I have a concern with my serpentine belt chirping when it's wet or cold. I have tried soap, and other attempts to quiet it down. Belt tension is good, new water pump and fan. Otherwise no other issues so far. Please help. I have been scratching my head on this. Thanks Brian

 

Same boat, vulcan. Getting worse and constant.

I assume a bearing, but which? Can't localize precise enough by ear.
Divide-and-conquer, brought in a shorter belt to take the A/C off line.
If chirp is still there, I've eliminated the (new) A/C as the source and probably the belt also. Then its between (new) Alt, Fan/Pump and Idler, or another devil playing tricks.

If chirp goes away, the test result means nothing. --> I could have just disturb the source into temporary submission.

 

Try putting some DOT 3 brake fluid on the belt with a brush. if it goes away it's a safe bet it's the belt.
If it's still there try one of these to isolate the chirp.
Mechanic's Stethoscope

 

I dealt with a chirp too until I replaced the belt. Seems like belts today are stretching losing their tension. Regardless, replacing the belt is the least expensive troubleshooting.

 

If the noise persists after you bypass each of the accessories, it may be a bent pulley rubbing the belt.

Also, those idler and tension pulleys use sealed bearings. If you can pull one of them off and spin them by hand, they should make no noise at all. Any clicking noise indicates the bearings are starting to go, and should be replaced soon.

 

I also had another concern. When I turn on my headlights and/or park light, my high mount light seem to be on. If the lights are off, everything seems normal. Also I have not been able to get on ford aerostar/ explorer forum for months. I can log in, but it says that my account is not active. Please help

 

The only belt I've ever had any luck with is the Goodyear Gatorback cog belt. If you want a good long lasting belt, it's the only one to buy.

I replaced 3 NAPA (Gates) Premium belts in 3 months because they started chirping a couple of weeks after I put them on. The tension was good. The Gatorback belt I replaced them with lasted 7 years (until I let it good during the "cash for clunkers" campaign). I've got Gatorback belts on all three of Aerostars right now - it's one of the first things I do after buying them. With all the heat that builds up under the Aerostar's hood, you need a belt that can take it. I'm 100% sold on the Gatorback cog belt.

 

they don't make anything last anymore. Everything seems to be mediocre.

 

Hmm!~

As for the quality of products.
I agree I have had to return several brand new items that arrived in double boxed containters showing no damage. Apparently broken parts are shipped as well as high failure rates and short life of many other products.

In particular I have had 2 Samsung TV's Top of the line fail in the first month. Then after several attempts @ repairs they were declared lemons and I received a full refund. Current one Samsung replace the main board, 1st failed in 3 weeks, then told TV Tech they had no ideas as to what is wrong with the set.

So I will try a 4k LG TV and see if the are better, certainly much heavier, almost 80# for a 65" set vs 38# for the 65 Samsung 7100 series.

I will replace my current Gates Belt, when it goes out. Not happy with the short service life of the Gates pulley and idler units on my previous Aerostar. About 30k. Gates used to be better.

Will try Gatorback next time.

Also if you are going to the trouble to take a pulley or bearing off to see if it makes noise and it has many miles your time must be cheap. I replace them when I have doubts. Also if you pull the belt you can spin these for noise, roll them for roughness and check out the side play by moving them by hand. That is how I noticed my Gates brand bearings were failing early. Also observed serious pitting of the roller surfaces on the Gates units as well as side play. I replace the idler pulley, tensioner and belt all at the same time, save the old belt just in case.

 

Sounds like your pulleys had some obvious problems, that you could see them in the car. A lot of times, they're not so visible, and the only way to find them is to pull them off and spin them in your hand. Once I've gotten to the point ot removing the belt, it's not much more effort to pull off a pulley for close examination, so it doesn't take that much more of my my valuable time. And besides, it I assemble everything and the noise is still there, I'd have to take it all out again; THAT takes more of my valuable time.

 

Having same issues. Found out through trial and error my 96 had Ranger 90mm idlers. Replaced the first set with 76mm and still squealed, and idled terrible. Replaced with ranger pulleys and still squealing but not as bad. Brand new dayco belt. Any suggestions?

 

I still have a chirping that goes away after engine warms up. Could it be the timing belt and not the serpentine belt or pulleys?

 

I'm still a big fan of Gatorback belts here. The NAPA (Gates) premium belts chirped on my Aerostars after a month or so. Put the Gatorback belts on and never had any problems since. They've been on my Aerostars for years without any problems. I won't put anything but a Gatorback belt on anymore.

Serpentine Belt for '97 Aerostar with 3.0L V6 and With Air Conditioning and Power Steering:
Goodyear Gatorback 4061065 6PK2705 6 Effective Length 106.5 Outside Length 107.25

Here's the problem today - Goodyear doesn't make a "polycog" belt like the Gatorback anymore. They phased them out according to what I found with several searches. The part numbers now bring up the same length in a regular style belt that will work but I don't have any experience with them - the Gatorback belts last forever so I haven't tried their replacements.

https://goodyearbelts.mycarparts.com/items/1061065

Goodyear Gatorback belts and hoses are now branded Continental Elite, following completion of Continental’s acquisition of Veyance Technologies Inc.
https://www.tirereview.com/goodyear-...inental-elite/

 

Thank you. I will look for a polyclog belt next time. I currently am running Gates belt, pulley, and idler.