Name this sound.....We are clueless
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,008
Likes: 49
From: Hoover, AL NCM Life Member #2438
Name this sound.....We are clueless
Got this squeaking sound coming from 04 vette. It is worse when cold. I put my head down there and it appears to be coming from massive pulley under air intake. Car does have mezire electric water pump and katech tensioner. Maybe just the belt? Click the video and Let me know what ya think.,....
Last edited by 1FUNC5; Feb 2, 2012 at 08:39 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
You have two belts and two idlers. HarborFreight has a stethscope(sp) available super cheap that works and it'll help you to find the offending item really quick.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
You can tap around the area and it'll get louder near the source. On the idler, the bolt on the front does not rotate so you can touch there if you're careful.
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 242
From: Russell Ontario
St. Jude Donor '09
Yes a stethescope works good but be carefull of moving parts , that's why I pull the belts and spin the pulleys, just touch the mounts of the pulley and you will hear it .
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 145
Likes: 2
From: Macon NC
Similar sound?
If you think it sounds like this then I fixed mine with two gatorback belts from amazon.com
I changed both idler pulleys first. I also have some wobble on my main drive pulley which I have not fixed but all is quiet now.
I changed both idler pulleys first. I also have some wobble on my main drive pulley which I have not fixed but all is quiet now.
Last edited by sjbrothers; Feb 4, 2012 at 05:48 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Please do not just start throwing parts at it. That can be really frustrating and lead to a lot of wasted money...
There are two belt systems on the C5; one is the main drive belt system the other is the AC belt system. Both systems have one tensioner pulley and one idler pulley that are infamous for their squeeking especially on cold starts. There are many other possibilities: worn belt(s), failing harmonic balancer etc.
Whenever I have this issue I start by ruling out the harmonic balancer (the large pulley right beneath the water pump on the end of the crankshaft with both serpentine belts wrapped around it). The harmonic balancer is the only component connected to both belt systems. The main drive belt goes around the front of the balancer and the AC belt goes around the rear. With your belts installed watch your balancer to make sure it's not wobbling. These are two-piece balancers and they do begin to separate over time. If there's excessive play while your balancer is spinning you have a harmonic balancer replacement in your future.
If the balancer isn't wobbling the next thing I do is isolate the problem to one particular belt system by removing the drive belt and starting the car. If the squeek goes away then I know it's a component on the main drive belt system. If it's still there I know it's a component of the AC belt system.
Next I determine if it's the belt or a pully. Check the belt to ensure it's in good condition with no cracking or excessive wear. If it appears to be okay reinstall the belt and listen to each component with a mechanic's stethoscope. If it's either the tensioner or the idler I'd recommend replacing both as my experience is that if one goes the other is not far behind.
For your reference the drive belt system consists of a tensioner pulley, idler pulley, water pump pulley, power steering pump pulley, alternator pulley and harmonic balancer. The AC belt system consists of the compressor, a tensioner pulley, an idler pulley and the harmonic balancer.
Post back up if you need help.
There are two belt systems on the C5; one is the main drive belt system the other is the AC belt system. Both systems have one tensioner pulley and one idler pulley that are infamous for their squeeking especially on cold starts. There are many other possibilities: worn belt(s), failing harmonic balancer etc.
Whenever I have this issue I start by ruling out the harmonic balancer (the large pulley right beneath the water pump on the end of the crankshaft with both serpentine belts wrapped around it). The harmonic balancer is the only component connected to both belt systems. The main drive belt goes around the front of the balancer and the AC belt goes around the rear. With your belts installed watch your balancer to make sure it's not wobbling. These are two-piece balancers and they do begin to separate over time. If there's excessive play while your balancer is spinning you have a harmonic balancer replacement in your future.
If the balancer isn't wobbling the next thing I do is isolate the problem to one particular belt system by removing the drive belt and starting the car. If the squeek goes away then I know it's a component on the main drive belt system. If it's still there I know it's a component of the AC belt system.
Next I determine if it's the belt or a pully. Check the belt to ensure it's in good condition with no cracking or excessive wear. If it appears to be okay reinstall the belt and listen to each component with a mechanic's stethoscope. If it's either the tensioner or the idler I'd recommend replacing both as my experience is that if one goes the other is not far behind.
For your reference the drive belt system consists of a tensioner pulley, idler pulley, water pump pulley, power steering pump pulley, alternator pulley and harmonic balancer. The AC belt system consists of the compressor, a tensioner pulley, an idler pulley and the harmonic balancer.
Post back up if you need help.
Last edited by cdkcorvette7; Feb 5, 2012 at 11:04 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
hmmm
While I am by no means a mechanic my vote is on the harmonic balancer.
My car had this sound exactly. I replaced the belts with gator belts. I replaced the pulleys. All of them. I also was told to put dressing on the belts, which made it worse and had to get new belts.
I did all this to only have to go ahead and replace the balancer. The thing that threw me for a loop was that it didn't appear to be wobbly. I looked only slightly off, but that was enough. When they took it off it had gone almost through the timing chain cover.
