after replacing belt, idler pulley, and tensioner pulley tahoe still sqeaks in the morning?
My mechanic had me replace the serpentine belt, the idler pulley, and the tensioner pulley but my tahoe still squeaks int he morning as though it has a belt issue. It stops once it has warmed up (dew has dried off). What else could it be? It doesn't get louder as i am driving or accelerating(like a drive shaft would do), it does it in idle as well as when driving (like as though I needed to replace the belt.)
My car has 150000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
At the next cold start, try this: Take a spray bottle with some water and spray the belt then start it. If you hear the noise, then the problem may not be with the belt or tensioner. If you do hear it, then it’s possible that one of the pulleys (a/c,water pump,etc) may be slightly glazed or out of round. It’s also possible that a bearing, such as in the water pump, alternator, or a/c compressor clutch may be the issue. Sometimes a bearing that is on it’s way to failure can squeal when cold until it warms up. Alternator bearings are a common source. A mechanics stethoscope may be a good tool to locate a squealing sound. Since the noise is primarily on a cold start, the vehicle may need to sit for several hours or even overnight to get the noise to occur and found with the stethoscope.
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If you do hear it, then it`s possible that one of the pulleys (a/c,water pump,etc) may be slightly glazed or out of round. It`s also possible that a bearing, such as in the water pump, alternator, or a/c compressor clutch may be the issue.
The Real Reason Belts Squeal, Chirp and Make Other Noise
If a newly installed serpentine belt is making noise, it is a sign of a problem within the engine`s front end drive system. Serpentine belt noise is the equivalent to a “check engine” light that indicates something is wrong with the belt drive system.
If any tensioner pulley begins to wear out with time, it`ll create more of a chirping noise. You`ll also hear the chirping noise if the pulley grooves are damaged. This happens over the years due to friction, leading to cracks in the belt.
If the belt`s path is correct, and if you`re still hearing noises, then the problem may be: Fluid contamination on the belt (motor oil, power steering fluid, antifreeze, etc.) Belt that`s too long. Loose belt tension.
A misaligned pulley or tensioner is the most intriguing cause of the alternator belt squeaking noise. If you are getting squealing noise out of your car after a new device installation, there is a high chance that the tensioner or the idler pulley is out of its regular alignment.
Applying Silcone spray to squeaky fan belt
Whilst the car is running you should spray a dry silicone like DS-100 onto the inner section (grooved side) of the fan belt. Coat the entire length of the fan belt. Applying DS-100 will assist in rejuvenating the rubber and immediately improve grip.
Misalignment – Misaligned pulleys will cause belt chirp noise problems and are caused by worn bearings.
HOW LONG CAN YOU DRIVE WITH A BAD IDLER PULLEY? You can easily drive your vehicle for tens of thousands of kilometres with a bad idler pulley, until the engine components continue to function normally.
Signs of a Worn Idler
Just as a squeaking noise can indicate a damaged tensioner, it might also be the sign of a damaged idler. A squeaking noise often means that the bearings or surface of the idler pulley are worn. The engine warning light may illuminate on your dashboard. Your power steering may not work.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
after replacing belt, idler pulley, and tensioner pulley tahoe still sqeaks in the morning?
ANSWER : At the next cold start, try this: Take a spray bottle with some water and spray the belt then start it. If you hear the noise, then the problem may not be with the belt or tensioner. If you do hear it, then it’s possible that one of the pulleys (a/c,water pump,etc) may be slightly glazed or out of round. It’s also possible that a bearing, such as in the water pump, alternator, or a/c compressor clutch may be the issue. Sometimes a bearing that is on it’s way to failure can squeal when cold until it warms up. Alternator bearings are a common source. A mechanics stethoscope may be a good tool to locate a squealing sound. Since the noise is primarily on a cold start, the vehicle may need to sit for several hours or even overnight to get the noise to occur and found with the stethoscope.
Just replaced both belts on 2008 Fx35 infiniti.
ANSWER : Hey Dan, thanks for inquiring. I don’t know that you necessarily need to replace your pulleys, neither tensioner or idler. However, if you are hearing a squeaking from your engine and suspect the pulleys are the problem then replace them as needed. I don’t think you really need to replace pulleys every time you replace the belts.
After belt replacement, belt tensioner squeaks and is loose
ANSWER : More likely mileage and time wore the tensioner out. The tensioner bearing wears out with mileage – it’s good to replace the tensioner pulley/bearing when replacing the belt. The tensioner itself is spring-actuated, and the spring can get weak over the years. The squeaking is likely from the tensioner bearing itself. If you decide to get it fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you replace your belt tensioner as necessary.
Replaced a timing belt and timing belt tensioner pulley. Still wont run. Why?
ANSWER : If you broke the timing belt while driving then you may have bent the valves. You should have the engine compression checked to see if you are loosing compression due to bent valves. If compression is low then have cylinders leak tested to see which cylinder is leaking and what valves are bent.
Serpentine belt is rubbing on the engine cover at the belt tensioner pulley 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
ANSWER : Hi there – I would start by doing a visual inspection of the serpentine belt, and the pulleys – are they visually in line? If not, which pulley is out of line in the direction of the engine cover? Are there bushings on the alternator mount which have softened, and are allowing the alternator to "give" such that the serpentine belt is close to the cover? The crankshaft pulley is not likely moving at all. Is the cover where the rubbing occurs coming loose, and moving into the serpentine belt? For assistance, I would recommend a serpentine belt replacement by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Old belt was sqeeking, new belt does not but it slips off constantley. The old belt stays on though. Why is this?
ANSWER : Check to be sure that the new belt is actually the right part number or, better yet, use an OEM (dealer) belt. Also, be sure the tensioner is the right part number or use an OEM sourced tensioner. Check to be sure that all of the pulleys and accessories (e.g., alternator, water pump, A/C compressor) that are driven by the serpentine belt are all operating in the same plane. It is not unusual for the pulley on the crankshaft harmonic balancer pulley to move (generally outward) relative to its original position. The pulley is rubber bonded and over time can move. If that pulley moves, that means that the belt groves are no longer running in a perfect plane and that alone can cause slipping. If you request serpentine belt inspection a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, will identify the problem and thence get the issue resolved for you promptly. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
What is the correct procedure for tightening the belt tensioner on a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo? We put the new belt on.
ANSWER : The belt tensioner on your vehicle should have an automatic tensioner, however, some models have the manual tensioner. Tighten the tensioner to where the belt is tight but loose in the middle length area as about the width of the belt. This ensures that the drive belt is tight and not pulling too much on any accessory pulley. If you need further assistance with your drive belt replacement, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
I replaced my tensioner and drive belt and the tensioner still jumps when its in gear. What could be the problem?
ANSWER : Hello. You may need to approach this issue from two different angles. One of which is to figure out if the tensioner is mounted incorrectly. Make sure the retaining bolt or screws are dry and tight. If the pulley wiggles when the vehicle is off, or has any excess play, this issue isn’t necessarily the engine. It could be that the drive belt tensioner is loose. This may be due to the components being stripped, the bolt or screw being stripped, or various other damages. If the tensioner pulley is on tight, the issue may be excessive engine vibration. This may be due to running issues, or bad motor mounts. The first thing to do is check the durability of the new tensioner and its installation. If the tensioner seems to be mounted correctly, then turn your attention to checking for excess engine vibrations.
