My wife's called me to say her car (2007 as my sig) is making a 'terrible grinding noise'!

She's taken it to the local and very helpful garage - but they're a Volvo specialist, rather than LR - although obviously the XC60 is a reasonably close cousin of the FL2.

They've had a look and said the alternator needs replacing.

It does go through a ford reasonably regularly, normally only about 20-30 cm deep, but sometimes higher

a) Are they likely to be correct? Should they have been able to diagnose it to that reasonably easily as opposed to it being say the tensioner pulley etc?

b) Does the whole alternator need swapping, or is it probably just the clutch pulley? Again, is it easy to check which it is?

c) If it is the alternator, should I get them to fit a new belt and tensioner pulley at the same time anyway, or just refit the existing?

Many thanks, as ever!

is it like this?
http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic21181.html 2014 SE Loire Blue SD4 Auto (MY15)
Gone - 2011 GS Baltic Blue, Retrofit Electric Leather, Side Steps, 19"SC's, Roof Rails, TT Sat Nav Mod, Retrofit Premium Audio, Retro fit 2013 Xenons with DRL & Sig Strip (Clutch at 47k)
Gone - 2007 GS Narvik Black, Privacy Glass, 19" SC's, Side Steps,Roof Rails, Roof Spoiler, Lamp Guards, Retrofit Electric Leather (Clutch at 115k)
Gone - 2007 SE Santorini Black (Clutch at 120k)
BT IID (best money ever spent on a car)

I haven't heard it yet. She describes it as a loud grinding noise as she drives. No issues starting.

Hi, I had a similar noise on mine shortly after I bought her. Took back to dealer as under extended warranty. They checked and replaced the idler pulley on the aux belt. Seemed quieter but was never convinced it was as before. A couple of weeks later clouds of smoke from under bonnet on the drivers side. Luckily just as I was 50 yards from home so got on to drive way. Had her recovered by LR assist. Turned out to be a seized alternator clutch. LR said clutch could not be repaired and new alternator fitted under warranty next day .

Thinking back on it now we had been through some pretty deep floods on the A52 into Derby a week or so before the problem started. Coincidence? Maybe?

JGH99

Edit: I would suggest a new belt. Obviously mine was shxxged following the burn out. Freelander 2 GS Stornoway Grey
Jan 2007 Bought 71,000 miles. Currently 149,300 miles.

Calcul@tor wrote:

It does go through a ford reasonably regularly, normally only about 20-30 cm deep, but sometimes higher
Many thanks, as ever!

Landiroamer wrote:

500mm is the maximum depth a FL2 can safely go through

500mm is the official maximum wading depth. They can go through water quite a bit deeper with no extra kit - but maybe that's how to end up with grinding noises under the bonnet!

Not that this one has been deep very recently. But a build up over time possibly.

But moving away from wading and back to grinding...

Had a quick look under the bonnet in the dark last night. The noise is definitely from around the aux pulley area and really difficult to be sure, but seemed to sound like it was coming from somewhere nearer the top than the bottom.

Nothing like as bad as the noise in the clip Jim linked to. Also the belt tensioner wasn't obviously chattering too badly.

But the very bottom pulley with 3 big nuts(?) on it was only turning very sporadically - so it would turn for a fraction of a second, then not for a second or two, then turn a bit, then not for a bit longer. Nothing regular and sometimes it looked like it only turned through perhaps 90 degrees, other times may have spun a couple of revolutions or more.

Excuse my mechanical ignorance - but what is down there and I'm guessing that's not how is should be? I presume the belt it slipping over it the rest of the time? If so, that's presumably putting a strain on the belt and probably wearing it quite fast?

Hi, I think from your description that is the Air Conditioning pump.

JGH99. Freelander 2 GS Stornoway Grey
Jan 2007 Bought 71,000 miles. Currently 149,300 miles.

Would the pulley on the it normally be going round, whether or not the AC is on? Or can it somehow disengage - hence the lack of motion!?

Hi, the aircon pump has an electronically controlled clutch. The pulley the belt runs on should always be turning (with engine running) the odd plate with three bolts on will be turning if you have the aircon on and not turning if you have the aircon off. If it is this that is turning intermittently then I would suspect a faulty clutch. Perhaps try turning aircon on and off to see if this makes any difference.

JGH99 Freelander 2 GS Stornoway Grey
Jan 2007 Bought 71,000 miles. Currently 149,300 miles.

OK - thanks, a few things to have a look at!

If the original diagnosis is correct and it is alternator related - how do you check if it is the whole alternator or just the clutch which needs to be replaced - or will it be obvious?

Hi, as previous post re failure of alternator clutch I was advised that the clutch could not be replaced separately so whole alternator was replaced. This was a main stealer so I have no idea if true. Others on site might know otherwise.

Let me know if turning AC off make any difference.

JGH99 Freelander 2 GS Stornoway Grey
Jan 2007 Bought 71,000 miles. Currently 149,300 miles.

Just to follow up on this...

Air-con compressor seized and being replaced.

Thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions.