You still got all your fingers??
Belt squeak cure.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 593
Likes: 9
From: San Antonio Texas
Belt dressing is usually a product that is formulated to degrease the belt and to make it grip on the pulley better.
A squeak is rapid vibration that we hear. Usually this is slippage of a worn belt against the surface of the pulley.
If you put silicone on the belt it is just masking a more serious issue. Same applies to WD 40 as it lubricates the two offending surfaces.
Ajax is granulated talc, pummice, ash, and who knows what. It could be acting in two ways in my humble opion. One, it may just clean the surface of the pulley and belt enough to make the two not slip or two it could be acting as a dry lubricant. Either way it is an abrasive and that gives me cause for concern.
Identify the cause and the solution will be easy! It is either the belt slipping or it is a bearing failure of one or both of the tensioners. Good Luck.
A squeak is rapid vibration that we hear. Usually this is slippage of a worn belt against the surface of the pulley.
If you put silicone on the belt it is just masking a more serious issue. Same applies to WD 40 as it lubricates the two offending surfaces.
Ajax is granulated talc, pummice, ash, and who knows what. It could be acting in two ways in my humble opion. One, it may just clean the surface of the pulley and belt enough to make the two not slip or two it could be acting as a dry lubricant. Either way it is an abrasive and that gives me cause for concern.
Identify the cause and the solution will be easy! It is either the belt slipping or it is a bearing failure of one or both of the tensioners. Good Luck.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Dont waste time on just band aids like WD-40. Its either:
1. Main belt Tensioner
2. AC belt tensioner
3. AC idler pulley
From my experience, it was first the main tensioner, (2005) then a few years later noise came back and it was the AC tensioner. (2008) These parts have been updated by GM over the years such as better dust protection on the pulley.
been quiet ever since
1. Main belt Tensioner
2. AC belt tensioner
3. AC idler pulley
From my experience, it was first the main tensioner, (2005) then a few years later noise came back and it was the AC tensioner. (2008) These parts have been updated by GM over the years such as better dust protection on the pulley.
been quiet ever since
Last edited by Ikester; Feb 20, 2012 at 06:31 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 357
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
Ordered a tensioner today Just in Case!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
Well I replaced both belts, both tensioner pulleys, both idler pulleys, and she's still squeaking. Hmm. Removed both belts. Still squeaks. Oh oh. Balancer has absolutely no wobble. The squeak is worse on deceleration. Goes away when it heats up mostly. Any ideas? For those interested, rock auto sells metal replacement pulleys for the ac. They only list one part number but the idler and tensioner use the same pulley.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 6
From: Prince George VA
I replaced the harmonic balancer, and both idler pulleys on mine. Squeeled liek crazy. Put on new belts. Went away but comes back time to time. May be time for me to get new tensioners. Plus I only notice this when the car is cold. When it is heated up it goes away. Any one else having that issue only when cold?
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: East Aurora New York
after reading this thread and all the others Itried some belt dressing, this made it worse! I changed the belts , the upper pully ,still squeaked!, Thought it was crazy but a little comet on the serpintine belt worked! thanks for nthe suggestions
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: stratford ontario
spraying belt dressing does not fix the problem and may give you more problems as it will attract dirt and debris to that area as you drive. Find the root problem and deal with it. Been there, done that; it doesn't last and parts replacement is the only real fix
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 960
Likes: 1
From: Trussville AL
My squeak is killing me like that stupid pig in the Geico commercials. Two new belts, two new idler pulleys, two new tensioner pulleys but the same tensioners. Not a waste because all the pulleys sounded rough but still a squeak starting around 2000 RPM. It's the AC portion causing it. So I'm down to the drive pulley, AC bearing or the spring loaded part of the tensioner. The squeak is worse with the AC on but doesn't completely go away when off. Even with a scope I can't zero in on it. Watching the ribs on the drive pulley I do see a slight wiggle. So do you guys think I need to replace it?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: charlotte north carolin
Are you people trying the Gatorback belt?
Lots saying, "replaced belt"
But not saying what belt replaced with...what brand
I was in your shoes 2 months ago
I spent 10 straight days, an hour or two per day
I changed all of the pulleys (new bearings in them)
From idler to tensioner
Bars of soap, WD-40, belt dressing, roughing up pulleys - etc etc...read every thread on here
Took off the alternator and almost replaced that......
I even bought a new Advanced Auto belt and tried that (reduced squeek, but did not go away)
A $30 gatorback and I haven't heard a squeek. Doesn't matter if the engine is cold or if it's raining outside
I had ordered this on day one and was waiting on it to be delivered.
Do the gatorback and save yourself a lot of time and energy
Replacing the bearings in the pulleys is probably a good idea anyway. But nothing worked for me....until I went to the new Gatorback belt
Lots saying, "replaced belt"
But not saying what belt replaced with...what brand
I was in your shoes 2 months ago
I spent 10 straight days, an hour or two per day
I changed all of the pulleys (new bearings in them)
From idler to tensioner
Bars of soap, WD-40, belt dressing, roughing up pulleys - etc etc...read every thread on here
Took off the alternator and almost replaced that......
I even bought a new Advanced Auto belt and tried that (reduced squeek, but did not go away)
A $30 gatorback and I haven't heard a squeek. Doesn't matter if the engine is cold or if it's raining outside
I had ordered this on day one and was waiting on it to be delivered.
Do the gatorback and save yourself a lot of time and energy
Replacing the bearings in the pulleys is probably a good idea anyway. But nothing worked for me....until I went to the new Gatorback belt