Budgies Trapped under the Hood?

[Panama Jack]

Before I go ape with my WD-40 spraycan, can anyone tell me why I have about 15 budgies screeching in the approximate zone of the belt driving the alt, AC comp, fan etc.? I don't want to offend any bird lovers, but I would really appreciate some insight into this little annoyance.

The budgies are quiet at cold engine start up, but become active as the engine warms up, and remains a constant whistling high-pitched chirp until engine switch-off. Volume, pitch and intensity seem to be independent of engine revs.

What's the fix? Anyone for grilled budgie?

 

[gil stevens]

umm.. wtf is a budgie?

 

[cmlmtn]

A budgie is a small bird (i think).
Sounds like you have a bad bearing...maybe the idler pulley bearing. Pull the belt and see if any of the pulleys can wobble by hand, or if they spin freely.

 

[peter sherman]

spray the wd on the belt while running if the noise goes away then it would be your

belt!

 

[kennith]

umm.. wtf is a budgie?

A parakeet.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[gil stevens]

ahh.. now it all makes sense

 

[DiscoveryXD]

umm.. wtf is a budgie?

:smilelol: i was with you on that one!

 

[az_max]

spray the wd on the belt while running if the noise goes away then it would be your

belt!

I wouldn't recommend spraying wd40 on the belt; if the belt is already slipping you don't want to add a lubricant to it. Check the belt and the pulleys for shiney spots. Check the idler pulley for wear or damage.

 

[barefoot]

yes, pull the belt and check idler pulley, alternator, water pump and power steering pump for roughness and squeeking. if there isnt any play in the bearings....go to town with the wd-40.

no wd-40 on the belt....though they do sell belt dressing that works well imho.

 

[ptschram]

yes, pull the belt and check idler pulley, alternator, water pump and power steering pump for roughness and squeeking. if there isnt any play in the bearings....go to town with the wd-40.

no wd-40 on the belt....though they do sell belt dressing that works well imho.

I tell you, you have learned VERY well grasshopper.

BTW-there was a TSB years ago for this problem that essentially suggested replacing the belt. I fought and fought and fought with this problem, replacing everything but the A/C compressor... In my case, replacing the belt did the trick.

 

[peter sherman]

wd or any lube will tell you if its the belt in a VERY short time. Its not going to last very long on the belt.
Belt dressing sux! & more than likely going to make it sqeel like a pig. Its sticky as shit makes a mess.

 

[az_max]

if your belt has been slipping for a while, your pulley may be glazed over. I've found angled sanding sponges from the paint dept of home depot or a coarse scratchy pad can be used to break the glaze. If you're not adventurous, remove the belts and sand manually. If you are adventurous, *carefully* apply to the pulley while the motor is running. The sponge on a stick works best for this. Do this with the old belts on the motor.

 

[piper109]

umm.. wtf is a budgie?

Just for those who have never come across this term before, budgie is short for budgerigar which as someone already pointed out, is known as a parakeet in the USA.

One of my 95 Disco's makes a silmilar noise, just at idle so I will try some of the ideas put forward.

Years ago, when points were all we had, a dry distributor cam would make the same kind of noise.

 

[David T]

Budgie http://www.budgieplace.com/m_chirpall.mp3

 

[Nomar]

Try leaving some seed near the plenum, maybe the budgies are just hungry!

 

[DevilDisco]

I know this is an old thread but I'm not sure it helped. I have an '04 DII. Just did the 90k service and replaced the belt. Truck was fine until it got cold. I turned the truck on and it started squealing like a pig. I got some Blet dressing from Advanced AutoParts and at first it sounded good then it got a whole lot worse. If I spray the belt the noise goes away. Why would a new belt squeal? I'm probably going to just replace all the pulleys and belts, yeah and get all that crap I sprayed off all the accessories.

 

[ROVERT]

Wouldn't a Budgie have to be under a bonnet?

 

[Le shed]

The other day I got a belt from a good source and did the water pump and belt replacement. I checked the new belt and even though it said Dayco and had the right Dayco number and Rover part number it was physically differant. It was slightly less wide and thinner compared to the genuine belt. I put it on and when you blipped the throttle it screamed. I checked the lengths and it appeared a little longer than the old one. I put the old belt on and checked the deflection of the tensioner and marked it. I put the new one back on and the tensioner was just on the edge of being non tensioning. When blipping the throttle you could see the belt move about 1/4" on the pulley next to the tensioner. With the old belt on it barely moved. So just because it says Dayco I believe that there is a big differance between aftermarket belts. It was ordered as a non ACE belt so that wasn't the problem.
Good luck
Bill B

Don't ask about the coolant blowing out of the expansion bottle.

 

[Ppaulred96]

04 disco will be a serpentine type belt. Belt dressing and WD-40 would work on older V belts but I would not recommend using either on a serpentine belt system. Check the flat side of the belt if it is shinny and slick, if so, I'd replace it. Also look in the groved area to see if non-manufactured cracks are present if so replace the belt. There are times when the idler pully bearing will make noise but in my experience it is more of a growl - - I they can sing like a bird as well. If you replace the belt and still have the noise lthen ook at the idle pully itself.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

spray the wd on the belt while running if the noise goes away then it would be your

belt!

x2...done it a hundred times at least over the years it takes 20 seconds to diagnose a bad/worn/dirty belt

just touching the tip of a old pump oil can to the front edge of the belt is my preffered method

wd or any lube will tell you if its the belt in a VERY short time. Its not going to last very long on the belt.
Belt dressing sux! & more than likely going to make it sqeel like a pig. Its sticky as shit makes a mess.

yep thats the truth as well....never had a issue after doing it.