Squealing...

yeah yeah... I did the search so save your fingers if your reply is "search"

1) I have already replaced the main serp belt. So before I start throwing my hard earned nickels and dimes at this hog, I am hoping to maybe replace the RIGHT part this time.

2) When first starting the car cold, it squeaks. Its squeaks louder if ac is on. Once warm the squeak lessens considerably, unless the ac is on and then it will not shut up. If AC is off, and the car is warm, squeal increases when gas pedal is pushed. Again with ac on no matter what it squeals. Anyone had a similar issues?

3) I was thinking of troubleshooting this by first removing the main serp belt and then running the engine to test for squeal. If still present, I would then remove the ac belt, and re-test for squeal. But I do not know if this would damage or harm something to run the engine without the belts attached. Or if this is even the most effective way to test; or if its even an effective way to test the issue all together.

2 cents please?

 

I had a dickens of a squeek a few years ago..had to replace the tensioners to get rid of it....and the serpentine belt too...Just like you I did the belt first, at home,,,no luck..then had the Corvette shop take a look...he said this was "classic LS problem" ....so had the tensioners done. End of problem.

While you are looking in the general area, check to see that the crankshaft pully is in-line and not wobbly...When they go out it causes all soorts of issues.

 

and yes if you remove the Serpentine belt and you get no squeak it is probably the tensioner for that belt....same goes for AC and no you won't harm anything doing this for a few minutes.

If it was me I would remove both...start it up and see if you get noise...then put AC belt back on and see if you get noise. My money says its the AC tensioner based on your description. That being said just replace both and be done with it.

 

"That being said just replace both and be done with it"
He is right!

 

OK, I admit, this may be just dumb, but why not try the old spray the belt with a soap solution from a Windex type bottle while it's running? If the squeaking stops...it's the belt. (The other method is to rub candlewax on the belt - both sides - while it's running. Inventory fingers afterwards.)

That's what we did "in the olde dayz". But maybe there's something on a C5 that won't let you do that. (Prolly throw a stinking code or something!)

If this is just plain doofus I'm sure some well meaning forum member will pull my head out of my **** orifice.

Good luck and best regards,

Gunny John

 

guarantee its the ac tensioner..

 

Oh my, do I understand this situation and feel your frustration. I have been going through this squeal thing for about two months now. So, here is my advice, for what it is worth:

Sources of squeal:

1. Worn belt: Should be associated with belts that have been on the car for a while. Can be diagnosed, somewhat, by spraying water on each belt with engine running. Squeal would go away temporarily. However, this method can cause a mis-diagnosis. The belt can be just fine and the problem could be pulley alignment and the noise will go away as well.

2. Pulley alignment: Assuming there has been no squeal in the passed this should not be an active cause unless you have replaced a pulley (crank, water pump, alternator, PS, etc.)

NOTE: Pulley alignment, hopefully, will be the ultimate cause for my situation. Will know later next week. Had my crank pulley replaced by a corvette shop, but, they did not follow the GM method for install, thus, didn't ensure the pulley was installed to the correct crank snort - pulley distance specification. They are re-installing at the point. This pulley alignment issue resulted in my replacing 3 sets of belts and both the tensioner and idler pulleys on the AC system without stopping the squeal.

3. Failed tensioner and/or idler pulley. Replacing these pulleys is very easy (do it yourself in about 30 minutes with standard hand tools) and the cost for all four pulleys is about $100.00. Depending on the age/mileage of your vette doing this might be reasonable as routine maintenance assuming you intend to keep the vette for a few more years.

Anyway, that is my experience and cautions. I hope it is helpful and good luck.

Regards,

Danny

 

As a caution, read the whole post before you go out to try this on your car.

I just went through this about a thousand miles ago. I finally gave up and went to the dealer. They told me several things. Belt squeaks are common on C5's. Once the belt comes off the car, it goes in the trash. Do not try to reuse a belt. Remove the belt, clean all the pulleys with brake clean, wire brush them and clean again with brake clean. Put a new belt on the engine, and things should be OK. Your noises, from what I've read, sound like they are coming from the AC belt. So you should do the same operation there, and that means that you will need to replace both belts and while you are in the process don't forget to use the brake clean and wire brush on the pulleys for the AC. You should probably do the water test there too, jus to make sure. BE VERY CAREFUL AND DO NOT STICK YOUR ARM DOWN TO THE AC BELT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. If it gets caught, it will really hurt. Spray the water down there from the top.

Do the water test to make sure it's the belts before you go replacing pulleys. Take a look at your crank pulley while the engine is running to see if there is any wobble. There may be a little bit (very little bit) which is probably ok, but if you see a lot, then it will need to be replaced. I watched the service rep put a wire tooth brush against the belt while the engine was running and all kinds of dust came off of it. That is also a sure sign that your belt is contaminated.

One last thing, look to see if there is any fluids dripping onto the belt. That would be power steering fluid, coolant, and motor oil (from a bad seal). If you find that you need to continually top off any of these fluids, then you should fix that first.

This whole post is pretty choppy, but I typed it as I thought about it. My apologies for not putting things in order.

Good luck with it.

 

I am on my 5th idler on my 97....just comes with the territory.