Ecotec Belt/Pulley Squeal

[someguy360]

Hi All.

Over the past few days my ecotec has started making a slight squeal on idle coming from the belt/pulleys.

The belt is only a few months old so its not worn and it has very little slack in it so its not too loose.

I have tried using some belt squeal spray which just aggrovated the noise.

Anyone got any ideas on how to fix it.

I ran some water over the belt and that seems to stop the noise for 1-2 minutes then it comes back again.

Thanks All

[Brett_jjj]

It could be the belt tensioner,they wear out and slowly loose their tension over time, which then causes the belt to slip. Check if theres plenty of tension on the tensioner,you can test it by putting a 15 mm ring spanner on the tensioner pulley bolt and turning both the bolt and pulley as one,in an anti clockwise direction so the serpentine belt is loosened.There should be plenty of tension there.If theres plenty of tension there,then it should still be ok.Id look at the idler pulleys next.Id remove the belt, do what Ive just described before about rotating the tensioner pulley bolt with a spanner to loosen the belt, and then remove it completely.Once the belts off,spin each idler pulley by hand and feel for roughness in the pulley bearing,also spin them quick and listen to them for noise,they should be fairly quiet.Also try manipulating the pulley back and forth and sideways to check for any movement.If theres any movement,excessive noise,or roughness felt,replace the pulley bearing.The plastic type of pulleys are throw away once they are worn out.New metal pulleys are around $30 to $40 each..The metal type of pulleys have a replaceable bearing.This is the cheapest option.I paid around $7 each for the 2 idler pulley bearings and the tensioner pulley bearing.You just need a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the old bearing.Then it just taps out of the pulley.The new one taps back in,only tap it with a piece of pipe or a socket that has the same diameter as the outside diameter of the bearing.If you hit the bearing in the middle,it can stuff them,so only tap them back in from around the outer metal part of the bearing.Its also adviseable to first draw a diagram of the serpentine belts path around the pulleys etc.It can be a bit of a prick remembering where it went if you havent done it a couple of times before.Whilst the belt is off,check the alternator bearings for roughness ,noise,and movement or play.Also check the water pump the same way.The A/C compressor wheel can be spun around and listened to for noise and felt for roughness as well.There are no bearings as such in the power steering pump.And lastly check the harmonic balancer for any movement, damage or perished rubber parts.Lever it back and forth with a screwdriver,and try to turn it back and forth,there should be no movement in the balancer itself at all.

[immortality]

use a long screw driver like a stethoscope. check each idler with the engine running. if it's a dodgy bearing you will soon find it. you can also check the water pump, power steering pump, alternator and AC pump this way by putting the screw driver tip against the housings near the bearings.