A/C Tensioner replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Merritt Island, Blonde Surfer Dude! Florida
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
A/C Tensioner replacement
Ok, I all of a sudden started getting a loud chipping from the belt area. LS1 2004. 70K.
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: Bedford TX
Ok, I all of a sudden started getting a loud chipping from the belt area. LS1 2004. 70K.
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,448
Likes: 1,155
From: Dyer, IN
Ok, I all of a sudden started getting a loud chipping from the belt area. LS1 2004. 70K.
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
So I replaced the main serp belt with tensioner and idler pully. Piece of cake. Only problem, still have some chirp. Sounds like poss a/c belt.
--
I am going to buy and replace the a/c belt and tensioner tomorrow.
--
Suggestions on the easiest way to replace in my garage with no lift?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Replaced both of mine, belts too turned out to be main idler
Theres just one bolt holding the tensioners and the idler. A little tight but got them from the top. I would look at idlers too. Cheaper at AZ or Advance but I had to put in a washer so it wouldnt bind. AZ idler was a slight bit thicker at the bearing.
Last edited by bighank; Aug 2, 2011 at 02:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Search is your friend
I dont know how many times Ive posted the procedure for isolating the belt system causing the chirp, squeak, squeal. The most unprofessional and most waste of money way to fix a problem is to just start replacing things. A simple and easy way to find out which belt system is causing issue is to just remove the belt...the outer belt , the drive belt.. if the noise goes away then its a problem within the belt system. In your case removing the drive belt would not have fixed your AC belt system noise and you would not have had to replace anything in the drive belt system.. AS far as the ac belt system. Once the drive belt is removed and the noise is still there, remove the ac belt and you noise goes away proving the problem is in the AC belt system.. You can replace Both tensioner pulley and idler pulley on the ac belt system, no need to replace the tensioner part, just the pulley on the tensioner... and the idler pulley... both pulleys are the same part number and cost about 18 dollars each. A single bolt holds them in place.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 947
Likes: 1
From: Merritt Island, Blonde Surfer Dude! Florida
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09
First, I did not just start replacing parts. I main drive belt was origl and I wanted it replaced after 70K. The tens pulley was making some noise, but there is still about 30% coming from the a/c. I have already started the car with the belts rmoved and the noise is gone.
--
That is why I decided to replace the a/c belt and tens as well. Plus just good pre maint.
--
I was just looking for any tips on the easiest was to replace.
--
No worries, I will jack the baby up for figure it out!
--
That is why I decided to replace the a/c belt and tens as well. Plus just good pre maint.
--
I was just looking for any tips on the easiest was to replace.
--
No worries, I will jack the baby up for figure it out!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Longtime no see
its an easy swap...pull the serpentine belt and move the tensioner on the AC just like the serpentine tensioner...swap pulleys and reinstall
its an easy swap...pull the serpentine belt and move the tensioner on the AC just like the serpentine tensioner...swap pulleys and reinstall
Last edited by pewter99; Aug 2, 2011 at 07:34 AM.
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
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,888
Likes: 21
From: Olathe, Kansas
I dont know how many times Ive posted the procedure for isolating the belt system causing the chirp, squeak, squeal. The most unprofessional and most waste of money way to fix a problem is to just start replacing things. A simple and easy way to find out which belt system is causing issue is to just remove the belt...the outer belt , the drive belt.. if the noise goes away then its a problem within the belt system. In your case removing the drive belt would not have fixed your AC belt system noise and you would not have had to replace anything in the drive belt system.. AS far as the ac belt system. Once the drive belt is removed and the noise is still there, remove the ac belt and you noise goes away proving the problem is in the AC belt system.. You can replace Both tensioner pulley and idler pulley on the ac belt system, no need to replace the tensioner part, just the pulley on the tensioner... and the idler pulley... both pulleys are the same part number and cost about 18 dollars each. A single bolt holds them in place.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I sympathize with the OP, and thanks to Evil-Twin for his post.
