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Belt noises

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by irbullet, Nov 22, 2015.

  1. Nov 22, 2015 at 10:45 AM
    #1
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    well, about 1000 miles ago I replaced belts, pulleys, etc.
    Now, it's making screeching / squealing noises.

    Was fine until recently.
    It's not constant, just random. Every time I drive it happens though, but it isn't a constant noise it stops and comes back. It's only when I accelerate, have foot on gas, or let off the gas as well.
    Any ideas on what it could be?
    Thanks.
     
  2. Nov 22, 2015 at 10:48 AM
    #2
    opteron

    opteron Well-Known Member

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    whittier, CA.
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    Leer camper, bug-rug, fox suspension 2.0 rear, fox 2.5 front, BAMF sliders and LCA, TRD fake 3 piece rims
    belts are too loose.... I would start there.
     
  3. Nov 22, 2015 at 11:18 AM
    #3
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    How tight / loose are these belts supposed to exactly be? I'll start from there.
     
  4. Nov 22, 2015 at 11:49 AM
    #4
    tan4x4

    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

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    I would make them just tight enough to stop the squeaking. :D
     
  5. Nov 22, 2015 at 11:51 AM
    #5
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yes but how do I know if they're too loose? I don't want to make the belts too tight either.
     
  6. Nov 22, 2015 at 11:55 AM
    #6
    tan4x4

    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

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    If you hear squealing, then at least one is too loose. The dealers use a special tool to measure tightness. You're right about not being too tight, that could eventually cause bearing damage.

    I would check each belt to determine the loosest one, then tighten that a bit.
    Test it.
    Repeat until squeals are gone.

    Or, take it to a shop ($90 per hour labor charge), and have them do it.
     
  7. Nov 22, 2015 at 12:00 PM
    #7
    Dustrider

    Dustrider Well-Known Member

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    I wasnt paying enough attention at the aftermarket shadetree parts counter and the kid gave me the right size belts but wrong pitch for the grooves. Some belts have 5 or even 7 grooves , mine have 4, he gave me the five.
    I kept trying different adjustments for weeks until I finally noticed it
    changed back the right belts and it has been solved
     
  8. Nov 22, 2015 at 12:07 PM
    #8
    Dustrider

    Dustrider Well-Known Member

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    My standard (which has worked for 40 years) is to push on the belt , it should have about 3/8" to 1/2" slack. 1/2" or more slack is too much,under 1/4" is not enough.
    As judged by the "eyeball ruler", "bubble level in butt", "torque intuition wrench" method.
    You could put a straightedge across and measure the gap with a ruler but I trust the eyeball ruler just as well myself
    Belt slack indicator tools are available but my system has been working for me and I cant justify buying the tool for the amount of belt changing I do.

    keep in mind that looser is safer ; the worse can happen is annoying noise
    tight can overheat the belt and or cause bearing damage
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2015
  9. Nov 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM
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    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That did not fix it. Any ideas?
     
  10. Nov 22, 2015 at 5:28 PM
    #10
    tan4x4

    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

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    What exactly did you do, that did not fix it?

    Also, are you certain its the belts and not something else?
     
  11. Nov 22, 2015 at 5:38 PM
    #11
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Tried tightening them.

    I'm certain it's the belts.

    Also, it's only when accelerating / letting off gas (when I hit brakes the noise stops?)
    Everything is new as well.
     
  12. Nov 22, 2015 at 5:52 PM
    #12
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    have a friend rev engine while you listen for the squeak under the hood. use a paper towel cardboard sleeve as a tube over your ear to pinpoint the noise location. then see if its the belts or the pulleys squeaking. you could have a bad pulley bearing, even on a new one
     
  13. Nov 22, 2015 at 5:58 PM
    #13
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    It does not do it while in park.
     
  14. Nov 22, 2015 at 6:05 PM
    #14
    keakar

    keakar Well-Known Member

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    then its not your belts or pulleys, if it were that, then it should do it anytime and not need to be in gear.

    it might be your throwout bearing doing it if its a manual tranny or if its an auto, then maybe drivetrain related
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2015
  15. Nov 22, 2015 at 6:19 PM
    #15
    CodeSeven

    CodeSeven LOC: 33.781461, -115.867251

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    I have a very similar issue. i hear squeaking when driving from 30-50mph. but the noise isn't consistant with the RPMs, just the velocity. and its kinda random. I greased my u-joints and the noise went mostly away. still slightly there though.

    figured this by driving til the squealing started, and putting my truck in neutral and coasting. the engine went idle, the squealing continued. i believe it's my center support. i have a bit of play in it so tomorrow (monday) I'm going to replace it with my buddy.

    also, the noise got worse after I changed my tranny mount a couple weeks ago. I guess the tranny sitting lower kept the driveshaft held down so it wouldn't move. but now that it's at the correct ride height, the center support can flop around more, rubbing against it's own metal cage causing the squealing.

    luckily I have a 4x4, so peeps tell me I can just remove the rear driveshaft, put it in 4x4, and drive it like it's a front wheel drive truck :-D

     
  16. Nov 22, 2015 at 7:01 PM
    #16
    irbullet

    irbullet [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I can see a tad bit of oil on a pulley. Could this be causing it?

    I need to replace valve cover gasket.
     

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