Hello to all, and thank you. If it were not for the knowledge and skills shared by everyone through forums like this, I would not have been able to maintain and service the range of LandRovers I’ve been lucky to own during my lifetime (a Disco 1, a 300tdi 110 csw defender, a Freelander 1 and now a Freelander 2).
Please be kind, as this is my first post (and polite request for help).
I have a 2014 Td4 F2, with manual gearbox and 76k . It’s regularly serviced, in great shape and until very recently very reliable.
The problem I’m trying to diagnose is a metallic sounding, low, screech type noise, which seems to centre around the lower pulley/belt end of the engine. The noise only appears around 1.5k revs and disappears around 1.8k/2.0k revs. It appears if the vehicle is moving, stationary, accelerating, idling/free wheeling, braking. It appears in any gear. It appears if the aircon is off or on. Performance and fuel are not affected.
With the aux belt off it seemed to disappear.
I’ve tested and replaced the aux belt, aux idler and tensioner and alternator pulley. The aircon pulley runs freely, and there is no discernible play in the power steering pulley.
The timing belt/idler/tensioner/water pump were replaced early 2024.
I’ve read through dozens of forum threads and am aware of the many components that could potentially be involved, yet would be massively grateful for anything that may help decide my next steps.
Thank you.

Last edited by AndyM7DD on 1st Jun 2025 9:41 pm. Edited 1 time in total

You're running between 15000 - 20000 revs? 😲 Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Thanks. Decimal points duly added.

Alternator overrunning pulley? Aircon compressor pulley bearing?
If you’ve checked and replaced the others could be these as there’s only a finite amount of them,
But it must be one of the pulleys that the aux belt connects to so check them all methodically for play , roughness

Google overrunning alternator pulley, lots of posts about it.
Basically it has a simple clutch in it to avoid ‘snatch’ in the belt when decelerating

I changed mine , alternator off and bought a cheap splined tool of eBay to do the job. Used an INA pulley(same make as the OEM one I took off)

Hi Andy & welcome to the forum.

Interesting to hear that the noise appears to go away with the auxilliary belt removed.. Youve changed the idler, tensioner and the Alternator overun pulley - so there's only the Power steernig pulley & the ac compressor left! OK, there is the main crank pulley too...

The ac pulley will always spin, but wont necessarily drive the compressor, if the clutch is not engaged. The fact that the ac makes no difference if on or off suggests that "loading" the ac system does not affect the noise. So assume the ac works [nice cold air] & that pulley is not the culprit.

That leaves the Power steering pump. Does the offending noise pitch change if you rev the engine, then give her full lock side to side while stationary? [I'm sure someone will be along to say thats a bad idea that will damage the steering rack / suspension bushes etc. - but at least it might help identify the source of the noise...]

I think I'd be tempted to change the power steering pump before tackling the ac compressor pulley. If changing the pump consider a new revervoir at the same time as they're cheap as chips & the internal filters are known to clogg up with gunk and debris...

good luck!

Thanks for your thoughts/deductions & suggestions. As far as the aircon is concerned, it works well and does not seem to affect the issue either way. The pulley turns freely and with no discernible play. Unless there is wear on the bearings within, I’m inclined to discount it as the culprit for now.
What puzzles me is that the squeal isn’t constant; it appears around 1500 revs and is gone by 2000 revs.
To me, this seems like a resonant frequency thing, and maybe whichever component is beginning to fail simply hasn’t worn enough to clearly identify itself.
I’ll revisit the steering pump this evening to see if I’ve missed anything ( I did read a thread that included the pump & reservoir as possibles) and I’ll add an update.
Thanks.

Thanks for your thoughts/deductions & suggestions. As far as the aircon is concerned, it works well and does not seem to affect the issue either way. The pulley turns freely and with no discernible play. Unless there is wear on the bearings within, I’m inclined to discount it as the culprit for now.
What puzzles me is that the squeal isn’t constant; it appears around 1500 revs and is gone by 2000 revs.
To me, this seems like a resonant frequency thing, and maybe whichever component is beginning to fail simply hasn’t worn enough to clearly identify itself.
I’ll revisit the steering pump this evening to see if I’ve missed anything ( I did read a thread that included the pump & reservoir as possibles) and I’ll add an update.
Thanks.

Here’s a brief update:
I’ve rechecked the aircon & steering pumps this evening and neither seem to have leaks, roughness nor noticeable free play.
The aircon clutch/pulley moves freely.
Running the engine with the aircon on does drop the revs a bit, but I would expect that regardless.
Turning the steering from lock to lock does not affect the noise/issue in any way.
Then I ran the engine with the aux belt removed, and found the issue still present. This was definitely not the case approx a week ago - when I replaced the aux idler/tensioner/ alternator pulley - otherwise I would not have wasted my time swapping them.
My thoughts at this point are that the issue has “developed” - which isn’t great.

My best guess now is that it’s possibly timing idler/tensioner, however I’d really appreciate any comments/thoughts before ringing my local independent.
Thanks again.

Put it up on ramps and run it, take the undertray off and check from underneath

Thanks. Forgive my ignorance, but what should I be looking for/ listening for please?
(I’ve already had it on stands btw).

? Thanks

You appear to have changed/checked anything that logically it could be in the pulley area of the engine.

Is it possible that you could make and post a sound (& video?) recording of the noise so that we have more of a clue.

The limited frequency resonance of the noise is a clue, but I can't think what, external to the engine, you haven't covered.

As said above the Alternator Clutch, Air-Con (including Gas Pressure), or the Steering Filter/Pump are the usual culprits.

I doesn't appear to be the engine mounts, but that is the only thing that that is outstanding that could react to engine speed. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 82k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

This comment may not be so welcome, but as you have changed almost everything that could be logically the cause of the noise, do you think that you may have introduced a faulty part? FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 82k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Hi, and thanks for the comments / responses. Also, apologies for not replying sooner ( I’m currently working shifts with no cellular/internet access).

It’s possible that I could have affected/worsened the issue by swapping parts, but my gut feel suggests otherwise.

To my ears the noise sounds similar to the belt squeal of a failing water pump, except it’s more metallic sounding and more muffled. I’ll try to get a recording and add it to the post.
I’ve been underneath and have not been able to detect any kind of coolant or steering fluid leaks, nor anything that might help narrow the culprit down.
I’m going to ask a local independent to check the timing side of things, just in case, and I’ll post an update .
Thanks again

Hello and thanks to everyone for your comments, help and advice.

A visit to the garage confirmed that the water pump was indeed failing, and since the timing belt & pump were changed less than 12 months ago, it was replaced FOC (under warranty).

I’m grateful for everyone’s help.

Good result - glad the garage didnt make it difficult for you. Jules