I have a 01 coupe MN6 with 25k. There is an annoying squeak from the belt area.(can't pinpoint exactly) Present at idle and completely goes away around 16-1800rpm. I have searched the forum and found as many answers as there are threads on the issue. Trying to find a definitive answer. Any help would be appreciated.

 

If it's more like a chirp instead of a continuous squeek, I recommend changing to the Gatorback belt from Autozone. The stock belt frequently has problems in the cold, and I've rarely heard about problems with a Gatorback.

 

 

You have two belt systems on your car. One is the drive belt system, the other is the air conditioner belt system.
The drive belt system consists of the serpentine belt,the power steering pump, alternator/gen, water pump, harmonic balancer, idler pulley,belt auto tensioner pulley.
The AC belt system consists of the compressor, harmonic balancer,idler pulley, belt auto tensioner pulley.
First thing you need to do is isolate which system is squeaking. this can be done by releasing tension on the drive belt tensioner and removing the serp belt. This is the outboard belt of the two belt systems..if the squeak goes away, then it is the belt or a component of the drive system.
If the squeak is still there, then it is a component of the ac belt system.
to verify this release the belt tension from the tensioner and remove the belt. if the squeak goes away, then it is a component of the ac belt system..
A common problem is the belt tensioner on either system.. but verifying which system is at fault is the proper procedure.
At 25000 miles, you could replace both belts, but you may still have the squeak. So if you want to find the culprit, isolate the system, then spray the belt of the offending system and see if the squeak goes away. Try to stay away from the idler and tensioner while spaying..
I find that belt dressing may be good to identify a belt problem, but it is a temporary fix at best..
The real problem has been the tensioner and the idler.. both of these components have a sealed bearing which has been know to dry up or redirect the grease away from the bearing, thus causing the squeak.
If you find that a belt change does not correct the problem, then a change of both the idler and tensioner pulley is in order. If you just change the idler or the tensioner alone, it will cause the other component to go bad in a month or so. This has been the case with many members..There was a change made to the dusts seals to help correct this problem in newer C5's.
Lots of tensioner and idler pulleys have been identified as a problem.. and it can effect either system. One is not more prevalent than the other. So find out which system is squeaking first, in the drive belt system, it could also be the bearing of the alternator, power steering pump, or water pump too, but these are less probable.



I hope this makes things alittle clearer

ET

 

I had a horrible squeek. After changing belts, it sounded like it was comming from the belt tensioner but it wasn't that. The culpret was the clutch on the air compressor assembly.

 

take a look at the dust shield on the idler pully - sometimes the bearings wear and let the pulley touch the dust shield, if so try DANA pulley part# 89007. it is sealed and does not use a shield.

 

Thanks everybody for suggestions and help. When I started engine (cold) today, there was no squeak. Only when it warmed up for five min. did the squeak start. Low at first, then louder. Tried cleaning the belt real good with WD40. This worked, but Im sure its only temporary.