MX5

At idle in gear, no other way to describe it but CHIRPING. Sounds just like a cricket. Putting it in Neutral sometimes makes it go away, giving it a little gas it also goes away.
It's annoying.
If anyone knows what it is and what it might cost to fix, please reply. Thanks.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

Chirping sometimes will come from the serpentine belt or the tensionser. I would also inspect the water pump aswell

MX5

Cripes - I got away from German cars because I was sick of being nickel and dimed (more like hundred and thousanded LOL)....but I am starting to wonder about the GS, having to replace an HID bulb a week after buying it, the sub maybe 3 weeks, my driver's side mirror "grinding gears" at every startup the past few weeks and now this chirping. And I hardly ever drive the car! Really makes me worry I made a poor choice, although I love the car.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

A serpentine belt is only 20 bucks shipped (Bando Brand) off ebay and 30min of your time.

bklynjoker

Holy*****. I'm having that for a month now. Very low chirp - belt looks good so it has to be the tens.... If you decide to DIY pls post pics and maybe steps.

Simmsled

I solved this on my car... and will post a couple pics. Mine would chirp randomly on the first start of the day. Most of the time, it would just go away... but it gets progressively worse. If I parked on grass overnight, it would definitely squeal on start-up.

Its the idler pulley that looks like this:


It is SUPER easy to replace with a socket wrench and thats about it. Bonus is... you replace the serpentine belt at the same time.

Cost? Varies... Rockauto has them for $25, Advance Auto Parts has them for about 2x that price (dunno as to quality difference), and the dealer sells them for about $80 I think. The OEM replacement is made in Japan, the others... probably China.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

You can spray wd40 on the tensioner to quiet it for a few months

benztolex

Send us a sound clip bro.

Heng350

I had a similar situation but i would describe the sound to be more of a creaking sound. I took it to a tire shop and they told me 1 bolt on my after marker exhaust got loose and over time the vibrations from the exhaust strip the threads on the bolt so it just vibrates metal on metal. He found a new bolt and put it on. never heard the sound again.

i took the car in for wheel balance and asked the tech what he thought the sound was.

Simmsled

I'm telling you... its the idler pulley. The bearing starts to have play in it... the pulley then rides at an angle and causes the belt to chirp as it catches/slips/catches/slips and causes noise.

I would bet a case of beer on this. ESPECIALLY since its a GS300, the same as my car. I swapped the idler pulley and no more noise. Instantly.

This is SOO easy to change, a caveman could do it.

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

agreed on the idler pulley

MX5

I bet a caveman is more mechanically inclined than me, LOL

Is it just one bolt on/off? Because that I could handle.....unless it calls for a certain torque....

Simmsled

I torqued mine to 38 lbs I believe. They are not stretch bolts, so as long as you would get it on tight with a socket wrench, you'll be just fine.

This is the process....

1 Remove the black engine bay splash covers.

2 Remove 2 (10mm I believe) bolts that hold the coolant overflow tank to the car, and set the tank aside. You may have to just pop the hose off and plug off the hose so it doesn't leak all over the place.

3 Take a pic to remember the way the belt sits on the pulleys

4 Loosen the bolt on the idler pulley with socket wrench, but do not remove yet.

5 Put your socket wrench on the tensioner pulley bolt and push to release tension on the assembly.

6 Remove belt, then release tensioner pulley slowly.

7 Remove the bolt for the idler pulley.

8 Replace the old idler pulley with new, torque it down tight.

9 The rest is the reverse of the disassemble instructions.

10... enjoy squeak free luxury.

MX5

Man you do make it sound easy - I think I will tackle it, thanks

Off to eBay I think I saw em for like 30 bucks.

Simmsled

Atta boy!!!!!!!!!