i have a problem with the serpentine belt "chirping" on my 1993 F-150. it has done this since it was new and no one has ever found the cause or the cure. seems to only do it when the weather is very foggy/rainey or only humid. it quits when the engine gets warmed up (most of the time). i have replace 13 belts and 2 tensioners and 2 idler pulleys and to no avail. even tried various brands of belts including Ford, Gates, Dayco and still have the problem. currently i have a Dayco belt and has got 9,000 miles on it and does not "chrip" as much as the others when cold. this problem is driving me crazy. Help. if it was not for this particular problem then the truck would be a pleasure to drive. has lots of power and no major repairs. i have 103,000 miles on it. help if u can, please.

 

Every 90's, F-series , or Bronco I've owned does it. Tried everything to no avail!

 

try the gatorback belt? fixed my chirping

 

whazzat? never heard of "gatorback belt? where d u get 'em?

 

Try some thin oil down the air pump. Mine does it on really cold mornings and goes away when it's warmed up.

 

Goodyear makes 'em. The Gatorback stopped the chirping on my '90 and my friends '89.
Check out Goodyear's Gatorback Website at http://www.goodyearbeltsandhose.com/cars/gatopoly.html
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2002 F-350 XLT 4x4 PSD 6spd SC SB SRW
1990 F-150 Lariat 4x4 I-6 5spd RC SB
---Also in Family---
2003 F-250 XLT FX4 6.0PSD TSA SC SB
2001 F-150 XLT 4x4 5.4 AT SC SB

 

I had the same problem on my 88 Bronco. Turns out they make two kinds of belts. One is cut one-directionally -------. The other (more expensive) is cut two-directionally +++++++. The two-directional cut makes it more agile and stops the squeaking. If you already have the more expensive belt, try belt dressing. It is an oil that you can spray on that will moisten the belt and stop the squealing.

Never tried a GatorBack, but I've heard good things about them.

 

if u could elaborate more on the "directional cut" of the serpentine belt, that would help me understand it more. i tried belt dressing and it just makes the chirp turn into a squeal. the Dayco brand belt is the best i have found, but it still has a chirp when cold. something is just not right with this. perhaps a pulley is out of alignment or maybe some other factory defect that no one seem to be able to find. thanx for the information.

 

hi!! had my 93 F150 supercab since new....also had the chirping/squealing problems since new also!!
One thing, Ford did have a TSB around that time for a new modified fan pulley which was supposed to eliminate the chirps!! You may want to look into that. I had it replaced along with new belt around the 10k mile range,seemed to work for several thousand miles then right back to the "chirps"...been there done that....new belts,new idler and tensioner pulleys, always worse when humid outside or just rained, varys in intensity and pitch depending on where ac/vent/defrost switch is set...I now have 115k on the truck, guess what,still chirping, has been for past 1000 miles. Belt on it now is only 7k old, so when i find the time ill emory cloth the pulleys, try a different belt(have several layin around with less then 10 k on each) etc, will probably clear it up for a few more thousand,then im sure it will be right back at it..lol....Its got to the point i can take off the belt in my sleep...I give up on this common and annoying problem...PS. 302 engine....thanks for letting me vent..good luck... PSS. dont go the belt dressing route, just makes it squeal worse, belt dressing used to work great on my wifes 83 buick which had numerous belts, but never has worked on the engines with single serpentine belt..

 

is the tensioner set correctly?

the gatorback has cuts in the belt at an angle. this helps it grip the pully better--like having your tires cut to add traction in the winter. it also comes in either 6 or 8 ribbed, these are in the same direction as the belt. look at your pulleys, one of these has ribs on the pulley. the ribs on the belt fit down in the pulley better. I think they run around $45-60 and REALLY do work. after adding the tuner to my truck it chirped on shifts. The gatorback belt fixed it, not once since then.

 

Yeah, the Gatorback does help out for the chirping problem. Unfortuanatly ssn randy, these automatic tensioners hae no provisions for setting the tension on them.

 

I got the same one. I guess I'm asking if the tensioner is indicating in the correct position? Is it high or low in the ban?

 

Ahh, I see what your saying now! I think hes replaced his tensioner so I hope the gatorback takes care of his chirp.

 

The simplest solution (price is right too), turn the belt inside out- worked for me with no side effects.

 

The belt has grooves and ridges in it to enable it to ride in the pulley grooves, upside down is not the way that the belt is designed to work properly and will either slip more (possibly with out the squeaing noise) or probably self destruct. I would not do it this way, it really doesnt solve whatever the problem is.