Belt tensioner specs?

Ok, before I go ripping idler pulleys out this weekend, I want to make sure the squeal I'm hearing isn't the tension not being quite right. Is there a torque spec on that 14mm bolt for the tensioner or do you just go by physical play in the belt?

 

Alright. Now to figure out which pulley is bad

 

I don't think it's the tensioner. I was referring to the three idler pulleys.

It's odd. The truck squeals slightly when I first start, but not like it did before the belt was replaced. Before the belt was replaced, it squeaked on cold or wet starts, and would only last for about 30-40seconds. Now it starts again on colder mornings (not so much wet days unless it's cold), and squeals usually only during acceleration and lasts much longer (ususally about the first 5 minutes of the drive).

I can't pinpoint the source no matter how hard I try. The noise isn't getting worse either. Does that really sound like a pulley, or is my belt (non OEM) already garbage again?

 

September 12 was the last day I changed my oil (~2,000 miles ago). The belt was replaced a month before that. This problem started I would say about a month ago.

 

I have a bad u joint and it squeals like a bad pulley or belt. Mine is accompanied by vibration but I was talking to someone who recently changed theirs on their '05 and they said they had the noise but no vibration.

 

Well I know the u-joints are good, and I've definitely isolated the noise to the front of the engine, I just don't know whether it's the belt or pulleys (and which one).

Chris (or anyone else), should I be able to test these pulleys out with the belt of to see if they're bad (spin them by hand, and if they stick or don't spin smoothly, I can assume they're going bad)?

 

Anyone done a write up on changing the belt pulleys? I've had several replaced on two separate occasions by the dealers. I can't imagine they are going to do many more under warranty, so I'm gonna have to start doing them myself I think

Also, can't you take the belt off, and spin the pulley's by hand to hear them individually for squeaking?

 

That's what I'm wondering.

 

Great. I thought about the stethoscope idea, but like you said, I'm not too keen on jamming that thing in there.

Do pulleys that are going bad get progressively worse over time? Mine haven't gotten any louder or any longer in duration which leads me to believe it MIGHT be some dirt/grease on the belt. I might pull the belt and wash it in soapy water.

 

Ok, so other than a stethoscope, there's really no way to pinpoint which pulley is bad? Because honestly, when it was finally squeaking on startup yesterday with NO acceleration, I got out of the truck, popped the hood, and listened. I could NOT even pick a side of the belt system as to where the noise was originating. This is going to be fun.

 

Sounds good. I think I can scrounge up something.

 

any luck on this one? My 2005 is doing the same thing. I am on my second belt replacement and the last new belt OEM lasted for about 4 months before the noise came back. Right now its only there when its wet out. I know its the belt as I rubbed some sidewalk chalk on the inside of the belt today before I left for work (with engine running-very careful) and the noise goes right away. It will be back in a day or so though.

I am thinking about trying a Goodyear gatorback belt next. After that my guess is the belt tensioner is not applying enough tension although it seams pretty tight. You cant even turn the belt 90 degrees whcih I always thought meant it was tight enough.

I never thought about oil getting on it. I attach a hose to the drain below the filter but maybe then I take the hose out when I am done its possible some oil dripped on the belt at that point. I would think the chalk on the belt would dry up that issue though.

Who the heck knows but this sure is annoying!

 

You can take the belt off and see if there is any play in the pulleys by rocking them back and forth. Also, do any of them not spin freely? Is the water pump leaking out the seep hole?

I am just going to take a stab in the dark and guess water pump but only because I have owned alot of GM vehicles in the past and they were notorious for failing water pumps and fuel pumps.