Fan belts are squeaking

Is there an easy fix to this? I’m getting some squeaking and it may be a misaligned pulley. I’m also noticing a wobble towards the bottom

 

How many miles on the vehicle? When were the accessory belts replaced? Were the idler wheels ever replaced? If you can “see” a wobble it’s past due replacement. The job is not “hard” but that depends on the individual person handy factor.

 

If you have significant "wobble" it needs to be addressed. But you could try this first.

I had an early morning squeak that would go away when it warmed up, finally got around to changing belts. I don't have a meter like the FSM recommends, but tested manually with the deflection method. They were tight. Still squeaked on startup.

I slowly tightened the alternator belt, the squeak started to decrease. I did this three times, it went away (but still had deflection, don't overtighten.) Got to a certain point no squeaks, hot or cold, so try tightening up the belts a little at a time (and replace them if it's been a while.)

 

In my experience
if a squeak (not rotational noise)….tightening the belt usually solves the issue
If a squeal(rotational noise…more constant), a pulley or bearing is the issue

old school way is to use a long screwdriver and put your ear to the handle….move the head of screwdriver around
Or
This
Really badass/inexpensive tool

 

Might be worth checking the harmonic dampner. Mine wouldn't stop making noise with new belts and idler and tightening. Rubber in the balancer was making noise. A bad balancer will also wobble.

 

Good freakin catch^^^^^^

 

HB's wobble as they go out.....if not caught early enough....

it damages the HB seal......then later it can crack the inside timing cover..right on the back side of the oil pump gear cradle.

and then after that....it can even sheer the woodwulf key.....and even wollow out the key slot....destroying the crankshaft..

A sign that its gone too far....is when you try to tighten down the crank bolt.....it does nothin....still wobbles...



Good thing replacing a crankshaft......aint that big of a deal.....
only cost me $5K in parts and labor....

If you try and just stick another HB on there with that shaft slot wollowed out like that....you'll get a couple K if your lucky........and then one day when you stress it...like the A/c compressor kicking on with a load.......HB will just bust free and spin......and then all your dash lights magically light up.....

When you seat a new HB on crank....be very careful .....the new metal on the edge of its key slot can stick on that key......and when you crank that down ....you can damage both your brandnew HB key slot....and/or the woodwulf key....

I would recommend file/smooth the front edge of the new HB's key slot a very tiny bit ...
so there's no chance of it stabbing crooked...and that wont hurt a damn thing...

live and learn....

 

When they wobble....the alt belt slips and squeals...

over tightening the alt belt greatly accelerates the HB's failure...
.....thats a bad ideal....



and this reminds me ......its past time for me to check those 4 bolts attaching those other two pulleys to the HB....

thanks guys....

remember, these dont run on magic dust...

you have to check all this crap every so often as they get very oldddddddd....

or especially after you've gone in and changed stuff over the last year or so....
no free lunches.......no rest for the wicked....

Got to recheck that stuff after some time goes by....

Like my pass inner tie rod stake washer.....that didnt get staked right....
it backed off 2 or 3 whole turns....
.....just imagine what could have happened there...
........ I could have met John Lenon.....a little too early.....

 

Magic dust? https://www.autozone.com/greases-and-gear-oil/lubricant-grease/p/crc-belt-conditioner-7-5oz/55909_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:19502231967&&CATARGETID=120054150001287365&CADevice=m&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkcoVum3jsFJmnqL18AhYAKchm4U&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg7frxeebgwMVx8zCBB1wfQg0EAQYASABEgKyl_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds