LS1nterceptor

iTrader: (6)

Does anyone else have this problem?

I inspected the belt and while it is not new, it isn't worn out either. It's not even half way through what should be it's usable life. I checked the pulleys as best I can and none of them seem to be damaged.

The other day the belts got wet and the air conditioner belt has been squealing ever since. And not just a slight chirp, a high pitched shrill squeal that will rupture an ear drum if you're not careful. It's beyond dried out by now but it's still terrible. I soaked it down in belt dressing and it finally stopped squealing at idle but as soon as you hit 1,300 rpm it'll make you want to put a bullet in your head. And the higher rpm the louder it gets.

Has anyone else had this problem? Could it be a pulley? Should I just buy a new belt even though this one is fine? How the hell did a little bit of water cause this?

I've never had a belt make this much noise before. If a new belt doesn't fix it I'm going to go insane. I hate that I hate my car right now.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Don't buy a new belt yet. Make sure its simply not the A/C tensioner thats gone bad. You might just have to replace that one. There's absolutely no reason a belt should be the culprit unless it is tearing or ripped. Most likely a pulley is out of alignment or the pulley bearing is just starting to squeal when it gets wet. But it can still squeal if its dry outside.

Take the belt off and spin it with your hand, if it squeaks, its bad. I had to replace one years ago, they just go bad. Make sure the A/C compressor isn't whats squealing too, and the other top pulleys too. Sometimes you can be fooled on where the squeal is really coming from. Spin everything that can be spun, by hand.

GrimReaper

iTrader: (33)

I agree with above, although i've had trouble dupicating squeaks with hand spinning. i would lean towards your ac compressor. hopefully it will be the tensioner though

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

had the same problem - it was my tensioner

jomomma

iTrader: (39)

definetly the tensioner!

bene

iTrader: (16)

Yep. I replaced mine w/ a new one.

lutzfire24

Spray some WD40 on belt if it goes away it's the belt, but don't hold your breath.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

LS1nterceptor,

You could also take the A/C belt off and run the engine for a day or two, if there's no squeak you know its the A/C tensioner or the compressor.

LS1nterceptor

iTrader: (6)

I narrowed it down and it is the a/c tensioner. Since I last checked the belts and pulleys it has gotten worse. Before it squealed but didn't feel odd or show any signs of a problem. This time once the belt came off it was obvious that the tensioner was jacked. Now it's actually crooked. It looks like the bearing died.

Does anyone know roughly what they cost? Or better yet does anyone have one sitting around(hint hint)? I was at a stealership today because a **** on my a/c control broke off. That $1-2 part cost $15. I'm almost afraid to ask what the tensioner will cost.

Thanks for taking the time and the advice folks. I appreciate it.

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

Mine was like 40 bucks from autozone, but i had to special order it. It did come with a whole new pulley though, so that was nice.

Kikaofazz

iTrader: (2)

Just bought a Gates ac tensioner this afternoon from Oreilly's. I paid $75 for the entire tensioner assembly.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,13288

ACDELCO Part # 154670 {#12557335}
PULLEY,A/C CMPR BELT IDLER

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Or maybe this one:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,11659

ACDELCO Part # 38196 {Thermoplastic Smooth/Backside (65mm x 17mm x 20mm) #89049314}
TENSIONER,DRV BELT 2 DOORS; AIR CONDITIONING

Slash8915

iTrader: (21)

Had the same problem. Was the tensioner. Now just my serpentine belt squeaks until it warms up.

fccs

iTrader: (26)

Common problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syIHUDpGphI watch that, its what my car sounded like last year, if thats your noise then either its one of a few things. AC belt, tensioner, pulleys, basically any of those things id keep checking because its one of those even if its not by the AC.

xny1989

iTrader: (1)

When ordering the pulley, make sure they get the correct one. I had to replace both the tensioner and idler pulleys, and the auto parts places kept in getting me the main serpentine pulleys. If I remember correctly, you can replace the tensioner pulley without replacing the tensioner.

caseypryan

iTrader: (10)

Which pulley did it end up being in this video?

amazza76

iTrader: (1)

no need to buy new idler pulley/bearings, repack them with bearing grease. The seals are a cork based and are easily removable and snap right back into place.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

pulleys...........not tensioner