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I have just had the cam belt changed on my 1996 Ford Telstar wagon and it came back with a very bad grinding and squealing noise from the drive belts.
When I returned the car, the repairer loosened the belt which stopped the AC compressor from grinding but the belt now squeals very badly.
Re- tightening the belt reintroduces the grinding noise from the AC.
After returning the car three times, the garage won't do any more about it. The squealing is constant and at all speeds.
Neither the grinding or squealing was there before.
The car has only travelled 90,000km.
What rights do I have?
John
From the "Ask Jack" archives - 3 November 2009
It's not uncommon for belts to squeal after such repairs and it usually comes down to the A/C belt requiring re-tensioning (too slack).
In this case it sounds like the opposite has happened, the belt tension after the cam belt replacement has caused the compressor to exhibit this noise.
To be honest the repairer may have done nothing intentionally wrong and it is simply bad luck this noise has developed. Often garages are reluctant to over tighten these belts which can cause them to squeal as the compressor load kicks in when the A/C is switched on.
In almost every case the re-tensioning fixes the problem.
While the original workshop manual for your car will have a factory tension setting for the belt, almost every repairer would simply apply pressure from a lever / bar for a vehicle of this age.
This would be considered standard industry practice.
Clearly the belt tension has caused this noise to develop but that's not to say it was over tightened. It is possible there was already fair wear and tear in the compressor internals and once disturbed this problem was always waiting to surface.
What is a worry however, is the fact the repairer gave you back the car in this condition and did not discuss the problem with you.
If the repairer is a member of the MTA then call their mediation free 0800 line and lodge a dispute against the repairer. At least this way you should get an independent and unbiased investigation of the entire job.