The Mégane II Owners' Club

My Megane II 1.6vvt 2005 has an intermittant squealing noise at startup which last approx 2-3 seconds and changes in pitch if you rev engine had a service 4K ago at 48k(was supposed to have been serviced at 36k when i bought it but dealer has no record of this so was done at 48k) and has had a dephaser around six months ago and also a cambelt at the same time(standard renault procedure?) has anybody had a similar noise or can give me a clue as to what might be causing this?

depends on whether noise is a rubber belt squeel or a metal grinding squeel, most likely will be aux belt (alternator belt) slipping caused by cold damp weather...if not that other possibility is water pump bearing.

markren2004 wrote:depends on whether noise is a rubber belt squeel or a metal grinding squeel, most likely will be aux belt (alternator belt) slipping caused by cold damp weather...if not that other possibility is water pump bearing.

Its hard to tell but it only ever happens once its been stood overnight and its only intermittant at the moment,the noise changes its pitch if you rev it slightly and dissapears completely if you rev it over 3000rpm.

Check the tension and condition of the aux belt. It was common to hear this sound on older cars due to it slipping. The old fashioned solution was to loosen off the alternator mounting bolts, then re-tighten them whilst leaning on it. I suspect it's more difficult these days! The belt shouldn't move more than a few millimeters with a good shove.

UPDATE: Had the car into the dealer(car under autoprotect extended warranty) and they replaced the Dephaser,timing belt and auxillary belt saying that they were the problem,took there word for it and started it up and all sound good,better throttle response too until next morning...... started up and the squeal still there it only lasts a few seconds and is intermittant.any ideas anybody?

My money is still on the aux belt slipping. It may have been fouled with oil or other contaminant. Check it carefully.

I suggest that simple further investigation might be to open the bonnet, remove the plastic engine cover (if present) and have an assistant start it from cold while you listen very carefully to where the sound is coming from. Record it on your phone if possible. Also try moving the steering lock to lock and see if that makes any noise.

Could be bearings in the alternator depending on the sound.

Ok will try get somebody to start it while i listen tried listening this morning when it did it at 6.30am but was on my own and couldnt pin point where it is coming from and it goes off after a few seconds,guess it nothing serious or it would do it everytime i started it and not just after being left overnight would a failing water pump squeal? there are no coolant leaks and there are no other noises that i can hear(last car i had was a vw polo and the water pump was failing and there was a definite grating noise with that) i find it odd that it only makes the noise between 2k and 3k rpm

UPDATE: Noise coming from opposite end of engine to cam/aux belts ie gearbox end but noise doesnt dissapear when clutch depressed

Any Ideas anybody?

I have same problem, Im guessing its like the fan belt. on the left side of the engine you can see a belt and mine seems very loose, the noise is definitely coming from that on mine.........just had dephaser and all that stuff done so need to save my money first!

Hog wrote:I have same problem, Im guessing its like the fan belt. on the left side of the engine you can see a belt and mine seems very loose, the noise is definitely coming from that on mine.........just had dephaser and all that stuff done so need to save my money first!

I was thinking mine was fan belt but its coming from the other end of the engine to the alternator etc(the gearbox end)

Evans halshaw doncaster changed water pump and auxillary belt tensioner and it still has the squealing noise on startup they now reckon it could be the clutch / gearbox??

Try starting the car with the footbrake.....Does the squeel still happen. Turns out that my 2-3 second noise comes from slight friction from clutch to fly...

Silly i know....but worth a look...

It is not from timing or accessories belts, but I do not know from what it is.

UPDATE: Had a call from evans halshaw and apparently its the clutch throw out bearing causing the squealing noise? i am not so sure cos wouldnt the noise change depending on whether the clutch is up or down? Car at dealer for over a week now