Mini Cooper S Rattle
ash_hammond - 29/7/10 at 02:25 PM
My Cooper S (2003) has developed a metalic rattle coming from the fan belt area of the engine bay.
Its most audiable when the car is pulling away. It can also be heard (not as bad) when alternator is being hammered with lights heater etc when the
car is stationary.
I took the car back to the garage as its under AA warrenty (Douglas Paul Mini Centre Rotherham) They told me there is nothing wrong with the car its
simply the biteing point on the clutch.
I said the following:
1: If thats the case all Mini Cooper S cars should sound the same (they dont).
2: Why does it do it when the car is in neutral and the alternator is in heavy use? To which they did not have answer.
It sounds to me like they dont have a clue whats rattling.
They have also charged me £30 for telling me there is nothing wrong. Not very happy.
I'm going to take it to Mini (BWM) for a second oppinion. The chaps their seem friendly
I think it could be the tensioner/bearing in one of the many conpoments that the belt runs around or a shield rattleing.
Any thoughts what it could be?
Known common problems?
Also.... Its annoying the poo out of me. 
-- Ash
[Edited on 29/7/10 by ash_hammond]
Miks15 - 29/7/10 at 02:59 PM
cant you just put the alternator under full load in your garage, open the bonnet and have a close listen?
You can get those stethoscope things with a longer pointer on the end, if you can get one of them then put it on a few places to see if you can
indentify where its coming from
jase380 - 29/7/10 at 03:30 PM
I think theres some kind of clutch mechanism in the alternator pulley, might be that thats buggered..
Danozeman - 29/7/10 at 03:47 PM
quote:
I think theres some kind of clutch mechanism in the alternator pulley, might be that thats buggered..
Yep theyr crap much like dual mass flywheels. Theyl make a funny clicky noise then a squeel then theyl go and your alt wont spin. Is there rust
around the front face of the pulley?
ash_hammond - 29/7/10 at 04:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Danozeman
quote:
I think theres some kind of clutch mechanism in the alternator pulley, might be that thats buggered..
Yep theyr crap much like dual mass flywheels. Theyl make a funny clicky noise then a squeel then theyl go and your alt wont spin. Is there rust
around the front face of the pulley?
I can have a look when i get home re the rust. There is no room really to see. Does the rust signify anything other than its that compoments that
nackered?
The noise has got better over the summer months, so I'm thinking its alternator related.
I'm going to drive it around over the next few days with the alternator underload, see if it gets worse.
- Ash
Danozeman - 29/7/10 at 05:03 PM
Normally when the clutches start to go the pulley gets hot and the cover falls off then you get lots of rusty dust coming out of it.
perksy - 29/7/10 at 06:21 PM
Have alook on Youtube i have a feeling theres a clip on there of somebody with the same problem, think the solution is on there aswell ?
MakeEverything - 29/7/10 at 07:03 PM
Its because you didnt measure the crank pulley for me..... 
[Edited on 29-7-10 by MakeEverything]