Please post engine and interior pictures. Try making it bigger

OK. I checked on his profile; his own website is: http://www.motortradernigeria.com its an autosales website. Very cool and organised website though.

Siena:

Your lack of intelligence is almost frightening - what has your post got to do with this thread? Please, start your own thread, and quit being so ignorant!

@Siena
I think the guy is trying to refer people to a site where they can match names with faces - just in case there is an alledged fraud/fraudster. I dont think he owns or is advertising that website.

@OP

IF the sound continues, you simply risk a major damage IF you dont go to the next step and have those pullies removed and checked. Typically, the engine fan plus the belt can pull off in motion and cause damages to the following;

1. Radiator
2. Alternator
3. The engine itself

Kafin:

OP is most likely not having issues with misalignment else he will be talking about belt flying off. That just came up while talking about crankshaft pulley. Like you said earlier, we all have our opinions. I just don’t like changing parts unless I have to.

You mentioned some issues that entrepreneurs who ventured into standard autoservice centers are experiencing in Nigeria. I will love to discuss this further, please email me at kafinkata@yahoo.com

***Saw your new post, and added the following.***

I am still reading over what you said about autocenter operations. Only three lines, but got so much information!!

Selling the tech manuals for 10K ($66) is definitely a good idea. I am sure that you will buy, but YOU are not the typical Nigerian driver. Business comes from volumes. I think we really need to talk. I opened a thread for auto service partner some days ago, but no response yet. Even if you are not available/interested, you can be a business advisor.

Personally, I do not beleive in business coming from volume, I beleive it comes from Relevance of the service you provide AND possibility of other services that can be added through it (service expansion); One good provisioning on your service CV and you can talk to others. Like I said, its my view - my very practical view.

@Kafin
About the "Standard" Autocenters - when you train people for instance, they become more expensive to retain and you will need more customers to be able to pay them OR increase your repair/diagnostic costs - which will make your business tank eventually. If you are able to have a retainer for instance; A driver will collect the standard service cost from the company he drives for and one of your boys will privately do the servicing for him and "arrange" your receipt for him - there are checks to avoid this BUT they cost extra staff/professionals which means extra overhead and extra cost.

You might do better by importing[b] Auto Repair and Service manuals for common high-end vehicles [/b]- Imagine IF you are driving on that Falomo bridge hold-up and someone waves the repair/service manual of your car for 10k (I'll buy it personally - because its the difference between spending 5k on steps to troubleshoot/solve the problem AND paying 40k for "scan and trial/errors)

You can also run the advert for a few in the tech section of one of those papers and get orders too.

@Kafin
That misalignment happens a lot in vehicles and one should not think any of those bearings are "strong", they are just parts and can wear at any point in time - depending on the engine's running condition which can be caused by a separate engine part entirely.

Like I said, the guy should start by changing the belt and see how it works BUT if the squeaking continues, he should have those bearings checked - they feel sturdy and strong while still attached to the engine BUT on removal, you can see the gap.

@Viperman, Siena
Remember that working in an auto center is one thing, owning one is another BUT the most important is to be competitive in terms of costs. You will have to deal with the "road side" who get it done for way less and wont hand you a N100,000 job card to change the alternator in a Range Rover

But generally for users, I feel IF one buys a model, one should invest money and time on materials and tips on that vehicle. Its basically a DIY world now - Nigeria is catching on gradually. I wish someone will start selling repair manuals and complete tool sets; so your mechanic only does what you want him to do with your supervision - It works wonders.

The car owners have better chances on this than the mechanics. Im thinking how many mechanics have access to the repair manuals (even us owners, how many?), also how many of them even have that time to improve on their knowledge.

There are autocenters will very good equipment on ground and they try to get folks from Coscharis, Briscoe, etc to train their employees BUT after a while it all still comes down to them outrsourcing repairs to the "road side" guys. Cost of repairs is very important to the customers - even overseas, its an issue.

So, its better to buy intelligent vehicles AND to join online clubs or forum for owners of such vehicles, that way we can learn from our experiences and those of other owners.

If that fan belt change doesnt stop the squeaking, he should have the mechanic check those pullies there.

What you still are not getting is the fact that the mechanics refer to that pulley as the cam shaft pulley (but car-literate owners know that the camshaft pulley holds the timing belt - which has nothing to do with the sqeaking).

For further description; its the main pulley directly attached to the engine. Siena, its easier described and explained this way.

These are to be checked IF the belt change doesnt stop the squeaking.

There are lots of paper based theory that will only lead people running round circles here in Nigeria - for instance - go to Ladipo and ask for a 99 Camry ECU (I'm sure you will spend a week there without getting anything, BUT mention brainbox and you have your ticket right there!)

@Viperman

Thats the first step; the pulley is just in case that doesnt stop the noise. I sent you an email about your 04 Registered Infiniti - still expecting to hear from you.

