Chirp Chirp
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Stafford Va
Chirp Chirp
Yep, many threads on this one but thought I'd share here because it seems the audience is larger...
- Process of elimination....Harmonic Balancer is okay, no wobbling. Changed out top Serpintine belt and idler pulley....Nope still there
Next: change A/C idler pulley and belt...I'll let ya know if that fixes it.
- Process of elimination....Harmonic Balancer is okay, no wobbling. Changed out top Serpintine belt and idler pulley....Nope still there
Next: change A/C idler pulley and belt...I'll let ya know if that fixes it.
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
I replaced everything and still chirps. Only thing left is replacing the non wobbling balancer.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
did you clean the pulleys before the new belt:? water pump, alternator or power steering also can squeal. the balancer is the least likely to be doing so. spin all of them by hand and make sure they feel really smooth
also, which belt did you buy? was it a poly dayco or gatorback? i hope so as gates belts with their higher rubber content are more prone to squeaking in our application
i have seen more than one alternator chirp when the bearings get dry
also, which belt did you buy? was it a poly dayco or gatorback? i hope so as gates belts with their higher rubber content are more prone to squeaking in our application
i have seen more than one alternator chirp when the bearings get dry
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Arvada Colorado
I had a chirping problem a while ago and best advice I received was:
Remove the serp belt and start engine:
If it still squeaks remove A/C belt:
If it still squeaks --> harmonic balancer or some other major issue
If not, put serp belt on:
If it squeaks now --> problem is a pulley or tensioner in serp belt route
If no squeak --> problem is a pulley or tensioner in A/C belt route
Silicone lubricant will temporarily make it go away if sprayed in the right spot. Let us know what you find out. BTW mine ended up being the AC tensioner and idler pulley. I had coolant dripping on it which I believe contributed to the problem.
Remove the serp belt and start engine:
If it still squeaks remove A/C belt:
If it still squeaks --> harmonic balancer or some other major issue
If not, put serp belt on:
If it squeaks now --> problem is a pulley or tensioner in serp belt route
If no squeak --> problem is a pulley or tensioner in A/C belt route
Silicone lubricant will temporarily make it go away if sprayed in the right spot. Let us know what you find out. BTW mine ended up being the AC tensioner and idler pulley. I had coolant dripping on it which I believe contributed to the problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Yep, many threads on this one but thought I'd share here because it seems the audience is larger...
- Process of elimination....Harmonic Balancer is okay, no wobbling. Changed out top Serpintine belt and idler pulley....Nope still there Next: change A/C idler pulley and belt...I'll let ya know if that fixes it.
- Process of elimination....Harmonic Balancer is okay, no wobbling. Changed out top Serpintine belt and idler pulley....Nope still there
Next: change A/C idler pulley and belt...I'll let ya know if that fixes it.the first thing you should have done is do a search on how to diag this problem/
I've posted it several time.
The chirp usually comes from one belts system of the two found on a C5.
The drive belt system
the Ac belt system
First thing to do is when there is a chirp present, remove the drive belt.
restart the car to see if the chirp is still present.
if the chirp is still there remove the AC belt. The chirp should be gone. If this is the case, and you have identified the correct belt system. then replace the idler and the tensioner. The only other thing it could be is the Ac compressor bearing.
If when you remove the drive belt the chip is gone, then replace the idler and the tensioner pulleys. Although you could possibly have an issue with the alternator bearing, power steering pump, water pump or crank pulley. With no visible wobble the problem is usually found in the worn tensioner where the spring housing wears enough to cause the edge of the belt to hit the edge of the ribbed pulleys,. I've seen enough tensioners to wear even though the tensioner still has spring tension.
Bill aka ET
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 185
From: Erie PA
my harmonic balancer didn't really wobble, but it was coming apart and moving towards the engine causing the belts to squeal. I narrowed it down by removing all belts and starting the engine....still made noise.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
You didn't mention changing either tensioner pulley.
the first thing you should have done is do a search on how to diag this problem/
I've posted it several time.
