thedon Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 I've had a squeal from a belt occasionally for a month or so, sometimes immediately after start, sometimes 5 mins later, and only lasting a few seconds. This morning the car wouldn't crank over enough to start. So my first suspect is the alternator, given the sqealing belt, but the battery is 3 years old so could be past its best. Voltage on the dash has always been good though. Are there any tests to tell whether I need a new battery or alternator? Thanks, Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulletMagnet Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 How old are the belts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Only 5 months old, changed in August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) What's the battery voltage showing once the engine is running? Anything less than 13.5 means the alternator isn't doing it thing sadly. Chances are if the alternator has been weak for a while, it will have been asking the battery to do too much causing it to also fail. Edited January 12, 2016 by davey_83 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Sounds like the belt needs re tensioning to me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Did you have frost this morning? The cold always finds out a weak battery but check what others have said too ^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks for the replies. I can't start the car, but the battery voltage was 11.05V before I started charging. The charger light went from red (uncharged) to green (supposedly charged) in 5 minutes. I left it charging for 30 mins and the voltage is now 12.76V. Does that suggest a knackered battery? As you say, davey, the alternator may have caused the battery to fail, although if the battery was faulty already would that make the alternator work harder, possibly causing the belt sqeal? May be clutching at straws here... No, there wasn't any frost this morning. Coll but not cold (~5C) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 You need to get the car started and then check the charging voltage from the alternator to the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Thanks, when you say 'from the alternator to the battery' where do I test: still the battery terminals, somewhere on the alternator output/case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) I've tested across the battery with the engine running: 14.5V at idle (1,200 RPM) which drops to 14.4V on load (lights, wipers, rear heated screen) - both within the 14.2 - 14.7V ideal range I think. Does that suggest a good alternator? One observation: the positive lead does grip the battery terminal tightly, and can't be tightened any more. Poor contact (and/or belt tension less than optimal, as you say, Tricky-Dicky). But would really like to know if the voltage range when running, means the alternator itself is still OK - that's an expensive fix. Edited January 12, 2016 by thedon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Those voltages are fine, I would say your battery is failing due to the colder weather, its the time of year when most new battery's are sold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 Although I've heard of batteries on the Zed lasting for 8,9 and even 10 years they usually expire after 3-4 years.....I'm on my 3rd in 9 years. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHEZZA Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Although I've heard of batteries on the Zed lasting for 8,9 and even 10 years they usually expire after 3-4 years.....I'm on my 3rd in 9 years. Pete That's due to lack of use Pete ! Haha. I'm still on my original battery of 10 years ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Battery failing I'd say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) Thanks guys - off to get a new battery today. Fingers crossed that sorts it out. (and will tighten the belt too) Edited January 13, 2016 by thedon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Definitely the battery, as Ricky says the voltages are fine, check the belt tolerances first, a tight belt can cause sometimes squealing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Although I've heard of batteries on the Zed lasting for 8,9 and even 10 years they usually expire after 3-4 years.....I'm on my 3rd in 9 years. Pete That's due to lack of use Pete ! Haha. I'm still on my original battery of 10 years ! Quite true, lack of use will shorten the life of the battery. 2009, Original Battery Failed 2014 Replacement Battery Failed. The original battery fail can be put down to weeks of the car standing around and the fact that it stood in a car showroom for 13 months before I bought it. I presume that it wasn't started in the showroom and that people were getting in and out of it, switching things on and off... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billdingo Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Although I've heard of batteries on the Zed lasting for 8,9 and even 10 years they usually expire after 3-4 years.....I'm on my 3rd in 9 years. Pete I've just replaced mine, looked original. Car was registered Nov 2014, so if it was the OEM one then it managed just over 11 years. It was drained by me being an idiot and leaving my interior light on for several days after playing about setting up my headunit. So I suspect that I could have charged it up, but I wasn't going to take the risk of getting stranded over winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedon Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 A big thumbs up for Halfords - the old battery (a HCB005) had a 4 year warranty and was 3 years and 9 months old. They tested it and replaced it without a quibble. Even fitted it for me. Result 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davey_83 Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 WOW result!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Fair play Halfrauds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarmoZ Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) A big thumbs up for Halfords - the old battery (a HCB005) had a 4 year warranty and was 3 years and 9 months old. They tested it and replaced it without a quibble. Even fitted it for me. Result So did this fix your belt squeal issue? Edited May 11, 2016 by DarmoZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarmoZ Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 (edited) For over a month now, I'm getting loud constant squeal from the belt which lasts 6-8 seconds immediately after I start the engine. I notice the belt squeal stops as soon as the volt reading reaches around 14v (which can take 6-8 seconds on a cold start) The Squeal happens on non cold starts too if left for more than 15 mins, although it's a not as bad / long then. I have replaced the Battery with a brand new Optima Red top. The engine cranks into life instantly now, but the Squeal issue described above is still the same. So this leads me to think it could be Alternator? or something else (loose belt). The belts were changed with brand new gates belts back in September 2015. FYI in May 2015 i installed a new car audio system running a total of 900w RMS. Any insight or advice you can give is much appreciated. Ill add a video to demonstrate https://vimeo.com/166207333 Edited May 11, 2016 by DarmoZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky-Ricky Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 The drive belt needs re tensioning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenDW Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 The drive belt needs re tensioning. Seconding this. Ultimately it sounds like your belts are too loose either because they've stretched or are the wrong size. Retension or fit new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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