Very Squeaky belts
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Very Squeaky belts
Would anyone know what I can do with belts that are very noisy until the car warms up? Usually 5 minutes and you don't hear them. But those first 5 minutes make the car sound like a jaloppy.
Thanks,
John
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 146
Likes: 13
From: San Jose CA
Replace them. Usually they squeal because they're glazed, and the squeal is the sound of them slipping on the pulley.
Modern belts only take ~5 minutes to replace. Put a wrench on the tensioner pulley, rotate it to free the belt, remove the old one. Thread the new one, rotate the tensioner pulley again, loop the belt over the tensioner and you're done. Don't forget to replace the A/C belt too. Basically the same procedure.
Modern belts only take ~5 minutes to replace. Put a wrench on the tensioner pulley, rotate it to free the belt, remove the old one. Thread the new one, rotate the tensioner pulley again, loop the belt over the tensioner and you're done. Don't forget to replace the A/C belt too. Basically the same procedure.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
From experience, there is one and only ONE answer to this problem -- New Goodyear gatorback belts on all accessories.
I got mine from Autozone. Belt dressing made my problem worse and I had to end up cleaning the goop off the pulleys
I got mine from Autozone. Belt dressing made my problem worse and I had to end up cleaning the goop off the pulleys
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Also, the GM service manual warns NOT to use belt dressing on serpentine belts since it can cause the belt to deteriorate.
You can mist water on the belt to confirm it is the source of the noise, but if it is, just replace the belt.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
From: N.E. Atlanta Ga.
I third that. I have seen Goodyear Gatorback belts stop a squeek for good many times. Don't get anything other than a Gatorback or you will be doing it again down the road.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 128
Likes: 2
From: Trenton New Jersey
It may not be your belts...
Check out this post...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1836905
Its difficult to determine where the squeak is coming from mine turned out to be one of the AC pulleys. Goodluck.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1836905
Its difficult to determine where the squeak is coming from mine turned out to be one of the AC pulleys. Goodluck.
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
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 619
Likes: 1
From: ATLANTA GA
here is a old school tip I picked up from a guy, and Ive been a mechanic for about 6 years.. I thought I heard it all when it came to belts and belt dressimg etc..
TRY THIS. I personally did this on both of my belts om my vette.. It was squeeking JUST as you said in the mornings..
Put black RTV on the groove of the belt... Just take your finger and put a nice bead on it, enough to stretch across the width of the belt in one spot and apply it on both belts. Let it run while its wet.. It will spread across the belt and It will quiet the noise.
I tried this and Im amazed. No more squeaks in the morning..
TRY THIS. I personally did this on both of my belts om my vette.. It was squeeking JUST as you said in the mornings..
Put black RTV on the groove of the belt... Just take your finger and put a nice bead on it, enough to stretch across the width of the belt in one spot and apply it on both belts. Let it run while its wet.. It will spread across the belt and It will quiet the noise.
I tried this and Im amazed. No more squeaks in the morning..
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Just this morning I replaced the accessory serpentine belt for noise issues that just started. Noise gone. It was coming off the belt on the power steering pump pulley. Belt looked good but apparently worn.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,993
Likes: 7
From: LaPine Oregon
belt dress rehearsal............
Never apply any belt dressing or petroleum based fluid. Be sure it is the belt and not the idler. Belts squeal because they are slipping or the pully surface are glazed. Appy , sparingly, either tooth paste ( not the whitening type, Floride is OK , LOL). Or apply bar hand soap to the belt while idling. This simply adds the grip and will not effect the belt other than making it smell like spring time .....I like it too!!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,463
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
Never apply any belt dressing or petroleum based fluid. Be sure it is the belt and not the idler. Belts squeal because they are slipping or the pully surface are glazed. Appy , sparingly, either tooth paste ( not the whitening type, Floride is OK , LOL). Or apply bar hand soap to the belt while idling. This simply adds the grip and will not effect the belt other than making it smell like spring time .....I like it too!!
I don't care what knuckleheads tell you, squeaking belts is a sign of wear. DO NOT spray lubricants or belt dressing on a serpentine belt . Replace belts and pulleys as required. Spraying lubricants and belt dressing on belts is strickly a old school/hillbilly fix.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Belts squeeking and ac makes a funny noise
So I have a belt that is squealing/squeeking too. It happens primarily when I take it out of gear. When I get moving it is fine with no problems at all. I had it checked out last time I had the oil changed. They said they could not replicate it, which is complete BS cause it does it anytime it is started and sitting still.
The other weird thing is that when this started my AC now makes a noise like a bird worrrrdling or something. It is subtle, but there. I figure the two are related.
My C5 is a 1998 with the original belts. The guy that changed the oil for me said the belts look great. The car only has about 32K original miles on it.
I have been a bit afraid of trying the "soap" trick that I have read about and my mother-in-law swears by. I figure there is a better answer than a 1.50 bar of Irish Spring.
Help! Thanks!
The other weird thing is that when this started my AC now makes a noise like a bird worrrrdling or something. It is subtle, but there. I figure the two are related.
My C5 is a 1998 with the original belts. The guy that changed the oil for me said the belts look great. The car only has about 32K original miles on it.
I have been a bit afraid of trying the "soap" trick that I have read about and my mother-in-law swears by. I figure there is a better answer than a 1.50 bar of Irish Spring.
Help! Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
When mine was squeaking, it progressively got worse as the engine warmed up and never went away.It turned out the be the AC tensioner pulley.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by uracowman; Nov 20, 2007 at 10:40 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Good thought
Mine does not go away when it warms up, but when I am moving it is gone. Not sure what to make of it. Pretty much as long as its in gear its fine...the AC thing wordles all the time though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 40
From: Edmonton Alberta
I'm having a belt problem now myself (serpentine) and I've replaced the tensioner and gone through 3 different manufacturers belts. A new belt will stop the problem for awhile but it aways comes back, usually after a long trip.
Once the squeak manifests itself again I have a constant squeak on cold start up and it continues after the engine is warmed up. Squeak does not go away and belt eventually gets "glazed" on it's backside. Belt sides and grooves are in near perfect condition (except for the glazing on the backside as mentioned). I'm going to try changing the Idler pulley next.
Once the squeak manifests itself again I have a constant squeak on cold start up and it continues after the engine is warmed up. Squeak does not go away and belt eventually gets "glazed" on it's backside. Belt sides and grooves are in near perfect condition (except for the glazing on the backside as mentioned). I'm going to try changing the Idler pulley next.
