VERY load screeching noise from a Mark 3 Golf

diarmaid21

Ok so here’s my problem. A VW Golf, Mark 3, 1.4, 1997, 110,000 miles. It’s a loud screeching noise. When it started, you could only hear it while driving, as you had to reach almost 3000reves before you’d hear it. It kept getting worse over time, and eventually she gave up, and left me stuck, she just cut out and wouldn’t start. I towed her home. She starts now, but has an awful scream from her even when idle. This noise would almost melt your brain, it’s that loud. She also has absolutely no power, can’t really be moved as she would just cut out.
I removed the fan belt, and it’s still the same, so it’s nothing there, nothing on the timing belt ether I don’t think. Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance.

puzzle factory

diarmaid21 wrote: »

Ok so here’s my problem. A VW Golf, Mark 3, 1.4, 1997, 110,000 miles. It’s a loud screeching noise. When it started, you could only hear it while driving, as you had to reach almost 3000reves before you’d hear it. It kept getting worse over time, and eventually she gave up, and left me stuck, she just cut out and wouldn’t start. I towed her home. She starts now, but has an awful scream from her even when idle. This noise would almost melt your brain, it’s that loud. She also has absolutely no power, can’t really be moved as she would just cut out.
I removed the fan belt, and it’s still the same, so it’s nothing there, nothing on the timing belt ether I don’t think. Any thoughts?? Thanks in advance.

make a video of it and throw it up, could be anything.

Hal1

Could be seized bearings in the fan belt pulley.

diarmaid21

Thanks guys, here's a link to two videos, one showing the screeching (which is a lot louder in real life, just don’t think my mike could hack it) The other is of me putting the accelerator down to the ground, and as you can see, she can’t go past 2000 revs, and eventually cuts out....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdxtKJwNFRI&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Q05oZsM-jo&feature=youtu.be

jayok

Does it make a difference if the clutch is in/out?

diarmaid21

Just checked there, it makes no difference at all if the clutch is up or down. Hal1-I guess it is possible that the bearings could be seized, I'l check that later on in the week..

jayok

Hmm.... so prolly not gearbox related. But cuts out at >2K RPM - other bearings? Big-end.....?

alanmc

What's the oil situation like? The Mk3 Golf probably doesn't have an oil pressure gauge, and I couldn't really see from the vids if the oil light was on.

diarmaid21

Hi alanmc, Oil is grand i remember checking that...

Tea drinker

You could remove the accessory belts, one at a time, see if it goes.
Obviously if you remove the water pump belt you shouldn't run more than literally a few seconds. Don't drive anywhere without putting them all back etc.

bbability

Possibly the alternator pulley. I replaced one recently in a friends VW. Common failure in the v dub.

diarmaid21

One of the 1st things I done was take the belt off the alternator, water pump ect. When the belt was off, the noise was still there, so it couldn’t be the alternator pulley?? The only other belt in her is the timing belt, as far as I know? Would the next step be to check the actual pulleys and beyond, to see if there are any bearings gone, or seized??