Squeaking Pulley

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Aug 10, 2012 | 09:26 AM

Kagnus

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From: The Woodlands Texas

Squeaking Pulley

2000 C5 w/31k, is there a pulley that is notorious for squeaking? Can I oil it? The squeaking goes away after driving it for 20 minutes or so. AC is off in this video. Squeaking goes away above ~1500 rpm. Youtube tags don't want to work, sorry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcvgF...ature=youtu.be

Sounds a lot like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0To7R...eature=related

Apparently the power steering pulley wasn't pressed on completely? Ugh how do I even check this?

Aha! Apparently I can use a spray bottle test to find the location!

Last edited by Kagnus; Aug 10, 2012 at 09:47 AM.

Aug 10, 2012 | 10:14 AM

Kagnus

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From: The Woodlands Texas

Okay, I spritzed a little water on the pulley just under the alternator and the squeaking went away temporarily. Does this mean the pulley needs to be replaced?

Aug 10, 2012 | 10:18 AM

lucky131969

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From: Dyer, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagnus

Apparently the power steering pulley wasn't pressed on completely?

Is this a statement, or a question? If the pulley has an issue, this must be resolved first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagnus

Okay, I spritzed a little water on the pulley just under the alternator and the squeaking went away temporarily. Does this mean the pulley needs to be replaced?

Have you inspected the belt? What is the conditon?

Aug 10, 2012 | 01:17 PM

Kagnus

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From: The Woodlands Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucky131969

Is this a statement, or a question? If the pulley has an issue, this must be resolved first.

Have you inspected the belt? What is the conditon?

The belt seems to be okay, I don't see cracks or anything, but it is the original, which means it is 12 years old. I sprayed a little water on the power steering pulley and the squeak disappeared temporarily.

Aug 10, 2012 | 01:28 PM

lucky131969

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From: Dyer, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagnus

Aug 10, 2012 | 01:47 PM

K-Spaz

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From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Kagnus

The belt seems to be okay, I don't see cracks or anything, but it is the original, which means it is 12 years old.

Most likely then it's time to just stick on a new one.

Quote:

I sprayed a little water on the power steering pulley and the squeak disappeared temporarily.

Doesn't really mean much. The belt carries the water around to all the pulleys. Could still be any one.

They usually squeak when they get out of alignment or the belt is worn. The big stuff like the water pump, alternator, ps pump, crank, they have big bearings, and multiple bearings. They stay rather straight even when the bearings go bad. The idlers on the other hand have only one bearing. And they fail often. They also have plastic pulleys (originally) so they tend to wear slight grooves in, which really make them squeal when the bearing finally goes. When the bearing is bad, the pulley really sits cocked to the belt. Usually if you eye them edgewise, it's easy to see. Out any at all, and its time for them to go.

Easy check for $0. Remove the belt from the tensioner (leave it on). Feel the idlers. If they wobble, get rid of em. In the case of the tensioner, see if the whole assembly rocks, if so, that's hoofed, R&R it.

Aug 10, 2012 | 02:43 PM

lionelhutz

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From: South Western Ontario

Pull the main belt and run just the AC belt. That will tell you which belt is causing issues. Look for bad spots on the belt, like a chunk missing you can't see just looking at it when installed. Check idlers as suggested. A mechanics stephescope is really the easy way to find them the first time if they aren't really bad yet because you can listen right at each pulley. Don't cheap out on the replacements, get the more expensive ones or you'll have to do it again next year.

Aug 11, 2012 | 04:43 PM

RedC5

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Joined: Mar 1999

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From: Rochester Hills Michigan

My AC idler pulley spun freely like a roller blade wheel. Made a terrible annoying supercharger type whine. New pulleys should not hear spin with filled grease. Loosen the AC tensioner and spin the pulley or take the belt off track first.

I havn't put my AC belt back on yet, but this was the issue so quiet without (and better mileage!). Plus the tensioner is starting to go, spins freely, it also and will also be replaced.

Last edited by RedC5; Aug 11, 2012 at 04:46 PM.