belt noise at speed?? Can anybody help

[stevejenko]

Hi,
I have just become the proud owner of an 03 111s, and have wanted one for many years....
I have had the car for 2 weeks, it has clocked up 41k miles hence why I asked for the C service (cambelt) to be done before deal agreed.
The car has developed a noise akin to fan belt squeal at high revs when depressing clutch to change gear. Obviously it is not the fan belt as it does not have one! Any ideas? is it something to worry about? I did take back to dealer and s*ds law it did not do it when out on test drive!
I would be very grateful for any replies to stop me worrying..

p.s. can anyone recommend the best club for lotus track days / events..

thanks
Steve

[Sam_68]

Always difficult to diagnose noises on the internet, but if the squeal only occurs when the clutch is depressed, there's a chance that it's the clutch thrust bearing. If it is, you're looking at a full clutch replacement, effectively, because the amount of work necessary to gain access to the thrust bearing means that you might as well replace the whole clutch assembly while you are at it.

You don't have a fan belt, but you do have an ancillary drive belt that drives the alternator and water pump, which could be making the noise.

Best 'club' for Lotus track days is probably Lotus On Track. Check out their web site for further details.

[stevejenko]

Hi Sam much appreciated!

in tends to happen when you put your foot down a bit, but is not always present. At least it is still under warranty! I guess the clutch may fail at some point then? It defo sound more like a belt to me , as I said like a fan belt, so lets hope its the ancillary belt...
thanks again. I would have thought this would have been checked on a "C" service?

Edited by stevejenko on Monday 23 April 17:44

[Sam_68]

Thrust bearings tend to squeal (more of a shriek, really - very unpleasant noise) when you depress the clutch at junctions rather than gearchanges at speed (more mis-match between the engine and gearbox revs at standstill, of course), so there's a fair chance that it isn't the thrust bearing - just thought it was worth mentioning because of your comment that it seemed to be clutch related.

If it sounds like a belt, then there's every chance that it's your ancillary drive belt. Doesn't cost much to change, so there's one good way to find out...

[stevejenko]

ahh I can sleep tonight then! thought I had taken a risk buying a high miler....

will take it back to salesman!
thanks again.

[cleevej]

Friend of mine has the same car, same mileage, and also had the cambelt changed.

Going down the M25 there was a noise just like you described. Bang! the cambelt snapped! They had over tightened it.

Get it back in the garage.