chirping from under the hood
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Belmont MA
chirping from under the hood
Belt is making a chirping sound - pretty annoying - can't hear it inside, but outside is a definite yes. Is there any other fixes to this besides to change the belt??
What is the life expectancy on a belt anyway??
What is the life expectancy on a belt anyway??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
had the same problem they said they replaced the belt tensioner it seemed to go away. What they really did was spray the belt with grip spray and collect my 100 co pay. Week later i come back and have them do the job correctly. They said they simply replaced the belt this time.
It would come and go with the weather.
Change the belt then move on to the tensioner.
It would come and go with the weather.
Change the belt then move on to the tensioner.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: San Bernardino Ca
Originally Posted by slicksilver11
Belt is making a chirping sound - pretty annoying - can't hear it inside, but outside is a definite yes. Is there any other fixes to this besides to change the belt??
What is the life expectancy on a belt anyway??
What is the life expectancy on a belt anyway??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 993
Likes: 5
From: Cincinnati Ohio
slicksilver11,
The "Fix" in this TSB eliminated the noise on my 1999 C5 coupe: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=258
Good luck.
The "Fix" in this TSB eliminated the noise on my 1999 C5 coupe: http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=258
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Belmont MA
The GM dealer ship sprayed some stuff on it and it started to go away. The mechanic said that if the sound didn't go away once he sprayed this stuff on it - it would probably be a bearing.
I haven't got it fixed yet, but the noise is still there until I drive it for about an hour. After that I don't hear it any more.
any other ideas - I am going to get the belt changed next week. It is two years old. The tensioner was changed 2 years ago along with the belt.
I haven't got it fixed yet, but the noise is still there until I drive it for about an hour. After that I don't hear it any more.
any other ideas - I am going to get the belt changed next week. It is two years old. The tensioner was changed 2 years ago along with the belt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
that is the same story they did to me the first time i was there, they said they replaced the tensioner. Noise was gone for a whille then came back.
Then they simply said they replaced the belt after i paid 100 co pay for the tensioner non work that they made up.
Save ur time and money replace the belt.. Mine went bad about 30k i think
Then they simply said they replaced the belt after i paid 100 co pay for the tensioner non work that they made up.
Save ur time and money replace the belt.. Mine went bad about 30k i think
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
The belt should last 40/50,000 miles..
thjis is a common problem and a case again where we on the forum know much more than the dealerr...
THe Belt drive system has a tensioner with a sealed bearing, an idler pully with a sealed bearing.. an alternator , powersteering pump, and a water pump, all with sealed bearings, and drivien by a harmonic balancer bolted to the crank.
the tensioner bearing gets dry and starts to sing, chirp and also causes an idler failure... the correct fix is tensioner and Idler pully... when you get just the tensioner replaced.. the sound goes away for a month or two but then returns because the failed idler causes the tensioner to go bad again while also further wearing the idler.. these parts should be replaced together...failutre to do so will cause premature water pump failure and then alternator failure..
thjis is a common problem and a case again where we on the forum know much more than the dealerr...
THe Belt drive system has a tensioner with a sealed bearing, an idler pully with a sealed bearing.. an alternator , powersteering pump, and a water pump, all with sealed bearings, and drivien by a harmonic balancer bolted to the crank.
the tensioner bearing gets dry and starts to sing, chirp and also causes an idler failure... the correct fix is tensioner and Idler pully... when you get just the tensioner replaced.. the sound goes away for a month or two but then returns because the failed idler causes the tensioner to go bad again while also further wearing the idler.. these parts should be replaced together...failutre to do so will cause premature water pump failure and then alternator failure..
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Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Mine went a little differently.
Dealer replaced tensioner twice. Both idlers twice. And the noise came back every time within 200 miles.
The final fix was a goodyear gatorback belt that was 20mm shorter than stock. I now have a Gatorback belt w/ my ASP underdrive pulley and no more noise. I would try to replacing the belt w/ a Gatorback belt first. Then move on the the tensioner and ilder pulleys. I agree with Evil Twin, if you get to the point of replacing the idlers and tensioners, just replace them all at the same time and be done with it.
Dealer replaced tensioner twice. Both idlers twice. And the noise came back every time within 200 miles.
The final fix was a goodyear gatorback belt that was 20mm shorter than stock. I now have a Gatorback belt w/ my ASP underdrive pulley and no more noise. I would try to replacing the belt w/ a Gatorback belt first. Then move on the the tensioner and ilder pulleys. I agree with Evil Twin, if you get to the point of replacing the idlers and tensioners, just replace them all at the same time and be done with it.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I had the same problem. I had ECS replace the tensioner and idler pulley. squeak gone but the gator backbelts made a whine. i replaced the gatorbacks with oem belts and its all quiet now.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by SaleenSpeedster
I'd start with replacing the belt. Mine started chirping 2 days ago and on my way home tonight, the belt shredded and ripped my hood liner and made a mess!
BTW: My car has a little over 20K miles.
BTW: My car has a little over 20K miles.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: bothell wa
I had my mechanic tell me to squirt a little water directly on the inside of the belt. If the noise went away, then it was the belt. If the noise didn't go away it was the idler or tensioner. I put a little bar soap on the belt with the engine running (a trick my dad used to do with fan belts) and the noise goes away for a week or so. I don't suggest this trick. I do know that when I detail the engine compartment the noise comes back worse. It is the belt for sure. I'll replace the belt soon. - Ron
