Yep. It’s me again. With the belt squeal. Again.

The mighty Fuzzpuss was gracious enough to help me troubleshoot the problem. We tried the stethoscope trick and it was inconclusive. We swapped each pulley from his truck into mine and nothing changed. Then we tried his serpentine belt. Finally no squeal. We confirmed by removing the belt and starting my truck without the belt and the squeal was gone.
A quick trip to Oriellys got me a new Gates belt.
I installed it and oh the sweet sweet silence…
For a few weeks.
Three or four weeks later the squeal came back and it was louder than ever.
Oriellys swapped the Gates belt out under warranty and all was good.
For a few weeks.
This time it lasted just two weeks I believe. It started as a whisper and graduated to full blown ghetto blaster levels of squeal within 24 hours.

There is no coolant leaking onto the belt anywhere.
I noticed the power steering pulley has a very small amount of movement back & forth. I’ve heard this is normal but it’s worth mentioning.
All other pulleys are solid with no slop.
The belts have no abnormal wear on either the inside or outside. The edges are not frayed or burned.
Also, with the hood up and engine running I have a really hard time telling where the squeal is coming from. It sounds like it’s coming from wherever I’m not standing at the time. Example-if I’m on the drivers side it comes from the passenger side and vise-versa.

If I spray any kind of lubricant inside or outside of the belt it stops squealing almost immediately but starts again within 5-10 seconds.

I do not understand.

 

A weak belt tensioner? Which could be causing the belts to slip enough to glaze them over then they start to squeal. B.

 

It’s new. Along with the AC compressor and alternator.

 

Got it. B.

 

I can't recall, did you scuff up the surface of the water pump pulley where the belt rides? If not, it is something free to try.

 

I have not heard that suggestion. I’ll try it.
Why/how does that change things? Why that one?

 

It is a relatively smooth surface where a belt can slip and your noise stopped temporarily with a lubricant spray to the belt (ie not a bearing issue with one of the other pulleys). Just a scuff with some (EDIT - coarse grit) sandpaper.

 

I’ll try it.
That’s cheaper than a new power steering pump, new alternator, new tensioner, and even a new belt.

 

Spray silicone spray on the belt. It will be quiet.

 

I’ve tried WD-40 and white lithium spray and dish soap and a spray belt dressing. I don’t remember the brand.

 

Wipe all that stuff off you sprayed on. Clean the pulleys. Try silicone spray. It will work.
It is possible that you will have to repeat it, it is enough a small amount of silicone spray.
Of the products you mentioned, I only know WD-40. Do not use oils on rubber parts.
Try silicone spray. It is important that everything is clean and dry before.

 

I should have mentioned I tried all that stuff in desperation over a year ago when I was dealing with the squeal. That time it turned out to be the AC compressor failing.

Everything now is dry and clean.
I’m going to try lightly scuffing the water pump pulley first. Then the silicone spray.

Thank you!

 

I knew these had been discussed several times before somewhere ....................

https://bulletproofdiesel.com/blogs/...er-pump-pulley

 

Fascinating.
I wonder why that pulley is affected by glazing and not the others?
I’m trying this first.

Thanks!

 

IMO it is because that is a smooth surface on a pulley that is used to do "work" (power input to turn the water pump is a fair amount of "work"). I surmise that there is a very small amount of slippage on each startup that will, over time, put that surface glaze on it.