Service and repair.

On the day we started our recent Lake District tour,  the van didn't sound right. We had used it 2 weeks before and it was fine. This time it sounded chuggy and a bit like a helicopter overhead.  We went off in it anyway and it drove fine. Whenever we started it up it sounded wrong but drove OK for the 12 days we were away. A good service needed? So I  rang my mechanic whilst  away and booked a service and explained  the problem. We covered 600 miles. Yesterday it went for its service (only 3000 miles and 20 months since last service but as most people, it stood still for most of last year). New oil and oil filter,  fuel filter and pollen filter (air filter was still clean so  not changed, mechanics suggestion), cost £158.inc vat and labour
The strange noise came from the bottom pulley, apparently  common on these 2.2 'Transit' engines. New pulley and two new drive belts £317 Inc vat and labour.
My van has done 52k miles so be aware of strange noise if you are approaching this mileage. My mechanic is old school, not a computer-led technician. 
If left, this pulley can wear through crankcase causing oil loss and serious damage. 
All quiet now.

Good job done

-------
Richard

Thanks for that Paul,glad your sorted 
Boaby

Interestingly, Paul, I once broke one of the vanes on the large radiator fan on my BMW.    I thought it wouldn't matter as it has many vanes, but it was enough to put it out of balance and produced a light "thrubbing" noise.     
Be good to know what was wrong with the bottom pulley, though.  Would it suddenly be out of balance?  

BobK wrote:Interestingly, Paul, I once broke one of the vanes on the large radiator fan on my BMW.    I thought it wouldn't matter as it has many vanes, but it was enough to put it out of balance and produced a light "thrubbing" noise.     
Be good to know what was wrong with the bottom pulley, though.  Would it suddenly be out of balance?  

The bottom pulley is dual-mass, the rubber perishes causing the imbalance. My mechanic says many garages don't replace the two belts as its a pig of a job but the pulley can wear the belt edges when it's out of balance. If a belt snaps it's not a job to do at the roadside so would involve towing to a garage. It had probably been happening for a while, wife was always complaining of a whistling/screeching sound that I was unaware of for a couple of months, (I suffer from not hearing certain pitch noises) but when it worsened to the chugging sound I became aware.
This is what it looks like...
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Plenty on eBay that are cheap copies £35/40, genuine or OE quality ones cost £120+

Of course....hadn't thought about dual mass.    Good job you got it in time.   cheers