Help with noise.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: Chatsworth CA
Help with noise.
I have replaced the balancer and the belt on my 2000, but a squealing noise keeps coming back. The balancer was replaced last week beacuse it had worked its way loose. The noise was gone for about 2 days. I took it back into the shop and they said there was oil on the belt so they used brake cleaner and cleaned the belt. The noise stayed gone for 3 hours. Now its back again. Its a constant squealing noise, that is barely noticeable at idle, but as the rpm's go up, the noise gets louder. I don't see anything that hangs over the belt that can continue to drop oil on the belt, just the rad hoses. I would say it was a idler pulley or the alt. pulley, but the fact we get the noise to go away for a few hours makes me think it has nothing to do with any other pulley, just the balancer and the belt. Any suggestions?
Pro
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Central SJ Valley, Calif
I had a mini-van once that had a squeaky belt like that and I like to never to get it to quit squeaking. One thing that I found worked for a month or two was a can of spray belt slip compound. I think I got it at PepBoys. I think it's made for belts that are slipping but it seem to fix my problem. If your idler pulley is real shinny you might get some 400 grit sand paper and buff off that shine that might be the cause of the squeaking.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas
I just dropped off my vette too for a new belt and a new screw that holds the big lower pulley together.
My belt made that squeaking noise for 2 days and I thought that I had just dropped some oil on it or something...But last night it started rubbing on something and pieces of the belt were falling out...
My mechanic said that the pulley had moved outwards probably due to a faulty screw...
My belt made that squeaking noise for 2 days and I thought that I had just dropped some oil on it or something...But last night it started rubbing on something and pieces of the belt were falling out...
My mechanic said that the pulley had moved outwards probably due to a faulty screw...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 228
Likes: 11
From: Southern Maryland
...and Good Year Gatorback belts are better than stock. I had them put on when my balancer was replaced. Here are the part numbers if you are interested. I ordered them online from pickproparts but I think you can buy them at certain auto parts stores - can't remember which, tho. Autozone maybe?
4060802 - main
4040420 - ac
Good luck with the squeaking. It drove me nuts and embarrassed the heck out me when mine was doing it.
4060802 - main
4040420 - ac
Good luck with the squeaking. It drove me nuts and embarrassed the heck out me when mine was doing it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: Chatsworth CA
I finally got fed up and drove over to Checkers to get 2 new belts, a tensioner pulley and a idler pulley. I get back into the car and the noise is gone! I drove around for about 2 hours this afternoon working and it still has not reappeared. So I figure if it comes back when I get into the car after a few hours of the car sitting, then maybe something is dripping onto the belt, maybe coolant? And then after dripping onto the belt, it takes about an hour of driving for the fluid to wear off. If not this scenario, then I guess it must be one of the pulleys. After I change the 2 pulleys I just bought and belt, the only other causes I see is the alt. pulley or the ps pulley or that big pulley right in the center of the engine.
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Team Owner
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Originally Posted by No Rice
I finally got fed up and drove over to Checkers to get 2 new belts, a tensioner pulley and a idler pulley. I get back into the car and the noise is gone! I drove around for about 2 hours this afternoon working and it still has not reappeared. So I figure if it comes back when I get into the car after a few hours of the car sitting, then maybe something is dripping onto the belt, maybe coolant? And then after dripping onto the belt, it takes about an hour of driving for the fluid to wear off. If not this scenario, then I guess it must be one of the pulleys. After I change the 2 pulleys I just bought and belt, the only other causes I see is the alt. pulley or the ps pulley or that big pulley right in the center of the engine.
Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 35
From: Sunshine State, USA
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by 385-C5
I had the same problem and it ended up being the idler pulley. Also the noise will go away for a while if something is sprayed on it (wd-40, belt dressing, etc.).
They also replaced the belts at the same time and now two years later so far so good.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas
For those that replaced the pulley...
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 228
Likes: 11
From: Southern Maryland
Originally Posted by Ellinaras
For those that replaced the pulley...
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,323
Likes: 0
From: MA
Originally Posted by Ellinaras
For those that replaced the pulley...
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Did the mechanics or yourselves have access to the pulley's bolt without removing any parts of the steering assembly?
Or the lower pulley can be accessed directly?
I am referring to the lowest pulley around the belt
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: Chatsworth CA
Ok, I had the dealer change the balancer, I changed the belt, the tensioner and idler pullies. The sound is still there, but not as loud. Could my alt. be going out and causing this sound? It still shows it charges good.
Does the pulley on the water pump have any bearings in it, or is it rigidly mounted to the pump, I would think the latter but never know?
And the only other thing is the ps pump. If it is the ps pump, it looks like this can be changed from the top, is that correct?
All I can do is change the alt. next to solve the problem, as thats the next easiest thing to change out.
Whats weird is that I have changed these parts and it did change the sound, and it could still end up being something else like the alt. or ps pump, but each of these parts played a part as a whole into how loud the sound is.
Does the pulley on the water pump have any bearings in it, or is it rigidly mounted to the pump, I would think the latter but never know?
And the only other thing is the ps pump. If it is the ps pump, it looks like this can be changed from the top, is that correct?
All I can do is change the alt. next to solve the problem, as thats the next easiest thing to change out.
Whats weird is that I have changed these parts and it did change the sound, and it could still end up being something else like the alt. or ps pump, but each of these parts played a part as a whole into how loud the sound is.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,323
Likes: 0
From: MA
Originally Posted by No Rice
Ok, I had the dealer change the balancer, I changed the belt, the tensioner and idler pullies. The sound is still there, but not as loud. Could my alt. be going out and causing this sound? It still shows it charges good.
Does the pulley on the water pump have any bearings in it, or is it rigidly mounted to the pump, I would think the latter but never know?
And the only other thing is the ps pump. If it is the ps pump, it looks like this can be changed from the top, is that correct?
All I can do is change the alt. next to solve the problem, as thats the next easiest thing to change out.
Whats weird is that I have changed these parts and it did change the sound, and it could still end up being something else like the alt. or ps pump, but each of these parts played a part as a whole into how loud the sound is.
Does the pulley on the water pump have any bearings in it, or is it rigidly mounted to the pump, I would think the latter but never know?
And the only other thing is the ps pump. If it is the ps pump, it looks like this can be changed from the top, is that correct?
All I can do is change the alt. next to solve the problem, as thats the next easiest thing to change out.
Whats weird is that I have changed these parts and it did change the sound, and it could still end up being something else like the alt. or ps pump, but each of these parts played a part as a whole into how loud the sound is.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 0
From: Chatsworth CA
I got into the car this morning on my way to work, and the noise is back just like before. So it hasn't been anything I changed so far. One thing I did notice is the belts from GM are a little bit longer than the one I got from the auto parts store. I bought a Dayco polycog from CSK and it seems about 1/4" to 1/2" shorter, so I don't know if the belts stretch that much, but I assume its no big deal, since the tensioner is pulling it tight anyways.
