Squeak from front of engine
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
Squeak from front of engine
There has been a persistant squeak coming from the front of the engine. I replaced the idler pulley and it went away for a few days. Then after a car wash it was back. Next I took the car to our local mechanic and he said it was the water pump. So he installed a water pump. Two days later a slight squeak returned. Then after a car wash the dreaded squeak is back.
Any ideas before I start replacing more.
Rick
Any ideas before I start replacing more.
Rick
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Mitchell, SD
Originally Posted by rtpalin
Any ideas before I start replacing more.
Rick
Rick
Yes, stop going to the car wash.
(sorry couldn't resist)Could the sqeak actually be the starting of a squeal of a loose/worn belt? How old are the belts?
Last edited by 93nighthawk; Feb 5, 2005 at 06:59 PM.
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Senior User
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
The car is my wife's 99 sable 3.0l 12V. Its the original belt, about 88,000 km. The belt looks like new still. I can't believe the flippen belt is responsible. I'll get one tomorrow at NAPA. I hope they sell decent quality belts.
Rick
Rick
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From: northwest
mine is squeaking too. more like pssss pssss pssss.
it started when it got cold. but the belt is in great shape, no cracks, no glazing, the grooved side is nice and grabby. I dunno whats up.
ill try to avoid the car wash till i figure it out.
it started when it got cold. but the belt is in great shape, no cracks, no glazing, the grooved side is nice and grabby. I dunno whats up.
ill try to avoid the car wash till i figure it out.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Western New York
Try a little harder to pinpoint the source before you go nuts. Alternators can mimic a squealing belt when their bearings go bad. Any fluctuations in your ammeter display?? I suppose its possible that the belt needs a little "grip-it" applied. (A coating of belt dressing). The pullies on all (or some) of the devices may have something on them thats transferring to the belt causing slippage. Perhaps a stethescope placed carefully on components while running would help. The source of the noise would be easy to identify. Not recommended for novices.
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I wouldn't recommend belt dressing for serpentine belts they're pretty long and you'll make a mess on all the pulleys if you have V-belts maybe.
Dressing is a temporary solution and not a permanent answer.
The funny thing you said was I did replace my alternator at the same time because its wasn't charging properly.
Its more logical to replace the small things first then go bigger then the other way around try the simplest solutions first
.
The difference between a dry and glazed belt is a minute one if you have a repair manual look at the picture and you'll see what I mean. A glazed belt is very very shiny while a new belt has a more subtle tone.
Dressing is a temporary solution and not a permanent answer.
The funny thing you said was I did replace my alternator at the same time because its wasn't charging properly.
Its more logical to replace the small things first then go bigger then the other way around try the simplest solutions first
.The difference between a dry and glazed belt is a minute one if you have a repair manual look at the picture and you'll see what I mean. A glazed belt is very very shiny while a new belt has a more subtle tone.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada
It could be the belt tensioner. Watch how the belt runs on the tensioner pulley with the engine running. If it "wanders" back and forth across the face of the pulley, you may need to replace the tensioner - not just the pulley - the whole assembly.
My Aerostar had that annoying squeak a couple of years ago. I replaced the bearings in the tensioner and idler pulleys, replaced the water pump (needed done anyway), etc. Every time I had the belt off, the squeak was gone. After a couple of days, just when I was feeling confident the problem was solved, it started again.
Then I noticed the belt was wandering & the squeak coincided with the belt jumping across the face of the pulley. The tensioner pivot shaft was worn and the pulley was running out-of-plane with everything else. Once it got too far out of line, it skipped back quickly with a squeak.
Replacing the tensioner solved the problem, although the belt still runs noisier than I would like. An occasional shot of belt dressing helps a lot.
Cheers,
Eric
My Aerostar had that annoying squeak a couple of years ago. I replaced the bearings in the tensioner and idler pulleys, replaced the water pump (needed done anyway), etc. Every time I had the belt off, the squeak was gone. After a couple of days, just when I was feeling confident the problem was solved, it started again.
Then I noticed the belt was wandering & the squeak coincided with the belt jumping across the face of the pulley. The tensioner pivot shaft was worn and the pulley was running out-of-plane with everything else. Once it got too far out of line, it skipped back quickly with a squeak.
Replacing the tensioner solved the problem, although the belt still runs noisier than I would like. An occasional shot of belt dressing helps a lot.
Cheers,
Eric
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
I replaced belt on Sunday. I bought it at NAPA. It is made by Gates. The squeak is gone for now. I guess I'll have to wait for a car wash. That seemed to get the squeak going, before. It's to cold for a wash right now (-20C). Will probably get one this weekend and I'll post the results.
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Senior User
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From: Edmonton, Alberta
I finally got the car washed. The squeak is gone. I guess it was the belt all along. I'll never forget this one. Could have saved $200 getting the water pump changed.
Rick
Rick
