CDTI Grating Noise - water pump?
 

Hope someone can advise on the most likely cause of a constant grating noise, sounding a bit like a worn pad on a disc, coming from the engine bay. It started a couple of days ago and has got louder until the auxilliary belt has now gone and the charging light is on. So either water pump, steering pump or alternator I guess? It hasn't made any squealing / high pitched noise at all, which is usually the sign of bearings failing in my experience. I understand the w/p is a pain to remove, but steering pump is quite easy? Cheers, Dave

Have you checked the bottom pulley?

This is a typical noisy pulley

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...aft_Pulley.jpg

TC

If the serpentine belt has come off then it should be pretty easy to find the cause. Did the belt snap or just fall off?

Check all the pulleys for play and alignment - a collapsed water pump bearing will throw the belt off.

Pulley
 

Thanks for the advice fellas, looks like it's the pulley falling apart as suggested. Reading other threads on that, I don't fancy it at all on my dodgy axle stands and gravel driveway! Front linkage bushes also going (again!) and clutch slipping a bit - 153k up now, may be time to say goodbye to the old girl....

As kylie once said, it's better the devil you know, 153k is nowt for a diesel, I would spend a few hundred quid getting it mended than on another unknown car.

These are after all wear and tear items that have lasted well if they are the originals.

Your choice but as it stands it's scrap fodder and to get anything as good and newer you'll be paying a good few thousand and even then it won't be as quiet, comfortable ...the alternative is a A6 or 5 series estate which don't come cheap and most have been to the moon and back and don't believe all you hear about German reliability, maybe the old Mercedes were but the new stuff isn't.

The rover 75/zt is the bargain of the century in my book and I'm a trader.

This is a job I too have on this week... mines giving out a loud tapping noise that goes after 1200 rpm.. and when its doing it if put water on it and the sound starts to disappear.. - thanks Brian.. :)

This was my job this weekend :(, car started making a noise after we'd got into northern France last week, but it survived a few local drives and the 450 mile return journey :D

The old pulley was a bit broken
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...psg6mwf1bm.jpg

but it all looks lovely after having a Corteco pulley, new bolt and belts... car's a lot quieter now :D
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/i...psghidlfiv.jpg

edit to add parts list and prices from http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/

1 x Drive Belt Air Con Td4 00-02 (Britpart) PQS101310L (PQS101310l) = £2.99
1 x Crankshaft TV Damper Pulley (Corteco) LHG100750LG (LHG100750LG) = £91.66
1 x Crankshaft TV Damper Bolt (Genuine) LYP101640L (LYP101640L) = £7.00
1 x Drive Belt Alternator Td4 (Britpart) PQS101300L (PQS101300L) = £4.50

Sub-Total: £106.15
UK Delivery (FedEx Courier) (Standard): £0.00
VAT 20%: £21.23
Total: £127.38

I have a new one and belts ready to get fitted, hoping before the national!