltr TD Patrol, it was squeaking when I first started the vehicle and started to squeak intermittently whilst driving. Anyway, replaced the belt everything fine no squeaks or any noises at all. Until Friday that was, I went down South Friday night, initially the belt squeaked I assumed because the vehicle hadn't been used for a while, I expected the noise to disappear after at the most 30 klms after both batteries seen a charge. Nope, didn't disappear until I turned the old girl off on Sunday night when I got back. Talk about annoying.
So have others had this problem? What did they find? I'm going to assume that the belt should still be OK, it's done about 12 to 15 K since it was replaced. Me I'm heading more towards the tensioner device, I spoke to the local dealer this morning and I wasn't met with a response that "hey I've never had the need to replace the tensioner you need to look somewhere else" it was more like yeap I've replaced a few of them over time, could
well be.
Does anyone have any methodology around checking to see if it is knacked, like a spring balance reading or something a bit more definitive, $280 on a whim that this might be the problem seemed a bit un-sensible. Is this a "common" fault?
Any constructive comments welcomed, thanks to any contributants for their valued experiences.
Reply By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:01
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:01
Mine used to do it (when I owned a 3litre) and it annoyed the chit out of me. Used to use Series 2000 Belt Conditioner once a week and that seemed to get rid of the squeel. Also, if it's not the tensioner (if you pour
water onto the belt and the noise quickly stops then it's probably the belt itself) then the belt would have picked up a tiny bit of grit or something and that's enough to start the opera under the bonnet! Bloody loud, too, isn't it?
Hope this helps.
AnswerID:
190028
Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:15
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:15
Gee mines 5 yrs old and nary a squeek, with dust galore too, should be worth watching this thread
AnswerID:
190030
Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:42
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:42
Forumites,
I've since posting this post spoken to Nissan again, spoken to a very helpful person who advises me that between certain VIN numbers there was an alignment problem with the pulleys, which involves the replacement of the
water pump pulley, the camshaft pulley and the tensioner assembly, great news seeing my vehicle is now out of warranty. I'm booked in on Wednesday morning to have my vehicle "checked" to see if this is the problem, my vehicle luckily was between the VIN numbers, always happens doesn't it, even better the vehicle is out of warranty "brilliant"...................
Watch this space, if others have been unfortunate enough to have this issue I would be interested to hear what the outcome was. Apparently there is a Nissan bulletin out about this problem.
AnswerID:
190033
Follow Up By: jdpatrol - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:59
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 13:59
Martyn
I had that about 2-3 months out of warranty (mid 04). Explanation I got was very similar to what Nissan said to you.
Mine was manufactured Dec 03.
I think also they said that it due to a new supplier (
water pump?) from India?. The good news is that I haven't had a problem since.
Good luck with it.
JD
FollowupID:
447670
Reply By: GUPatrol - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 14:10
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 14:10
What? another problem with the 3.0L engine??
Even more glad I got he 4.2!!
Seriously though....
a friend of
mine who made the unwise decision to buy the 3.0L model has had the pulley replaced twice (both times under warranty) the tell tale signs were just as you describe.
Another friend with an earlier 3.0L made his own pulley after the second replacement, no problems since...
AnswerID:
190037
Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 14:20
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 14:20
GUPatrol,
Which pulley? Nissan talk about replacing three of them, which single pulley did your friend replace that fixed the problem?
Don't kid yourself, every vehicle has it's issues, with the relatively minor issues I've had with my Nissan 3.0 TD and what I've put it through I'm more than happy.
When I took my 4.2 engine apart for a minor repair what I found made me feel very "unwise" at the time, $6000 later..................... Everything was back to normal, this is exactly what I was talking about when I was talking about "constructive comments".
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: GUPatrol - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 16:58
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 16:58
Martyn,
The tensioner pulley has a single row bearing which is a common failure, the bearing can't cope with the load of the belt and rpm and it fails.
If allowed to fail (after the tell tale noise) it makes a mess of the radiator etc.
Both cases that I know off are close friends and not a friend of a friend. These are people I go
camping with on a regular basis.
What I meant about the 4.2 is that is a much simpler engine without any of these little issues (not without any faults off course) but to give you an example:
Rebuild injector pump on Zd30 $6000 ($2000 at best)
Rebuitd injector pump on td42 $650
Injectors Zd30 $1500 ea (although coming down)...
Injectors TD42 (new) $550 for six...
The list can go on....
