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squeal like a pig! *UPDATE* All fixed!

NEK5

NEK5

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Starting to get a squeal in the step-dads' 99 Suburban. It's coming from the alternator/idler pulley, well that general area, can't quite confirm it.
I just went out and sprayed some lube on the idler, and it actually made it worse. Instead of a squeal every second or so, now it's consistent at idle, and obviously when RPM rises, it get's louder. Any ideas? The belt's been changed I'd say 3 or 4 months ago.
 
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Pull the belt off and spin the idler pulley and see if it is smooth or rough and noisy. Do the same for the alternator and any other items in question.
 
NEK5 said:
Starting to get a squeal in the step-dads' 99 Suburban. It's coming from the alternator/idler pulley, well that general area, can't quite confirm it.
I just went out and sprayed some lube on the idler, and it actually made it worse. Instead of a squeal every second or so, now it's consistent at idle, and obviously when RPM rises, it get's louder. Any ideas? The belt's been changed I'd say 3 or 4 months ago.
Click to expand...

Welp, you pretty much just toasted the belt with the lube. You probably just had a loose belt, it happens. Spraying lube was/is probably the worst thing you couldve done. That belt will absorb that lube and it got on the pulley. So now itll slip worse than ever.

Replace the belt and wipe down the pulleys with alcohol or acetone to get all lubes off.
 
Ive always had an automotive stethoscope on hand to seek out those noises down to the exact location.

They're cheap and cant beat any other tool when it comes to such a task. It gives you certainty as to where the noise is actually at, to the physical point, with the engine running.

You can find them almost anywhere - Harbor Freight to the rescue for this particular case (IMO).



Hope this helps in some way and good luck !


Troy B
Ft Hood, TX
 
Lunatic said:
Ive always had an automotive stethoscope on hand to seek out those noises down to the exact location.

They're cheap and cant beat any other tool when it comes to such a task. It gives you certainty as to where the noise is actually at, to the physical point, with the engine running.

You can find them almost anywhere - Harbor Freight to the rescue for this particular case (IMO).



Hope this helps in some way and good luck !


Troy B
Ft Hood, TX
Click to expand...

I prefer a big A$$ screw-driver, or extension. :D
 
I was thinking that, or a cut hose, or a long 1/4" drive extension, or a rod of some kind....or...well...

You just cant beat something that squishes your brain, and blows your ears when you drop the tip and it hits the fender. :haha:

But there leaves no doubt when you use a stethoscope


Troy B
Ft Hood, TX
 
ok, just pulled the belt off, and the idler makes a little hissing noise, and looks to be a little wobbly.

Now, another question. With the belt off, should I be able to move the tensioner with my hand (by pushing down on the pulley) about 2 inches?

How much of a biatch is it going to be to change the tensioner assembly ? :crazy:
 
ttt! It's snowin' out there, and I want to get this thing finished before it gets too bad :crazy:
 
I did one on a 95 pickup I had, pretty easy IIRC, shouldn't be to bad. You guys are supposed to get hammered with snow aren't you?
Oh, that does sound like excessive movement by pushing with your hand.
 
The tensioner is easy to replace, one bolt through the middle and it comes off as an assembly. You can push down on the tensioner but it should take a good amount of force to do so.
 
So, I put the new idler pulley on, go to put the new belt on, and its WAY too short. So I figured since I was going back I'd pull the tensioner assembly off and see how much of a PITA it would turn into. Well, it was just like Scott said, one single bolt with a locator pin on it.

I get back to the store, and as I walk in everyone's standing around. The guy that helped me the first time saw me, and said "wrong belt?", I just laughed, because its always something when i go there. The reason everyone was standing around was because there was a power failure, so there system was down. After about 10 minutes they get one of the computers up, and process my return. 15 minutes later the system comes back up, but he still has to help the guy infront of me. He gets him taken care of, but is getting pissed and lets it be known to everyone, saying he's sick of this place, and was glad it was his last week there.

Finally gets all my stuff (the right belt and new tensioner assembly) and takes my credit slip, and the parts to the register. He scans the slip and then the tensioner, and tells me my total is $9.43. I said "that's it, for both things?" He said " uh, you only owe $9.43, and thanks for being patient"

So, basically got a free $30 belt :crazy:
 
Autozone, my normal mom and pop place isn't open on Sundays :doah:

Advance, Napa, etc are all the same as well....
 
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