Squeaky Belt ... or Pulley .... or Something

[MrSimon]

My serp. belt started squeaking. I tightened it up to the right tension, but it still squeaks. I am now convinced that its not the belt. I think its one of the pulleys, but how in the heck am I supposed to know which one is bad.

 

What should I do?

[Pete M]

Do what I do for the minivan, carefully touch a bar of soap to the belt when the engine is running. :D

[BLHTAZ]

I had the same problem for several months. I changed the belt 4 times before I finally found out that someone before me had replaced the power steering pump and in the process, they did not put the pulley back on correctly. It was not pushed far enough on the shaft and the mis-alignment was causing the belt to make all kinds of noise. It was only off by about 1/8", but it caused me a huge PITA. The front edge of the instal flange on the center of the pulley should be flush with the end of the pump shaft.

 

Also...check your idler pulley bearing to see if it is going bad and has too much resistance.

[HOrnbrod]

What has worked for me in the past is to use a piece of heater hose, one end stuck in your ear while moving the other end to the various pulleys the belt rides on. Usually real easy to hear the offending pulley (or bearing). :eek:

[BLHTAZ]

What has worked for me in the past is to use a piece of heater hose, one end stuck in your ear while moving the other end to the various pulleys the belt rides on. Usually real easy to hear the offending pulley (or bearing). :eek:

Wish I had heard that one when I was struggling... I will remember it for next time though :brows: .

[CWLONGSHOT]

I agree,

I think when you look you are going to find a bad pulley. Either one that tweaked, not installed correctly or from a wrong vehicle.

Could also be as simple as something one the pulleys them selves.

 

 

There is also BELT DRESSING you can apply.

 

CW

[Pete M]

And for the record, I do know which pulley it is in the van (idler), I'm just too lazy/broke to fix it. :roll:

[Eagle]

Odds are it's the idler pulley. They should be considered a "consumable."

[johnnyc]

Take the serp belt off and spin the pullies by hand. You should be able to tell which one is bad. For me, as Eagle said, it was the idler pulley.

 

Soap and belt dressing only cover up the squealing. They don't fix the cause of the squealing.

[Pete M]

But it's sooooooo easy. :brows: Admittedly, changing the idler pulley on the MJ is probably a lot quicker than changing it on the minivan. (Stupid sideways engine)

Also, I've found that a bar of soap works better than belt dressing (and is a heck of a lot cheaper).