Riemengeräusch am ALH | Posts 16+

Rainer K. wrote:

As long as the width of the timing belt is almost new and no further damage is visible, I don't really see a need to replace the belts.

... as long as it runs smoothly .

@Alex: In the photo of the belt on the right, the teeth appear to be slightly frayed – can you confirm this?

@Alex: In the photo of the right belt, the teeth seem a bit frayed to me - can you confirm this?

I think I also saw something there, in the middle of the right side of the picture.

How is such a belt manufactured?

I thought they were made with a width of x meters and then cut to the required size (e.g., 22mm).

If the cut is not made at a perfect right angle to the teeth, the belt will "wander" on the gears.

I could explain the partial lateral wear in that way.

Okay, please provide the German text you would like me to translate into English. I will only provide the translation.

Hello, I've been experiencing the exact same problem with my ALH engine for about 40,000 km. After having the engine cleaned today, the noise has become significantly worse. Previously, it would disappear after the engine warmed up. Now, however, it's louder and much more noticeable. Does anyone still have any idea what might be causing this? I no longer have a warranty, so I don't want to just start replacing everything – but I'm definitely starting to worry. By the way, the noise "survived" a timing belt replacement.
Please help me!

By the way, the device 'survived' a timing belt replacement.


Hello,

Were the tensioner pulleys and idler pulley, as well as the water pump, replaced during the timing belt change, or just the belt itself?

@donalexo:

The belt looks relatively normal to me. The belt also wears down slightly in width, so the underlying material will inevitably become visible.
BTW, this way you got a cheap belt replacement with a warranty .

By the way, I'm very familiar with that squealing sound from the serpentine belt. On my G III, it started happening after only 40,000 km and had to be replaced. It was quite easy thanks to the automatic tensioner and good accessibility. All the ribs were showing cracks almost every centimeter, except for the base of the belt. If you're ever unsure, simply spray the belt lightly with a small spray bottle of water while the engine is running. If the noise quiets down, you've found the culprit.

Hello donalexo,
A 'steel wire reinforcement' within the timing belt would quickly crumble due to 'fatigue fractures,' ultimately destroying the timing belt from the inside. Furthermore, a steel wire reinforcement would certainly not extend the lifespan of the timing belt.
Best regards,
Günther.