Pulley issues

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Nov 10, 2013 | 12:50 PM

EnVmYc5

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 479

Likes: 3

From: Wilmington DE

Pulley issues

How can I check which pulley of mine is squeaking? I just had balancer and tensioner replaced but something is still squeaking bad?
Thanks,
Nick
04 c5

Nov 10, 2013 | 01:33 PM

Zorlac

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 960

Likes: 1

From: Trussville AL

There are two tensioners. One for alternator/power steering/etc and one for the AC. Each belt also has an idler pulley that may cause a squeak. With the car running you can spray water on each one at a time. If the squeak stops after spraying its the culprit. Don't lose fingers.

Nov 10, 2013 | 07:26 PM

guido7834

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 2,449

Likes: 344

From: SC

Use a piece of plastic hose for a stethoscope. But as stated above, be careful not to lose fingers

Nov 11, 2013 | 08:37 AM

JetMechZ16

Race Director

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 19,864

Likes: 146

From: South East TN

Are you sure it's not a belt squeek? You can use a bar of soap or candle wax and rub it on the underside of the belt as the engine is running. If it's belt squeek it should stop for a time after you apply the soap/wax. Watch your fingers and keep long sleeves away from rotating equipment.

Nov 11, 2013 | 09:09 AM

PEETYZ

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 2,014

Likes: 48

From: Dayton Ohio

Kinda going through same issues as you are.

Of course the only pulley I didnt replace was one of the AC idlers (not in stock and i replaced the tensioner pulley in past). The AC belt really isnt too old either. I sprayed water on it and it went away hopefully its just an idler,tensioner, or belt and not the bearing in the AC unit etc. Does that go often? Its barely a noise at idle but as the revs get higher it gets louder.

I guess I will replace the belt and the AC idler and see if the problem goes away....I really dont wanna replace the bearing on the ac unit or buy a new compressor.

Been chasing a squeak for a while and took the procharger off and replaced the pulleys on the bracket etc which needed it but the squeak didnt fully go away.

Heck its fall I may just remove the AC belt and be squeak free till I wanna mess with it. The problem is to get to a good spot on the AC I'll have to pull the blower again....ugh

Last edited by PEETYZ; Nov 11, 2013 at 09:11 AM.

Nov 11, 2013 | 09:30 PM

Gjd

Intermediate

Joined: Oct 2013

Posts: 32

Likes: 0

From: Belton South Carolina

I had the same problem with the sqeek.i changed both tensioners and the belts. Ended up the cheap factory plastic a/c idler was the culprit.

Nov 12, 2013 | 11:10 AM

PEETYZ

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 2,014

Likes: 48

From: Dayton Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gjd

I had the same problem with the sqeek.i changed both tensioners and the belts. Ended up the cheap factory plastic a/c idler was the culprit.

The only one I havent changed yet. Thanks!

Nov 12, 2013 | 01:30 PM

jim993

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 1,862

Likes: 594

From: Prescott, Arizona

Aftermarket pulleys are often different in shape where the inside washer goes. You may have to buy plain metric washers and place them where the factory washers were to keep the aftermarket pulley from scraping on the factory washer and making a squeaking sound.

Years ago I bought an engine stethescope, an inexpensive, simple tool that is very handy in situations like this for pinpointing the origin of noises while simultaneously keeping fingers out of harm's way.