Runnin' through belts quickly
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Runnin' through belts quickly
My truck has been running through serpentine belts pretty quick. Not to the point where the belt snaps or anything, but after about 1-2 months of the usage, the belt will start to squeak every time I cold start the truck (has been sitting for a couple hours). The squeaking dies off when the truck warms up but I'm on my third belt now and the damned thing is squeaking again!! My idler pulley and tensioner are new, and all of my other pulleys seem to be solid as a rock. The only one that is questionable is my air pump. When I remove the belt I can shift that pulley around a little bit (maybe 1-2 millimeters). Strange thing is, that pulley bolts directly to the air pump spindle with 3 bolts, instead of using a bearing like the others. The pulley looks like this:
I checked the 3 bolts and they're as tight as I can get them. Do I need a new smog pump?
-Chris
I checked the 3 bolts and they're as tight as I can get them. Do I need a new smog pump?
-Chris
Last edited by Skandocious; Jul 7, 2007 at 09:34 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
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From: Island Southeast Alaska
Sounds like a bad brg in the pump and with tension on it it may be pulling hard. shouldn't be any play in it at all. I would replase the pump.
Also is there any oil getting on the belt?
Also is there any oil getting on the belt?
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
No fluids on the belt, I already exhausted that possibility. I was really hoping you guys would say "nah its supposed to move a little" 
Guess I'll have to throw $150 at a new pump to POSSIBLY fix this belt issue. Either that or I can keep having NAPA replace my belts for free under their lifetime warranty 
But I think they would eventually say "hmm I think something is wrong with your truck". If anyone else wants to chime in here PLEASE DO!
-Chris
Guess I'll have to throw $150 at a new pump to POSSIBLY fix this belt issue. Either that or I can keep having NAPA replace my belts for free under their lifetime warranty But I think they would eventually say "hmm I think something is wrong with your truck". If anyone else wants to chime in here PLEASE DO!-Chris
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Negative. I tried for the gator belt but NAPA wasn't selling them. NAPA is the only part store within 30 minutes of our house so I figured if I just sprung for the more expensive in house belt (as opposed to the cheapo that I bought before) then the problem might go away. I thought wrong. Now I wish I had gone a bit further to get a gator belt, I've heard good things on this forum.
Although, funny fact. My brother frequents a Ford diesel forum calledand all of the guys on that forum HATE the gator back belts. They have nothing but problems with them. When I told my brother I was lookin' for one of those he just about ***** a brick. I'm gonna try to get a refund from NAPA and buy a gator belt somewhere else.
And quicklook, can you elaborate a little bit more on your first statement about your wp pulley? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Thanks for simultaneously replying to all my threads, haha!
-Chris
Although, funny fact. My brother frequents a Ford diesel forum calledand all of the guys on that forum HATE the gator back belts. They have nothing but problems with them. When I told my brother I was lookin' for one of those he just about ***** a brick. I'm gonna try to get a refund from NAPA and buy a gator belt somewhere else.
And quicklook, can you elaborate a little bit more on your first statement about your wp pulley? I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Thanks for simultaneously replying to all my threads, haha!
-Chris
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Here's a cheaper solution, buy a shorter belt and bypass your smog pump, but keep your old one, so when you have to get your truck inspected, the smog ****'s will be happy.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Davis & Newcastle, CA
Will bypassing the smog pump cause any other problems with the engine running properly? Doesn't it create vacuum that is need by other parts of the emissions system? I don't want my truck throwin' codes left and right and running like crap.
-Chris
-Chris
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Island Southeast Alaska
Originally Posted by Dean88
Here's a cheaper solution, buy a shorter belt and bypass your smog pump, but keep your old one, so when you have to get your truck inspected, the smog ****'s will be happy.
New User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by Skandocious
Will bypassing the smog pump cause any other problems with the engine running properly? Doesn't it create vacuum that is need by other parts of the emissions system? I don't want my truck throwin' codes left and right and running like crap.
-Chris
-Chris
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 843
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From: Redmond, WA
If a motor-mount is loose or shot you could be causing premature belt wear/failure. This is a common issue with S-10 Blazers with the 4.3L.
If one of your motor mounts is shot, you belts won't be happy. Take a look at your mounts before you start buying pumps!
If one of your motor mounts is shot, you belts won't be happy. Take a look at your mounts before you start buying pumps!
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Island Southeast Alaska
Originally Posted by quicklook2
the water pump pulley had a slight wobble to it, with no belt on i could move it on its axis some.