Mine made this sound when cold. When the engine hit N.O.T. it was gone. I figured it out by squirting jig-a-loo on the timing cover between the balancer then started the car and it was gone.
On a side note, my brother has a 04 w/ 70k and just started getting this sound when cold. I can tell you that within the next few days we will squirt it to find out.
The balancer fail issue is huge. If it goes completely it will tear up the area pretty good.
This is just my two cents and all I am doing is trying to help.
My car had this sound exactly. I replaced the belts with gator belts. I replaced the pulleys. All of them. I also was told to put dressing on the belts, which made it worse and had to get new belts.
I did all this to only have to go ahead and replace the balancer. The thing that threw me for a loop was that it didn't appear to be wobbly. I looked only slightly off, but that was enough. When they took it off it had gone almost through the timing chain cover.
Mine made this sound when cold. When the engine hit N.O.T. it was gone. I figured it out by squirting jig-a-loo on the timing cover between the balancer then started the car and it was gone.
On a side note, my brother has a 04 w/ 70k and just started getting this sound when cold. I can tell you that within the next few days we will squirt it to find out.
The balancer fail issue is huge. If it goes completely it will tear up the area pretty good.
This is just my two cents and all I am doing is trying to help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
While I am by no means a mechanic my vote is on the harmonic balancer.
My car had this sound exactly. I replaced the belts with gator belts. I replaced the pulleys. All of them. I also was told to put dressing on the belts, which made it worse and had to get new belts.
I did all this to only have to go ahead and replace the balancer. The thing that threw me for a loop was that it didn't appear to be wobbly. I looked only slightly off, but that was enough. When they took it off it had gone almost through the timing chain cover.
Mine made this sound when cold. When the engine hit N.O.T. it was gone. I figured it out by squirting jig-a-loo on the timing cover between the balancer then started the car and it was gone.
On a side note, my brother has a 04 w/ 70k and just started getting this sound when cold. I can tell you that within the next few days we will squirt it to find out.
The balancer fail issue is huge. If it goes completely it will tear up the area pretty good.
This is just my two cents and all I am doing is trying to help.
My car had this sound exactly. I replaced the belts with gator belts. I replaced the pulleys. All of them. I also was told to put dressing on the belts, which made it worse and had to get new belts.
I did all this to only have to go ahead and replace the balancer. The thing that threw me for a loop was that it didn't appear to be wobbly. I looked only slightly off, but that was enough. When they took it off it had gone almost through the timing chain cover.
Mine made this sound when cold. When the engine hit N.O.T. it was gone. I figured it out by squirting jig-a-loo on the timing cover between the balancer then started the car and it was gone.
On a side note, my brother has a 04 w/ 70k and just started getting this sound when cold. I can tell you that within the next few days we will squirt it to find out.
The balancer fail issue is huge. If it goes completely it will tear up the area pretty good.
This is just my two cents and all I am doing is trying to help.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
I couldn't see if it was too close or not. The reason it went for so long not being diagnosed was something to do with the heat. When it was cold the inner part rubbed. As the thing heated up, it moved away. This is why the sound was gone at N.O.T.
I mean it only takes a shot of something other than wd40 (that doesn't seem to work very good with this) on the timing chain cover when cold. I would use deep creep or jigaloo. If that doesn't make the sound go away upon start up, then move on to the next solution. I mean its a few seconds and 2 bucks to save yourself alot of other possibilities.
On a side note.............in the video the belt appears to move a hair to the right (I am looking at the space on the pulley) but it might not be.
I mean it only takes a shot of something other than wd40 (that doesn't seem to work very good with this) on the timing chain cover when cold. I would use deep creep or jigaloo. If that doesn't make the sound go away upon start up, then move on to the next solution. I mean its a few seconds and 2 bucks to save yourself alot of other possibilities.
On a side note.............in the video the belt appears to move a hair to the right (I am looking at the space on the pulley) but it might not be.
Last edited by Red98VA; Feb 6, 2012 at 11:28 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,809
Likes: 3
From: Yorktown Virginia
I couldn't see if it was too close or not. The reason it went for so long not being diagnosed was something to do with the heat. When it was cold the inner part rubbed. As the thing heated up, it moved away. This is why the sound was gone at N.O.T.
I mean it only takes a shot of something other than wd40 (that doesn't seem to work very good with this) on the timing chain cover when cold. I would use deep creep or jigaloo. If that doesn't make the sound go away upon start up, then move on to the next solution. I mean its a few seconds and 2 bucks to save yourself alot of other possibilities.
On a side note.............in the video the belt appears to move a hair to the right (I am looking at the space on the pulley) but it might not be.
I mean it only takes a shot of something other than wd40 (that doesn't seem to work very good with this) on the timing chain cover when cold. I would use deep creep or jigaloo. If that doesn't make the sound go away upon start up, then move on to the next solution. I mean its a few seconds and 2 bucks to save yourself alot of other possibilities.
On a side note.............in the video the belt appears to move a hair to the right (I am looking at the space on the pulley) but it might not be.