Repair or scrap / break

Congratulations, another one saved!

Glad you have her back on the road.

I've noticed an intermittent squeaking noise from under the bonnet which now seems to be occurring more frequently and can be there when stationary and now also moving.  My first thought was a worn belt or pulley noise but after a quick look under the bonnet and seeing two belts with several options I thought I'd better ask here first if there are any common issues.    The alternator is to the left of the engine but I'm not sure what that is low down on the right, where the belt is routed via an intermediate pulley on the engine block.   The belts may well be original so over 20 but they appeared to at least be the correct tightness.   Are there any common failings?

Paul
 

One belt drives the alternator and water pump, the other drives the power assisted steering and air con (if fitted).

The crank pulley has a rubber cush drive, these seem to fail and the pulley runs off centre, well it happened to my 2011 a couple of years ago and spat both belts off. On inspection you could see it was out of line.

The belts themselves seem very tight, try twisting on the longest length, it should just turn 90 degrees when in correct tension.

I set my new belts very carefully but even so on a cold morning with the blower on and lights you can hear a bit of belt squeal at low revs, it soon goes.

I have had aircon both clutch and pump fail, on my swift wich is the same item as the Jimny. You can try to listen with or without the aircon on. With it on it will switch in and out by itself but off it should remain off. This way you can check if it is the pump or clutch making the noise.
Also heard of dynamo bearings giving in and make noise.
When the rubber is old and hard it will sooner or later become so hard from age and the engine heat, that it will make noise to tell you it is time for a service.

Thanks for the replies.  For information, the car is from 1999 and does not have air conditioning and probably it’s only form of luxury is electric windows.  My partner who owns it would be happy without those. 

When I get some other ( non Jimny) jobs done I might look into replacing the belts and how to change the tension on them.

Paul

Ps Soeley, it’s apparently (my partners car) a boy so “he’s” back on the road.