I had squeaks in BOTH the main, and A/C, that came and went at different times. I'm certain, thanks to the remove-belt method... Only the A/C is left to fix...
Now- if anyone has a good procedure for testing what actual part of the system (idler, belt, etc.) is causing the issue, this I would like to hear!
I had squeaks in BOTH the main, and A/C, that came and went at different times. I'm certain, thanks to the remove-belt method... Only the A/C is left to fix...
Now- if anyone has a good procedure for testing what actual part of the system (idler, belt, etc.) is causing the issue, this I would like to hear!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 782
Likes: 5
From: alexandria louisiana
I had the same problem with my y2k coupe I removed the ac belt and the chirp disappeared. Got a new pulley and the chirp went away but returned within weeks. Removed the entire tensioner and dicsovered the bolt in the housing was wallowed out. I changed the entire tensioner and now it's quiet. It is a bitch to get to but you can access it from the top. I have fat paws which made it harder just get those tranny lines out of your way. I tied them back with a bungee chord. Good luck 
Advanced
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 2
From: Anderson SC
Idler Pulley Part Numbers
For AutoZone, p/n is 231135 (Duralast).
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The tensioner and idler are fairly easy to reach from the top. Just remove the main belt first and pull them off.
Mine kept squeeking something terrible after replacing the idler and tensioner pulleys. It didn't stop until I loosened the AC compressor and shifted it around a bit on the bolts. Not sure how much it moved but it's been quiet since and that is with the same old belt and about 10k miles.
It's not as likely but it could also be the bearing in the AC clutch.
Peter
Mine kept squeeking something terrible after replacing the idler and tensioner pulleys. It didn't stop until I loosened the AC compressor and shifted it around a bit on the bolts. Not sure how much it moved but it's been quiet since and that is with the same old belt and about 10k miles.
It's not as likely but it could also be the bearing in the AC clutch.
Peter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 145
Likes: 2
From: Macon NC
My 2 cents. I had the same problem with squeak and replaced both idler pulleys. I had 85K miles at the time and I am not the original owner. Squeak remained. I bought some belt dressing spray and found that it helped eliminate the noise for a while. I read where the gator back belts would help so I replaced my belts. It turns out they were from carquest so they had been replaced earlier. Anyway that fixed the squeak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 758
Likes: 3
From: Gold Canyon AZ
I dont know how many times Ive posted the procedure for isolating the belt system causing the chirp, squeak, squeal. The most unprofessional and most waste of money way to fix a problem is to just start replacing things. A simple and easy way to find out which belt system is causing issue is to just remove the belt...the outer belt , the drive belt.. if the noise goes away then its a problem within the belt system. In your case removing the drive belt would not have fixed your AC belt system noise and you would not have had to replace anything in the drive belt system.. AS far as the ac belt system. Once the drive belt is removed and the noise is still there, remove the ac belt and you noise goes away proving the problem is in the AC belt system.. You can replace Both tensioner pulley and idler pulley on the ac belt system, no need to replace the tensioner part, just the pulley on the tensioner... and the idler pulley... both pulleys are the same part number and cost about 18 dollars each. A single bolt holds them in place.
After reading some other threads about this problem, I think I,m going to chane the belts and see what happens, with 65k and 13 years on them it's not a waste of money
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 60
Likes: 3
From: Marietta GA
Just wanted to bump this thread and say thanks to Evil Twin, and everyone else who posted here. This thread, and ET's other writeups helped me fix a screeching AC tensioner pulley in my 2000 coupe that was driving me (and my neighbors) crazy.
Thanks all!
Thanks all!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Draper, UT
I had the same squeek issues you are all discussing. I was quite sure it was the new serpentine belt I replaced (Gates). When I sprayed the belt with wd 40 the squeek disappeared for a short period of time, but returned. I too heard about the Gatorback solution, so I bought one and the squeek is gone. I don't know how long it will last, but others who have replaced their belts with Gatorback have had reasonable success. You might to considered changing the belt to Gatorback if all else fails.