Belt squealing
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 118
Likes: 2
From: Floresville, Tx
Belt squealing
Most days, especially when cold, belt squeals extremely loud on startup. Usually quits after 10-15 seconds and if I start it when truck is warmed up it usually doesn't squeal. Also sometimes when I go through a puddle it squeals. I've replaced the belt with a high quality belt, helped for a few days but back to it, new tensioner, made the problem worse, new alternator, no luck. Power steering pump is also new. I'm thinking it's slipping on the alternator pulley because my voltage reading drops when it's squealing and the lights dim but I'm not sure why it's doing this. Truck is a 94 f150 xl with 4x4 5 spd manual and 300 inline 6. No a.c., any help appreciated, thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 377
Likes: 6
I have the same issue. I believe mine is due to a replacement power steering pump that is way too tight. I exchanged 3 bad ones out, and just gave up and live with it. The reman power steering pumps available at parts stores now a days are garbage.
I'll be spending some time to locate the parts for a Saginaw swap once I can.
The lights dimming aren't necessarily because the alt is slipping. The whole belt is slipping, the alt is going to slow down.
Don't use any of those belt dressings/conditioners, they'll just make it worse. The best thing to try would be to take the belt off, exchange it for another brand new one, and before putting it back on, scrub the heck out of all the pullies with an sos pad. Also make sure your power steering pulley is still in alignment with the rest of the system.
I'll be spending some time to locate the parts for a Saginaw swap once I can.
The lights dimming aren't necessarily because the alt is slipping. The whole belt is slipping, the alt is going to slow down.
Don't use any of those belt dressings/conditioners, they'll just make it worse. The best thing to try would be to take the belt off, exchange it for another brand new one, and before putting it back on, scrub the heck out of all the pullies with an sos pad. Also make sure your power steering pulley is still in alignment with the rest of the system.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 118
Likes: 2
From: Floresville, Tx
I have the same issue. I believe mine is due to a replacement power steering pump that is way too tight. I exchanged 3 bad ones out, and just gave up and live with it. The reman power steering pumps available at parts stores now a days are garbage.
I'll be spending some time to locate the parts for a Saginaw swap once I can.
The lights dimming aren't necessarily because the alt is slipping. The whole belt is slipping, the alt is going to slow down.
Don't use any of those belt dressings/conditioners, they'll just make it worse. The best thing to try would be to take the belt off, exchange it for another brand new one, and before putting it back on, scrub the heck out of all the pullies with an sos pad. Also make sure your power steering pulley is still in alignment with the rest of the system.
I'll be spending some time to locate the parts for a Saginaw swap once I can.
The lights dimming aren't necessarily because the alt is slipping. The whole belt is slipping, the alt is going to slow down.
Don't use any of those belt dressings/conditioners, they'll just make it worse. The best thing to try would be to take the belt off, exchange it for another brand new one, and before putting it back on, scrub the heck out of all the pullies with an sos pad. Also make sure your power steering pulley is still in alignment with the rest of the system.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 118
Likes: 2
From: Floresville, Tx
The whole setup brand new, cheaper made than the ford part I guess. Made my problem 100% worse so I put the stock part back on.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,784
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
Clean all of the pulleys with a solvent, then scrub the surface with scotch brite or something similar. As you have already experienced aftermarket tensioners are garbage. Spend the coin for a real Ford part.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
While squealing or on start up spray some soapy water on the belt, if it quits its the belt, still squels then its a accessory. Have you replaced the idler pulley? Also be aware the distributor bushing can cause a squeal as well, to eliminate this as a possibility remove the belt off the crank pulley one morning and start truck, if squealing is present then the belt or accessories arent to blame
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,322
Likes: 1,299
From: Central Mississippi
Squeal is slip. As said, step up to a Motorcraft tensioner.
Did you check how much effort it takes to turn the air pump? They create hellacius drag when going bad.
If you have a 3-bolt side mount alternator, (don't know on a 94-6 personally) you can get away with getting a hand full of 7/16-ths (?) hole size washers & start with 2 each between the alternator & the bracket.
Wouldn't go over 4. You can put too much tension on something like the water pump.
Did you check how much effort it takes to turn the air pump? They create hellacius drag when going bad.
If you have a 3-bolt side mount alternator, (don't know on a 94-6 personally) you can get away with getting a hand full of 7/16-ths (?) hole size washers & start with 2 each between the alternator & the bracket.
Wouldn't go over 4. You can put too much tension on something like the water pump.
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