Belt Noise

[woodhaven22]

Hello,

We have a 2000 4.3L AWD van that has been given me issues with a belt noise. I took it into the shop, and the belt was replaced. This cleared up the noise for about a week and it came back. They replaced the belt again and it was fine for a month. Then again, the noise came back - but this time I took it to GM. They looked at it and after $$$ replaced the belt again!! It was fine for couple of weeks and now that darn belt noise is back.

Has anyone came across this problem before.

Thanks for any insight

[chevymaher]

Mine did the same thing when I put a new belt on it.My moms nissan pathfinder did it to.Both of ours had crud down in the groves in the pulleys.Brake cleaner scrubbed pulleys with a wire brush.I know your not supposed to go this but.Hosed it down with belt dressing after I started them.Mine been 5 years not a peep on this belt.Moms been a year since hers squeeled now.Check both your tensioner pulley and idler pulley with out the belt off.Spin them hard.Any noise or clicking?Any drag from either will cause it.Thats my round of checking for that it usually one or the other.

[RECox286]

Are you noticing that you have to top off the anti freeze occasionally ? When it is squeeling, pout a glass of water on the running belt. If it gets quiet all of a sudden, and then as it dries gets noisy again,
you might want to do a pressure test of the cooling system. Fairly common problem.

Bob

[woodhaven22]

Update,

I removed the belt and cleaned everything. Tested the pullies and found noise coming from the alternator. Reinstalled the belt and turned off \ on the van couple of times. I hear the noise in the beginning, than it goes away. During the off \ on testing, the noise did come back solid at one time. I put some water on the belt and the noise went away? I checked the don't have any leaks from the rad.

Another thing which I forgot to mention. when the van heats up the noise does go away. In the morning we have the noise and goes away as the day gets hot or van engine gets hot.

Not sure what the next step is?, but I'm going to replace the belt with a goodyear gatorback.

[cowboydan]

if the noise is comming from the alternator, it may be because the alt is on it's way out. how is your volt meter? does it move at all while it's idling? your engine will run ok if it's lower than 14volts. but when your meter drops below 11 volts, you will not be able to run any accesories. when it shows 10, there is not enough voltage to run the ignition system. if your voltage moves between 13 and 14 volts, your alt isn't charging the battery properly. this can happen for months. but a moving volt meter is a sign of wear.

[Jasen]

Replace it before it goes. Let mine go until I got replace it on the side of the road in the dark. It would only have been more fun if it was raining.

[Vinnie6]

Not sure what the next step is?, but I'm going to replace the belt with a goodyear gatorback.

That's what fixed it for me. I get belt noise whenever I use anything besides gatorback. My Astro has always been that way. I consistently get 2 1/2 years out of a gatorback belt without it getting noisy. The only exception is startup when it is really humid.

[woodhaven22]

I'll mostly likely repair the alt, with in the next couple of months. But I don't think that this is the cause of the noise. If it was the Alt. 100%, why does the sound go away when I put water on the belt?

I guess a new belt and tensioner will be replaced this weekend. If the noise continues, then the alt is next.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[chevymaher]

I had a split in my belt.So I replaced it.Did not squeal before hand and it did afterward.I know everybody says dont use belt dressing.Well if it squeals I do.At fartstone in the shop they did to.Anyway I hosed it down to the tune of a half a bottle.That belt is now 5 years old with frayed edges and it has never even made a peep again.Before it squealed hard and loud everytime it started.

[cowboydan]

Randy, it's not that i don't like belt dressing, i just think too many people try to use is as a fix for real problems. sometimes you get contaminates on the belt or a pully. sometimes the belt is a bit rough when you buy it. my belt dressing is just fine dirt or if i can find talc powder.

woodhaven22, as for the tensioner being loud.... just dab some 3n1 oil onto the bearing (not running) and then hit the bearing while its running with a couple shots of wd40. give it some k. this also works well for really bad door hinges, and siezed key tumblers (locking locking gas caps are really bad for siezing).

[chevymaher]

Randy, it's not that i don't like belt dressing, i just think too many people try to use is as a fix for real problems. sometimes you get contaminates on the belt or a pully. sometimes the belt is a bit rough when you buy it. my belt dressing is just fine dirt or if i can find talc powder.

woodhaven22, as for the tensioner being loud.... just dab some 3n1 oil onto the bearing (not running) and then hit the bearing while its running with a couple shots of wd40. give it some k. this also works well for really bad door hinges, and siezed key tumblers (locking locking gas caps are really bad for siezing).

I agree Always troubleshoot first.

[Lumpy]

...give it some k.

His belt needs potassium?


Lumpy

[Jasen]

Oh great, Lumpy's suggesting to rub a banana no the belt

[RECox286]

Who knows ? It might just work. Mechanic in a banana... I have learned that I don't know everything, even though at one time I was young enough to know everything.

Bob

[Lumpy]

Who knows ? It might just work. Mechanic in a banana...

Bananachanic.


Lumpy

[cowboydan]

...give it some k.

His belt needs potassium?


Lumpy

yuuup. seeing as you got it comming out your ears, you should offer it to him

[woodhaven22]

I'll do almost anything to get that darn noise to quit !

[woodhaven22]

Well -> replaced the belt (gaterback) and tensioner today, with no noise. We'll see how long this lasts!

Thanks for the suggestions

[zxx]

If your belts are new or in good shape as yours are, try a mixture of "Dawn" dish soap and hot water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle set to 'stream'. Start the engine and at idle squirt the mixture liberally on all the pulleys; try to aim for the pull side on the pulley so the mixture is pulled into the pulley. When you have done this cleaning you can hose off the mixture or leave it on.

[exoticautodetai]

Any update on this? I have the same problem, but trying to read to minimise my doubts. I'm replacing the belt and pulley as well. Does rockauto carries gator belt?