By the way;

The "serpentine" belt is what we refer to as the fan belt here in Nigeria. And we know that once you have a timing cut on most vehicles, your engine stops and not squeak.

@Siena
You've given your suggestion, just like I have given mine - They both are meant to help him out - So you need to understand its not about you, or me BUT about a solution he needs.

Im telling him this from my experience - I bought so many belts (in search of the "original" only to find the rubber pad that is meant to be in the cam pulley on the engine floor cover in bits - this made the belt shift backwards; it was never the belt BUT the cam pulley. There are a bunch of pullies in there, Ive noticed that a tokumbo 2003 Vehicle can come with a worn cam pulley - we are talking about a Camry 99 here.

IF a belt replacement doesnt work, Let him tell the mechanics check those pullies - Its easier that way (Im not sure how he wil explain anything more complicated to mechanics here)

@Poster
It might be time to start thinking of a new cam pulley - Its always the last they would actually check/test BUT those bearings are not to be trusted.

YOu can start by changing the belt; but be cautious, by the time you change the belt and it still squeaks, they tell you its not the original belt and you end up buying like 5 of them before they eventually tell you its the Cam pulley.

@Kay Jasper
What site did you get the plaque from?, kindly post up here.

@Nuclearboy
He has adjusted the first post - The price is there now.

@Fhemmmy
There was actually an auction in Saudi (I think) It was reported someone paid over 1B for Plate number 7 - It will be a smart move to buy those single digit plates

That your ride is hot BUT wont take that plate - where did you put Inspired's 2010 E Class or Dantitiki's 07 Escalade?

Please tell us the price - we wont run away

Its a hot ride! I can imagine a quick and fast number for it 7

I saw 3 in VI and Im sure 1, 2 will be taken - you know those things are sort of investments - single digit plates (I know someone who can pay 10M for Plate number 1 )

Fhemmmy, Please put a tag on this - while I make arrangements for a plate number

You are not likely to get it here locally - Best bet is to search online or on ebay (.com or .co.uk) for exterior accessories for your vehicle type/model and then you can order through folks handling such services on nairaland.

Im interested, kindly confirm the following;

1. Is the third row seat power controlled?, ie sitting it up and flattening it for cargo space OR is it manual
2. Is the hatch power controlled or manual
3. Does it have Navigation option? any roof mounted DVD?

Thanks

Nice package!

You are missing an engine cover though, whats the condition of the engine?

@Coldent
The D4 is an overdrive gear and from the symptoms you have described, you have a burnt clutch.

IF you can find a good Auto mechanic to replace/rebuild it, that will be nice IF NOT, you should just change it because you are likely to keep spending on that same fault.

@Oladcity
I did'nt know they had tokumbo of those things. Its common at any car parts place and from where you live; you can drive into the Mechanic village at second gate Agidingbi (right behind Omole Phase I). I bought an SUV tokumbo that was giving a very disturbing knocking sound and we worked on everything from silencer to springs until we changed those and the sound stopped.

When they removed the old one, it looked okay but made a clicking sound at the rubber side; they told me that under weight (when installed) that clicking sound is what turns to the knocking sound I hear.

If you can make it to that place; call Ope - 080 7664 4097. Let him test-drive the vehicle AND as part of what he will do; ask him to get brand new ones of those - with the washers. Make sure you stay with him so you can learn exactly what is going on.

Here's what it looks like (one for each side).

@Oladcity
In the meantime, you can take your vehicle to a mechanic; ask them to remove the pair of stabilizer rods (in front) then go and buy the brand new ones of the same type. It costs about 1,200 for the brand new in a pack with the washers.

Try that out.

It will be very handy, especially with kids and our hold-up prone traffic.

Im thinking the space between the two front seats will be the best (depending on the vehicle). For an SUV, it will be the best place as it will not disturb the gear knob. Need to watch the wiring too. Whatever its connected to might need its fuse replaced with a bigger one (except you are planning on using it with the Cig. lighter.)

Depends on where you can sit that at . . .comfortably

Its pretty cheap though.

Seriously, Pictures please!

@Oladcity
IF at any point in time, one of the mechanics has looked at your shocks and springs and told you they are okay, then the first thing you should do is to go and buy a new stabilizer set for the front - Its about N1,200 so its not a big deal. Buy the one for your Toyota Sienna and have it replaced - Let them make sure it keys in very well and the washer properly fixed IF to be used at all.

Its the No. 1 culprit in my opinion.

Do that and lets know how it goes.

@Oladcity
The problem with your vehicle sounds like what any experienced mechanic should be able to sort out for you.

Just to ask; where exactly does the sound come from? - the disc (wheel), or the shocks/assembly? try and explain better - we might be able to help out here. Basically, IF its the disc, you will be hearing the grinding sound, and if its the shocks (or stabilizer rods) you'll be getting some knocking sounds from down there when on rough roads.