I have a 1973 L-82 4-speed. I had some work done on it recently, which included replacement of the power steering pump, the belt which drives it, and the belt which drives the water pump and alternator. After getting the car back from the shop, I drove it around town, or the weekends as I usually do; not much driving. No problems.

Then I took the car to San Diego, about 125 miles from where I live. About halfway into the drive (all freeway, at speeds of 70-80), when I would drive slightly over 80 MPH, a squeal would come from the front of the car, sounding like a slipping belt, but only at speeds higher than 80. Same on the way back. So I tightened the water pump-alternator belt since it seemed to have slightly excessive play. (I'm assuming 1/2 inch of play is appropriate.) Went on another long trip yesterday, same thing: the squeal, only at speeds over 80 MPH. I checked the belts this evening after getting home, they seem appropriately tight. The belts do not seem excessively worn, the "teeth" are intact.

What does this sound like to you? I suspect the power steering pump belt even though it's already tight -- maybe it needs a little more tightening. I also wonder whether it might be the clutch-style radiator fan that was installed at the same time as the power steering pump, since the squeal doesn't start up until the car's been driven over about 40 miles or it's already warm from a prior recent drive and the fan is a new thing. Does the fan require lubrication ever?

Ideas? Thanks in advance to the forum.

 

do you have a fan clutch ???

 

yes, have a fan clutch

 

i'd check it, also clean the belt and pulleys just for good measure

 

how do I check the fan clutch? what am I looking for? thanks . . .

 

Get your engine up to normal operating temperature. At idle, shut down the engine and observe fan. Fan should stop rotating 3-5 full turns after engine stops--if it spins for a long time, you have a fan clutch problem. I assume your engine is not running hot at slow speeds or around town?

 

how would I resolve that problem? Lube? Replacement?

Thanks for the input.

 

and, no overheating problems at any speed or distance

 

Just a thought...check the power steering fluid.

 

While in park or neutral bring the car up to the same rpm's as you have when going 80 or whatever speed the noise happened while driving. I f the noise is there look and see if you see any of the belts "vibrating". Also feel the fan and try to rock it back and forth (perpendicualr to engine) and see if there is any movement either at the fan clutch or water pump. Oh yeah do the fan thing with the engine off.

ltlevil

 

Good catch guys on the fan clutch...especially if it turns out to be a "wobble"....in my case it(clutch) failed at 75... belt squeal..then belts started shredding..real mess...
Think it was a gradual failure as I was getting intermittant squeal at 70 + over two weeks...

 

Not sure if this helps, but when I removed my a/c system and a/c belt my car squealed at anything over 2800 rpm. Tightened everything up so bout .5" play in belts for ps and alt, and still squealled. Finally decieded that there was not enough belt contact on waterpump pulley and put a short belt from crank to waterpump where the a/c belt used to run and it fixed the problem. Again, not sure if this is your problem, but thought I would throw it out there....

David

 

Hello,
I had a persistent squeal after replacing the belts on my car. The A/C did not work so I left that belt off. Thats when it started. After putting the belt back on the noise stopped. It was as if the load on the water pump pulley from the power steering and alt. belt was causing it to be pulled off center. It was as if by adding the A/C belt on that it allowed the water pump to be aligned correctly.

Strange....but true.

kdf

 

there is some play in the fan assembly, perhaps 1/8". also, my a/c compressor went inoperative when the new power steering pump was installed (that's when the squeal started), and so that belt's not hooked up. based on some of the responses, i'm going to try to address the play in the fan assembly (any ideas on how to do that?) and if that doesn't work I'll get a new a/c compressor, and install it and the belt, and see how that goes. AARGH!

 

You first need to determine if it's the fan clutch that is moving or if it is the water pump bushing that has play in it. Should have said this before, but you really need to loosen all the belts on the fan pulley before inspecting it for a "wobble". To replace the fan clutch is pretty straight forward, the fan blots to the clutch assembly with 4 bolts from the back side if looking at the front of the car.

ltlevil

 

Well, boys . . . took the beast in to the shop. The cluprit was the water pump, the pulley bearings were failing and therefore slightly wobbly. the wobble wasn't too much but enough so that at speed, it would make the belt "sing." All it takes is a little money!

 

Thanks for feedback....good to hear you have it solved.....

 

Just an FYI, I had this exact problem and I'm sure it's due to contacted surface area. There may be some other contributing factors but that's a big one.