Belt squeal
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Long Beach,CA.
Belt squeal
Any ideas on what causes a serpentine belt to squeal? The belt is not old and is in good condition. I thought it might be one of the pulleys, but it's not. It squeals loudly for a while after start up but seems to go away after the truck has been driven for a while. I sprayed WD-40 on it and that stopped the squeal- but only for a min or so. Any remedies??
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,374
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From: Palm Bay, Florida
We had a similliar thread going about 2 weeks ago about squeeking belts.
Mine was a quality gates Green Stripe one, and after a water pump change and cleaning of the surfaces on the pulleys it squeeked terribly with no signs of abnormal wear or cracking.
I replaced it with anouther NEW Gates Green Stripe, and all is quiet now.
So, unless you've got a bad bearing in a pulley, alternator, water pump, p/s pump , idler, a/c comp, then just get a new belt.
Mine was a quality gates Green Stripe one, and after a water pump change and cleaning of the surfaces on the pulleys it squeeked terribly with no signs of abnormal wear or cracking.
I replaced it with anouther NEW Gates Green Stripe, and all is quiet now.
So, unless you've got a bad bearing in a pulley, alternator, water pump, p/s pump , idler, a/c comp, then just get a new belt.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 996
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From: TALLAHASSEE FL
We had a similliar thread going about 2 weeks ago about squeeking belts.
Mine was a quality gates Green Stripe one, and after a water pump change and cleaning of the surfaces on the pulleys it squeeked terribly with no signs of abnormal wear or cracking.
I replaced it with anouther NEW Gates Green Stripe, and all is quiet now.
So, unless you've got a bad bearing in a pulley, alternator, water pump, p/s pump , idler, a/c comp, then just get a new belt.
Mine was a quality gates Green Stripe one, and after a water pump change and cleaning of the surfaces on the pulleys it squeeked terribly with no signs of abnormal wear or cracking.
I replaced it with anouther NEW Gates Green Stripe, and all is quiet now.
So, unless you've got a bad bearing in a pulley, alternator, water pump, p/s pump , idler, a/c comp, then just get a new belt.
I have tried belt dressing and on the Boat it works but never had on my truck. Some have told me to get a candle and with the truck running " BEEEEE CAREFUL
" Hold the candle on the belt top and bottom. Same can be done with a bar of soap.Also had this problem once before after a p/s pump reinstall. Come to find out the pulley was just a tad bit out of alignment. Pulled it back towards the radiator a 16th of a inch and bang.......NOISE GONE.
Nedless to say be patient make shure you check EVERYTHING good. DO NOT use WD-40 as it can penetrate the bearings in the pulleys and quickly destroy a good pulley by breaking down the grease.. Same with a belt, it can cause the rubber to swell and stretch and cause breakage. Good luck i hate a squealer. Keep us updated
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 53
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I had just swapped an idler and pulleys, and even a new belt, it was chirping, thought it was another bad pulley, no change, it would quiet right down when I put a little Dove bar soap on the underside while running, was advised to get a new Gates belt. Took me a few days to get the replacement belt and before I could install it the chirping went totally away, so the new belt sits uninstalled in my truck box. That was last January, still good today.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,852
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If you sprayed WD-40 on the belt and it stopped, then it is the belt, not the pulleys or any of the accessories.
But, you can further isolate it by doing this: If there is writing on the belt, proceed to step B. If there is no marking on the belt, put a mark on it with white-out or light colored paint.
Now Step B, listen to the squeak while watching the belt. If it is a continuous squeal, it's most likely a pulley or an accessory. However, if like mine, the squeak corresponds to every time the lettering (or mark) on the belt goes by, then it is the belt.
My belt started squeaking after I did my injector cup replacement, during which time it was exposed to random splashes of anti-freeze and other chemicals. I'm guessing that cleaning it really well and armor-alling it might fix it, but it kinda sounds like sleigh bells, so I'm going to wait until after Christmas.
But, you can further isolate it by doing this: If there is writing on the belt, proceed to step B. If there is no marking on the belt, put a mark on it with white-out or light colored paint.
Now Step B, listen to the squeak while watching the belt. If it is a continuous squeal, it's most likely a pulley or an accessory. However, if like mine, the squeak corresponds to every time the lettering (or mark) on the belt goes by, then it is the belt.
My belt started squeaking after I did my injector cup replacement, during which time it was exposed to random splashes of anti-freeze and other chemicals. I'm guessing that cleaning it really well and armor-alling it might fix it, but it kinda sounds like sleigh bells, so I'm going to wait until after Christmas.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 996
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From: TALLAHASSEE FL
If you sprayed WD-40 on the belt and it stopped, then it is the belt, not the pulleys or any of the accessories.
But, you can further isolate it by doing this: If there is writing on the belt, proceed to step B. If there is no marking on the belt, put a mark on it with white-out or light colored paint.
Now Step B, listen to the squeak while watching the belt. If it is a continuous squeal, it's most likely a pulley or an accessory. However, if like mine, the squeak corresponds to every time the lettering (or mark) on the belt goes by, then it is the belt.
My belt started squeaking after I did my injector cup replacement, during which time it was exposed to random splashes of anti-freeze and other chemicals. I'm guessing that cleaning it really well and armor-alling it might fix it, but it kinda sounds like sleigh bells, so I'm going to wait until after Christmas.
But, you can further isolate it by doing this: If there is writing on the belt, proceed to step B. If there is no marking on the belt, put a mark on it with white-out or light colored paint.
Now Step B, listen to the squeak while watching the belt. If it is a continuous squeal, it's most likely a pulley or an accessory. However, if like mine, the squeak corresponds to every time the lettering (or mark) on the belt goes by, then it is the belt.
My belt started squeaking after I did my injector cup replacement, during which time it was exposed to random splashes of anti-freeze and other chemicals. I'm guessing that cleaning it really well and armor-alling it might fix it, but it kinda sounds like sleigh bells, so I'm going to wait until after Christmas.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Long Beach,CA.
Well I tried the soap method- and it worked! I did use Irish Springs though 
. So I hope that continues to work! Well at least I know it's not one of the pulleys- thats good! Thanks for the help guys!
. So I hope that continues to work! Well at least I know it's not one of the pulleys- thats good! Thanks for the help guys!
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