Squeak/Squealing is driving me nuts!
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On The Tree
Joined: May 2016
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Squeak/Squealing is driving me nuts! 1. Replaced Tensioner pulley as it made noise when spun by hand.
2. Replaced Idler pulley as it made noise when spun by hand.
3. Remove main belt and start the car, noise goes away.
4. Alternator pulley feels tight and good.
Power steering pump may have excess play?
Here is a video I took trying to describe the end play with the PS pump/pulley and the idler pulley before swapping out the idler.
I looked everywhere in town and can't seem to find a Gatorback belt locally. The car only has 76,000 miles. Belt does not have any checking/dry rot etc. Locally I can only get gates belts. I didn't buy a new belt as I didn't want to spend $30 to get another squeaky belt.
Car squeaks/squeels when first started and when I get on the go pedal. Never had such an issue before with noisy belt/pulleys.
Ideas?
2. Replaced Idler pulley as it made noise when spun by hand.
3. Remove main belt and start the car, noise goes away.
4. Alternator pulley feels tight and good.
Power steering pump may have excess play?
Here is a video I took trying to describe the end play with the PS pump/pulley and the idler pulley before swapping out the idler.
I looked everywhere in town and can't seem to find a Gatorback belt locally. The car only has 76,000 miles. Belt does not have any checking/dry rot etc. Locally I can only get gates belts. I didn't buy a new belt as I didn't want to spend $30 to get another squeaky belt.
Car squeaks/squeels when first started and when I get on the go pedal. Never had such an issue before with noisy belt/pulleys.
Ideas?
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
I seem to remember the Gates belt being just marginally longer than the OEM belt. One of the final things I had to do to fix this noise on my '02 was return to a GM belt.
Also, I see that you have a '99. Have you replaced the alternator bracket as per the TSB for this issue? A revised alternator bracket was issued in mid-2000 model year which relocates the idler pulley slightly, this is supposed to help with belt alignment and squeaking issues. This bracket also requires a different idler pulley. So that's something else to look at if the noise returns.
Also, I see that you have a '99. Have you replaced the alternator bracket as per the TSB for this issue? A revised alternator bracket was issued in mid-2000 model year which relocates the idler pulley slightly, this is supposed to help with belt alignment and squeaking issues. This bracket also requires a different idler pulley. So that's something else to look at if the noise returns.
I would bet anything that it was the combo of the new belt and all the other pullies s you replaced that did the job. If not, the extra replacements will make your silence longer lived.
[QUOTE=alaska_guy;19375303]Power steering pump may have excess play?/QUOTE]
No worries. The pulley is plastic, though. Some folks to have this pulley make noise when it gets damaged - so if the noise comes back this would be the first thing I'd look at. (TurnOne makes a real nice replacement, which is best added with one of their pump rebuilds, which come in performance or stock versions.)
The Gatorback brand is dead.
Fortunately, Continental bought the lines and still makes the belts.
I really like them, although they still stretch out over time and I've had to replace them every 60K miles, just like the OEM belts. They are now sold under the "Continental Poly-V" name and have the same part numbers as the Goodyear Gatorbacks had:
Continental Poly-V (Goodyear Gatorback) AC Belt 4040410
Continental Poly-V (Goodyear Gatorback) Drive Belt 4060790
[QUOTE=alaska_guy;19375303]Power steering pump may have excess play?/QUOTE]
No worries. The pulley is plastic, though. Some folks to have this pulley make noise when it gets damaged - so if the noise comes back this would be the first thing I'd look at. (TurnOne makes a real nice replacement, which is best added with one of their pump rebuilds, which come in performance or stock versions.)
Fortunately, Continental bought the lines and still makes the belts.
I really like them, although they still stretch out over time and I've had to replace them every 60K miles, just like the OEM belts. They are now sold under the "Continental Poly-V" name and have the same part numbers as the Goodyear Gatorbacks had:
Continental Poly-V (Goodyear Gatorback) AC Belt 4040410
Continental Poly-V (Goodyear Gatorback) Drive Belt 4060790
