Belt squeaks intermittenly
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
Is it only happening when the belts get wet? That's what mine were doing, most of the time the belts were silent, but when it was raining outside they would squeal for a little while until they dried out. Replaced them and they are now fine.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
Worst case scenerio it's the harmonic balancer. Unfortunately, some of the harmonic balancers on LS-1 engines tend to separate over time. That's what was wrong with mine. The belt slips a little as the pulley wobbles and when it's wet it causes a squeak.
Take a look at your harmonic balancer while the engine is running. If it's wobbling (and it shouldn't be!), then you're looking at an expensive, involved repair, maybe $1,000 or so.
If that's the case, then you'll probably want to get it replaced sooner than later. If your harmonic balancer comes apart, then it's going to do a lot of damaged. You can either go aftermarket with under drive pulleys or go for a GM replacement.
If you're lucky, then it's just the belts or a bad pulley. Either could be chirping in wet weather.
Take a look at your harmonic balancer while the engine is running. If it's wobbling (and it shouldn't be!), then you're looking at an expensive, involved repair, maybe $1,000 or so.
If that's the case, then you'll probably want to get it replaced sooner than later. If your harmonic balancer comes apart, then it's going to do a lot of damaged. You can either go aftermarket with under drive pulleys or go for a GM replacement.
If you're lucky, then it's just the belts or a bad pulley. Either could be chirping in wet weather.
Last edited by 71vetteinva; Mar 7, 2009 at 09:49 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I only get a squeek when I first start it up, but even that is only at certain times. After the car seems to have warmed up, it goes away. What the heck could that be? Worn belts ( they look OK) or, is it the same here, a possible bad Harmonic balancer?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Bethesda Maryland
I am having my balancer replaced next week. I am having that exact problem. My advice would be to find a mechanic who is willing to do the work on the side. I'm getting my balancer and oilo pressure sending unit replaced for 600...good luck
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'd say probably just new belts needed
E-T posted a great summary of how to isolate which belt is the problem. Here it is:
Belt Squeal Courtesy E-T
You have two belt systems on your car. One is the drive belt system, the other is the air conditioner belt system. The drive belt system consists of the serpentine belt, the power steering pump, alternator/gen, water pump, harmonic balancer, idler pulley, belt auto-tensioner pulley. The AC belt system consists of the compressor, harmonic balancer, idler pulley, belt auto-tensioner pulley.
First thing you need to do is isolate which system is squeaking. This can be done by releasing tension on the drive belt tensioner and removing the serpentine belt. This is the outboard belt of the two belt systems. If the squeak goes away, then it’s the belt or a component of the drive system.
If the squeak is still there, then it’s a component of the ac belt system.
To verify this, release the belt tension from the tensioner and remove the belt. If the squeak goes away, then it’s a component of the ac belt system.
A common problem is the belt tensioner on either system but verifying which system is at fault is the proper procedure.
You could replace both belts, but you may still have the squeak. If you want to find the culprit, isolate the system, then spray the belt of the offending system and see if the squeak goes away. Try to stay away from the idler and tensioner while spraying. I find that belt dressing may be good to identify a belt problem, but it is a temporary fix at best.
The real problem has been the tensioner and the idler. Both of these components have a sealed bearing which has been know to dry up or redirect the grease away from the bearing, thus causing the squeak.
If you find that a belt change does not correct the problem, then a change of both the idler and tensioner pulley is in order. If you just change the idler or the tensioner alone, it will cause the other component to go bad in a month or so. This has been the case with many members. There was a change made to the dusts seals to help correct this problem in newer C5's. Lots of tensioner and idler pulleys have been identified as a problem and it can affect either system. One is not more prevalent than the other. So find out which system is squeaking first, in the drive belt system. It could also be the bearing of the alternator, power steering pump, or water pump too, but these are less probable.
I hope this makes things a little clearer
E-T posted a great summary of how to isolate which belt is the problem. Here it is:
Belt Squeal Courtesy E-T
You have two belt systems on your car. One is the drive belt system, the other is the air conditioner belt system. The drive belt system consists of the serpentine belt, the power steering pump, alternator/gen, water pump, harmonic balancer, idler pulley, belt auto-tensioner pulley. The AC belt system consists of the compressor, harmonic balancer, idler pulley, belt auto-tensioner pulley.
First thing you need to do is isolate which system is squeaking. This can be done by releasing tension on the drive belt tensioner and removing the serpentine belt. This is the outboard belt of the two belt systems. If the squeak goes away, then it’s the belt or a component of the drive system.
If the squeak is still there, then it’s a component of the ac belt system.
To verify this, release the belt tension from the tensioner and remove the belt. If the squeak goes away, then it’s a component of the ac belt system.
A common problem is the belt tensioner on either system but verifying which system is at fault is the proper procedure.
You could replace both belts, but you may still have the squeak. If you want to find the culprit, isolate the system, then spray the belt of the offending system and see if the squeak goes away. Try to stay away from the idler and tensioner while spraying. I find that belt dressing may be good to identify a belt problem, but it is a temporary fix at best.
The real problem has been the tensioner and the idler. Both of these components have a sealed bearing which has been know to dry up or redirect the grease away from the bearing, thus causing the squeak.
If you find that a belt change does not correct the problem, then a change of both the idler and tensioner pulley is in order. If you just change the idler or the tensioner alone, it will cause the other component to go bad in a month or so. This has been the case with many members. There was a change made to the dusts seals to help correct this problem in newer C5's. Lots of tensioner and idler pulleys have been identified as a problem and it can affect either system. One is not more prevalent than the other. So find out which system is squeaking first, in the drive belt system. It could also be the bearing of the alternator, power steering pump, or water pump too, but these are less probable.
I hope this makes things a little clearer
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 8, 2009 at 12:44 PM.
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Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,137
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From: Orlando, Florida
Check this out:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...+Idler+Pulley)
I had the garage replace the idler pulley and belt. No more squeak!!
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...+Idler+Pulley)
I had the garage replace the idler pulley and belt. No more squeak!!