The chirp usually comes from one belts system of the two found on a C5.
The drive belt system
the Ac belt system
First thing to do is when there is a chirp present, remove the drive belt.
restart the car to see if the chirp is still present.
if the chirp is still there remove the AC belt. The chirp should be gone. If this is the case, and you have identified the correct belt system. then replace the idler and the tensioner. The only other thing it could be is the Ac compressor bearing.
If when you remove the drive belt the chip is gone, then replace the idler and the tensioner pulleys. Although you could possibly have an issue with the alternator bearing, power steering pump, water pump or crank pulley. With no visible wobble the problem is usually found in the worn tensioner where the spring housing wears enough to cause the edge of the belt to hit the edge of the ribbed pulleys,. I've seen enough tensioners to wear even though the tensioner still has spring tension.
Bill aka ET
the first thing you should have done is do a search on how to diag this problem/
I've posted it several time.
The chirp usually comes from one belts system of the two found on a C5.
The drive belt system
the Ac belt system
First thing to do is when there is a chirp present, remove the drive belt.
restart the car to see if the chirp is still present.
if the chirp is still there remove the AC belt. The chirp should be gone. If this is the case, and you have identified the correct belt system. then replace the idler and the tensioner. The only other thing it could be is the Ac compressor bearing.
If when you remove the drive belt the chip is gone, then replace the idler and the tensioner pulleys. Although you could possibly have an issue with the alternator bearing, power steering pump, water pump or crank pulley. With no visible wobble the problem is usually found in the worn tensioner where the spring housing wears enough to cause the edge of the belt to hit the edge of the ribbed pulleys,. I've seen enough tensioners to wear even though the tensioner still has spring tension.
Bill aka ET
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
of course a bearing can go, but people rarely look at the spring loaded end of a tensioner.
Bill aka ET
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
That's where I'm at. All belts removed it chirps and absolutely no wobble of the balancer. Since its no easy job I put it off until winter. The chirp goes away once it warms up.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
chirp under load
The "chirp" thread is timely. I am the new owner of a C5 and have had it a week. Purchased it from a reputable dealer that had replaced a worn drive belt. The belt is new and at the dealer during the test drive I did not notice the chirp. However, now that I've had it all of a week, I've noticed a definite chirp. The chirp is not constant, but is noticeable under load. Not too loud, but definitely there. The good news is that I've got 30 days to get it sorted out. The C5 is a 2004 automatic and is a high mileage car at over 90K. Looks to be well maintained-except for the chirp under load/acceleration. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Stafford Va
Ok..promised I'd check back in when problem was FIXED. 
As mentioned earlier it's always a process of elimination....first replaced the top idler tensioner, pulley, and serpentine belt (Delco) but chirp was still there when I accelerated between 30-45 mph in high gear. Next, replaced AC idler tensioner, pully and belt (Delco) and all appears to be good. Didn't have to replace the Harmonic Balancer for now.......
As mentioned earlier it's always a process of elimination....first replaced the top idler tensioner, pulley, and serpentine belt (Delco) but chirp was still there when I accelerated between 30-45 mph in high gear. Next, replaced AC idler tensioner, pully and belt (Delco) and all appears to be good. Didn't have to replace the Harmonic Balancer for now.......
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
The "chirp" thread is timely. I am the new owner of a C5 and have had it a week. Purchased it from a reputable dealer that had replaced a worn drive belt. The belt is new and at the dealer during the test drive I did not notice the chirp. However, now that I've had it all of a week, I've noticed a definite chirp. The chirp is not constant, but is noticeable under load. Not too loud, but definitely there. The good news is that I've got 30 days to get it sorted out. The C5 is a 2004 automatic and is a high mileage car at over 90K. Looks to be well maintained-except for the chirp under load/acceleration. Thoughts?
nearest i can tell gates and ac delco tensioners are identical if you want to order it all off rock auto