C5 Engine "chirp"
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Somerset, NJ, USA
C5 Engine "chirp"
I've got a 99 coupe with about 30K miles on it, that over the last three months or so has developed an annoying chirping sound in the engine.
I cannot reproduce it on demand, or find any recurring pattern to it. It sounds like a belt that needs tightening or lubrication or something like that, but I can't be certain. It also sounds like it is coming from in front of me (i.e. the engine bay) but I know that sometimes can be deceiving.
The sound sometimes occurs usually upon acceleration, in any gear or at any speed, but seems to be more likely at low revs. Other than that it comes and goes with no obvious pattern. Sometimes, getting on the gas makes it stop.
I've taken my car three times to two seperate Chevrolet dealers, and these guys seem incapable of fixing or even correctly diagnosing the problem.
They've changed the serpentine belt and tensioner, as well as the exhuast pulley, but the noise remains.
The car is suffering no fuctional or performance effects from the condition, but it is annoying the crap out of me.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before and know how to fix it? My factory warranty is up in two months and I'd like to get it addressed now while it doesn't cost me anything.
:confused:
I cannot reproduce it on demand, or find any recurring pattern to it. It sounds like a belt that needs tightening or lubrication or something like that, but I can't be certain. It also sounds like it is coming from in front of me (i.e. the engine bay) but I know that sometimes can be deceiving.
The sound sometimes occurs usually upon acceleration, in any gear or at any speed, but seems to be more likely at low revs. Other than that it comes and goes with no obvious pattern. Sometimes, getting on the gas makes it stop.
I've taken my car three times to two seperate Chevrolet dealers, and these guys seem incapable of fixing or even correctly diagnosing the problem.
They've changed the serpentine belt and tensioner, as well as the exhuast pulley, but the noise remains.
The car is suffering no fuctional or performance effects from the condition, but it is annoying the crap out of me.
Has anyone experienced anything like this before and know how to fix it? My factory warranty is up in two months and I'd like to get it addressed now while it doesn't cost me anything.
:confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 877
Likes: 43
From: Surprise AZ
Re: C5 Engine "chirp" (jmoran)
I had a Jeep Cherokee with a noisy serpentine belt. It was worse in the cold. I changed the belt and it still made the noise. I finally took the belt off and cleaned all the pulleys with spray brake cleaner. That finally fixed it. Good luck. :seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Re: C5 Engine "chirp" (jmoran)
I have a 98 and about a year ago I had the same problem, take a look at the harmonic balancer (the big pully on the bottom of the engine) and see if it is wobeling, It is actually a two part unit thet shifts causing the belt to chirp.
chevy replaced it and its been fine since [img]C:\captree coup.jpg[/img]
chevy replaced it and its been fine since [img]C:\captree coup.jpg[/img]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,211
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Re: C5 Engine "chirp" (C5Coup)
I had the same chirp on my '98....try either duralube spray or WD-40 on the belt (while running inside of belt surface)..my squeak has been gone since September.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: C5 Engine "chirp" (jmoran)
My 2001 does that, but it's really a very short intake manifold whistle as the engine passes through the RPM range where it resonates. See if maintaining a specific RPM will cause the noise. The RPM it takes to make it do it will vary with temperature.