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:27
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:27
Ok Ok, one reason I don't put much on here anymore is because of this "I've got to be right syndrome".
I understand the simpler concept and the cost implications of the 4.2 motor, I don't doubt the authenticity of your friends or your friendships, I agree with you OK and yes you're right, so you are now happy I hope. I also miss the low down torque of the straight six it was great.
I now own a 3.0 td, I'm happy dealing with it's little idosyncrosies, and so far this motor hasn't cost me anywhere near the amount that you mention above, I haven't blown a piston and I haven't fixed the oil leak from the little plug at the front of the engine.
I haven't fix the oil leak from the bottom bolt on my transfer case on my Range Rover either, I've just bought another Range Rover and this one leaks as
well, so even changing the vehicle didn't fix the leak. Lifes a B*tch.........
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:31
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:31
Sorry GUPatrol that should of been Idiosyncrasies, shocking spelling......
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Follow Up By: GUPatrol - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:38
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:38
"one reason I don't put much on here anymore is because of this "I've got to be right syndrome". "
I agree with you on that one and I do the same.
Good luck with the pulley!!
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:53
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 17:53
I'll post how I go, seems to be of an interest. Thank you for the good luck thing I suspect it could
well be in the plural "pully's". No offence meant or taken...
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Andrew (Bris) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:31
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:31
I've had the belt tensioner replaced on
mine twice. Same symptoms - squeeking all the time. The first time it was replaced by a mechanic I didn't know, and would not go back to him. I was away from home, and something needed to be done. The second time it was by my usual mechanic who also replaced the
water pump at the same time. I've never been back to Nissan after a couple of warranty issues and lousy service early on in the vehicle's life.
AnswerID:
190056
Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 18:23
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 18:23
Andrew,
Did the mechanic tell you what was wrong with the tensioner? It's hydraulic does the seal go, the spring break, did anybody give you any explanation as to what went wrong?
FollowupID:
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Reply By: 3.0turbob - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:44
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:44
Wayne,
Most probably the tensioner.
Mine was doing the same (Oct 2001). I took the belt off to check things out and noticed I could move the tensioner itself. On closer inspection, the bush where the mounting bolt goes through had worn so it wasn't providing the correct tension. Tensioner was replaced under warranty and no more squeak.
Rob
AnswerID:
190061
Follow Up By: 3.0turbob - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:47
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 15:47
Sorry Martin, I've no idea why I called you Wayne??????? glasses must have fogged up
Rob
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 16:34
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 16:34
No problem John, by the way it has a "Y" in it and not an I, but that's OK, this is a usual "thing". Thanks for the reply nice to hear from people who have actually had the experience rather than the next door neighbours best friends uncle. Good stuff thanks ROB
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: hillie - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 19:40
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 19:40
I just had the same problem with
mine. Squeaky belt that could be heard over "the cook" so it was time to replace it. Turned out to be the tensioner $300 later.
Squeak now gone......back to listening to the
cook!!!
Hillie
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: 120scruiser (NSW) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 20:46
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 20:46
The hydraulic tensioner can sieze, the bearing gets noisey in the pulley and I have also had dramas with the pulley on the front of the alternator. It has a one way clutch built into it and can get noisey as
well.
The bushes in the tensioner is the most common thing to fail allowing the tensioner to bounce up and down causing noise.
Cheers
120scruiser
P.S - Not a friend of a friend comment, I work on them and have repaired these issues.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - BUNDY BOY (WA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 20:52
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 20:52
Martyn......i know its a silly thing to say but get dayco belts ...eg the grooved type .i know most belts are these days ,,but ive found them the best ,,as pullys get a groove in them over time and these seem to fix the problem ...i also keep a stick of dry lube in the fridge ...as
water crossings as
well as the grit seem to get the belts a little noisey at times ....so a good go with dry lube ;husses them up ...
cheers Darren
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Kingsley N (SA) - Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 21:08
Monday, Aug 21, 2006 at 21:08
Here's a different slant. I had the tensioner replaced at the 70000k service last month under warranty (MY03 GU 3.0). It hadn't made a noise as far as I can recall, but guess what- the new one squeaked a couple of times last week on start up! Symptom at the service was "leaky seal".
Kings
AnswerID:
190125
Reply By: Phil12345 - Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 at 20:07
Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006 at 20:07
It'll be the tensionor. I've replaced about half a dozen, the mounting bushes flog out and you can inspect it from above with a small torch,
AnswerID:
190367