Belt Squeal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Tx
Belt Squeal
Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me diagnose a problem. First, a little history about the car. It's a 2000 with the dreaded balancer wobble 
and 130K miles. When I start the car (cold start), there is a squeal like crazy that goes away at idle once the car warms up. It then squeals under acceleration.
Does this sound like it could be cause by the idle/tensioner pulleys? I replaced the belts last year and the squeal came back immediately.
I bought a new balancer, but am waiting to put it on until I do a cam swap. I'm slowly trying to acquire parts but am on a limited budget right now (pharmacy school).
If this problem does sound like it can be solved with replacing the pulleys, is it something I can do with a limited tool kit? I'm away from home but could buy a small tool kit to do the job from a Harbor Freight or something like that. Thanks for the help!
Jody
and 130K miles. When I start the car (cold start), there is a squeal like crazy that goes away at idle once the car warms up. It then squeals under acceleration.Does this sound like it could be cause by the idle/tensioner pulleys? I replaced the belts last year and the squeal came back immediately.
I bought a new balancer, but am waiting to put it on until I do a cam swap. I'm slowly trying to acquire parts but am on a limited budget right now (pharmacy school).
If this problem does sound like it can be solved with replacing the pulleys, is it something I can do with a limited tool kit? I'm away from home but could buy a small tool kit to do the job from a Harbor Freight or something like that. Thanks for the help!
Jody
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 134
From: Hanover Maryland
What sort of belts did you replace it with? A lot have reported Gatorbacks(now Continental Elite V) will cure a squeal. Could be a pulley for sure, a little bit of water on the belts while running might help you narrow it down. Another option is to remove the belt and spin each pulley by hand. One will feel far too lose and make some sort of noise. It can be tracked down, you shouldn't throw parts at it just yet. A more long term solution is replacing the balancer.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Tx
It's a money thing and it's my DD. I don't want to have to pay someone to do almost the same work twice when I can knock it all out at once. I know I'm taking a chance, but it will have to last a couple more years unless I come into a windfall.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 202
Likes: 16
Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me diagnose a problem. First, a little history about the car. It's a 2000 with the dreaded balancer wobble and 130K miles. When I start the car (cold start), there is a squeal like crazy that goes away at idle once the car warms up. It then squeals under acceleration.
Does this sound like it could be cause by the idle/tensioner pulleys? I replaced the belts last year and the squeal came back immediately.
I bought a new balancer, but am waiting to put it on until I do a cam swap. I'm slowly trying to acquire parts but am on a limited budget right now (pharmacy school).
If this problem does sound like it can be solved with replacing the pulleys, is it something I can do with a limited tool kit? I'm away from home but could buy a small tool kit to do the job from a Harbor Freight or something like that. Thanks for the help!
Jody
and 130K miles. When I start the car (cold start), there is a squeal like crazy that goes away at idle once the car warms up. It then squeals under acceleration.Does this sound like it could be cause by the idle/tensioner pulleys? I replaced the belts last year and the squeal came back immediately.
I bought a new balancer, but am waiting to put it on until I do a cam swap. I'm slowly trying to acquire parts but am on a limited budget right now (pharmacy school).
If this problem does sound like it can be solved with replacing the pulleys, is it something I can do with a limited tool kit? I'm away from home but could buy a small tool kit to do the job from a Harbor Freight or something like that. Thanks for the help!
Jody
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
OK... I get the dilemma, but you could be facing a much larger bill if it fails.
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Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 353
From: Little Rock Arkansas
You shouldn't play around with balancer wobble, especially if it's to the point of walking forward or backwards on where it's mounted. If it gets too far forward it's going to damage the steering rack and if it goes too far backwards it's going to hit the timing cover. If you're having to replace either of those you're going to be out even more $$$$ than just dealing with the balancer.Just get it replaced.
Plus you do realize in most cam swaps you're going to be constantly out money unless you have a fairly non-aggressive cam right?... Aggressive cams require very frequent checks of valve springs (usually in 10,000 mile intervals) and often accompanying parts replacement each time. If you're on a budget now you're going to be in for some more fun surprises.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 219
From: West Branch, MI
Playing with fire dude. I understand the $$ issue but you'll find yourself afoot with no car and a huge bill if that balancer lets go.. I wouldn't chance it.
Last edited by CactusCat; Aug 26, 2017 at 11:29 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
IT won't last a couple more years..
Once you have HB wobble, You need to take care of it.
You will end up ruining lots of components trying to save a buck...