'99 2x4, 3.0, auto. 96,000 mi.
Replaced belt and tensioner 20,000 miles ago. It squealed before and squeals now. Happens worst in cold, wet weather. One quick, small squirt of Armor All protectant on the inside of the belt while in motion silences it instantly and completely. This, and the fact it's been going on so long tells me it's the belt and not a pulley. Just wonder why it squeals. Engine runs great. Is there a dressing that lasts for a month or so instead of Armor All once a week?

 

Hey, they make special belt dressing that comes in a spray can. I would think that the armor all is just making it slip a little bit and that is why it stops the squeeling. The belt dressing is made to give it more friction I think so it would do the opposite of what the armor all is doing. Do the belts squeel on day one of install or does it take awhile for them so start?

 

Try the idler pulley.

Mine though, it was a combination of all 3.

 

Mine does all that too. Do NOT put anything on the belt it just makes it worse long term.

I had a very slight coolant leak at the timing cover gasket.. I have a feeling a drop or two of antifreeze was getting on the belt.. but maybe I am wrong.

I just dealt with it... it usually went away within 30 seconds anyway

 

try a goodyear gatorback belt if you feel that is the only problem, it a very quiet belt for a very fair price.

 

Gatorback solved my squealing belt problem too. About $35 at auto zone and worth it. I'll never have anything else.

 

Don't put anything on the belt the sprays just cause the belt to slip which is worse in a way. I had someone tell me to put dielectric grease on there and it worked but it all built up in the ribs of the pulleys so I wouldn't put that on there either. My problem turned out to be the bearing in the idler pully. It's a simple 10 minute job.

 

I mentioned that I replaced the tensioner pulley with the last belt. The short spray of Armor All hits the inside of the belt and causes the noise to stop instantly. That doesn't sound like the pulley is causing the noise.

 

You didn't tell us what brand belt, tensioner, etc. you used. Some members have posted poor results with the cheapest belts.

On my '02 3.0, only 43,000 miles, I started getting the "squeal" now and then. The idler pulley had play I could feel by hand (engine off, of course), and then I could sight across the engine pulleys and see that the tensioner pulley was canted at an angle...indicating wear down there...so I had all three (idler, tensioner, belt replaced with Motorcraft parts...which were a few dollars cheaper than the parts store parts.

 

Idler pulley and tensioner pulley are in two different places on the engine though. It could be that you replaced the one that wasn't making the noise.

 

I had same problem for about 2 years. Replaced tensioner pulley and belt a few times. Each time it corrected the problem but within a few months it was back. I changed the tensioner assembly and all has been good for 3 years now!

 

MazdaRangerGuy has the right idea - there is something be it oil. coolant or ? that is on one of your pulleys and transferring to the belt - see this all the time. Belt dressings do not work on serpentine belts. My suggestion is to remove your serpentine belt and thoroughly clean all of your pulleys with alcohol or electrical cleaner watching carefully for the cause of the oil/grease/ whatever on one of the pulleys. You may be able to clean the existing serpentine belt and it will be O.K. however I agree that the Gatorback is a great belt and relatively inexpensive.

Russ