b0b

iTrader: (1)

So my belt squeaks on startup and goes away after a minute or two. After verifying it was in the serpentine system and not in the motor I put a 15mm socket on the tensioner bolt with it running and "tightened" the belt. Noise went away... Do belts stretch that much or is the tensioner bad? I looked at the Katech one but would like to not spend that much on a dumb problem, however I also feel another stock one would just be a band aid. I read about the gatorback belts but I have a 25% udp. Do they make those for an undedriven system? What is the most common remedy for this stupid ****?

allan808

iTrader: (3)

You can get any belt brand whatever size you need, also just replace the roller with stock. I went thru this for 2 years chasing roller after roller trying to find that dam squeek! one day i had the car on stands, layin on my back i seen the a/c tensioner offset a little, enuf to make the belt squeel! Changed it out and never had a squeek again!

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

The Katech is more to ensure the belt has constant tension (that is, it can not vary as it's not spring-loaded). It's a nice piece, that's for sure, but I'd venture to safely surmise that it's really only going to make a difference on engines that are spun at high rpms for a long amount of time (ie: the engines that Katech builds!). FWIW, a new ACDelco tensioner is $38 on Amazon.

As far as the Gatorback belt numbers, I went with 4040378 A/C & 4060763 serpentine when I put on my SLP pulley. They work just fine and I don't have any issues whatsoever with noise or throwing belts.

b0b

iTrader: (1)

Mine is the main tensioner, not the ac. My ac is completely removed. Same rules apply, just a stock pulley? With the way I was able to cure the squeak by tightening the belt, it makes me think my tensioner has lightened up some? Either that or the belt stretched somehow... :/

JDEP162

i think he means AC Delco brand main tensioner, not the ac tensioner or pulley. i got this from amazon as well and fixed my noise no problems.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

IMO, bit the bullet and get a manual tensioner, they're better looking than stock and you'll never need to buy another tensioner; ever!
BTW, you don't have to get a Katech. New ERA, CBM, Alper Motorsports, all make nice manual tensioners.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

You don't need a new tensioner, you need a new belt. Old belts squeek. Replace it.

b0b

iTrader: (1)

Belt is only a year old with probably under 5k on it. Im probably gonna get a new belt and delco tensioner and just see what happens.. hell with it

01SuperSport

iTrader: (7)

I had this problem a couple months ago. I changed the tensioner and the belt which solved the problem. Seems like with time they seem to loosen up a bit and move around causing that annoying squeek

JDEP162

Worked for me

sreve

iTrader: (3)

I went though this and replaced both tensioners and all the idlers,
all was fine until the stall and 25% UDP and it would throw the belt WOT
I put a shorter belt on it, tensioner all the way over and belt barely slides under
the water pump no problems since.

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

Some belts squeak after 1 year. Its hit or miss.

white01ss

iTrader: (37)

I had a similar issue last year, the sound of a wounded sparrow for a few minutes after cold start. Would mostly go away after it warmed up. Turned out my tensioner bearing was gone. With the belt off the offending pulley would rock back and forth. Swapped out the bearing and it was finally quiet again.

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

IMO, I'd first remove the belt clean it, and spray down the belt groves in the pulleys, Simple Green or Purple Power will do the trick. You might also want to check for small PS fluid leak, even the very small leaks will deposit PS fluid all over your engine belts/pulleys over time. So I'd clean all around the PS reservoir/pump with the same spray cleaner (SG or PP) also. This might be all you need to stop the belt noise, but if not then buy a manual belt tensioner, not a new belt and auto tensioner.

JDEP162

When I replaced mine, I also opened hood and ran car for a while, after a while the squeak went away, but I noticed when I goosed the throttle by hand, the tensioner bounced way too much, and belt started walking. Think I got lucky and caught just before disaster