Hi everybody.
Just picked up my new Green Chevy Tahoe 5,3 LT for a week ago.
I noticed right away that there was a squeeking noise from the belt connected to the cooling fan infront of the engine.
I tested the tention by pressing my finger at the belt, and it is not tight enough.
Now i'm from Norway, and we use the metric system here when measuring, so the belt is going like 2 cm when i press it, and normal movement i've been told is supposed to be like 0,5 cm.

What i wonder aboute here is how to tighten the belt, cause i'm not very into mecanic stuff although i love to enjoy riding cars.
And finally my old childhood dream have come true.
I used to have a jeep wrangler, and a chrysler grand voyager 3,3 V-6 LE.

I would very much like some of you handy people to explain what to do and maby post some pictures to illustrate.

With kind regards from Lasse in Norway

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Belt tension is maintained by a belt tensioner and is not adjustable.

Either the tensioner itself is bad, or someone installed the wrong size belt on it.

//2000CAYukon

Belt tension is maintained by a belt tensioner and is not adjustable.

Either the tensioner itself is bad, or someone installed the wrong size belt on it.

//2000CAYukon


Could there be other reasons for the squeeky noise from the belt?

Belt tension is maintained by a belt tensioner and is not adjustable.

Either the tensioner itself is bad, or someone installed the wrong size belt on it.

//2000CAYukon


Could there be other reasons for the squeeky noise from the belt?
I put some cleaning soap in the tracks, and the noise went away.
After like 30-40 seconds the noise came back.

My wife use to have a 95 Saturn and the belt would start to squeak after a while. The belt was kind of slick on the smooth side. I replaced it with a Goodyear Gatorback belt and it never squeaked again.

http://www.goodyearbeltsandhose.com/cars/gatopoly.html

It also looks like there are 2 different sizes depending on the alt size (105 amps vs 130 amps)

This is from Goodyear's website:

Replacement Products for CHEVROLET TAHOE - 2001 5.3L V 8 Eng

Part No. Applications Usage Footnote Metric Part No. Replace By
Poly-V Belts
4040377 Poly-V, w/AC 4PK0960
4060922 Poly-V (105A Alt) 6PK2340
4060930 Poly-V (130A Alt) 6PK2360
Tensioners
49275 Tensioner, Alt & PS Drive
49276 Tensioner -- AC
Idler/Tens Pulley
49001 Idler Pulley
49003 Tensioner Pulley
Molded Radiator Hose
62261 Lower 962261
62262 Upper 962262
Molded Bypass/Heater
63506 Tee to Engine 963506

//2000CAYukon

Do you just loosen the black plastic thing that the belt goes around then, and thread the belt around the moving parts, and then mount the black plastic thing again with the belt on?

(The black plastic thing is without any tracks.)

This is a picture of your tensioner http://info.rockauto.com/Gates/Detail.html?38158.jpg

Find the right size socket for the nut (middle of the black pully). Using a breaker bar with the socket, unload the tensioner to get the belt off. Then when you put the new belt on, you will need to unload it again to get the belt on.

//2000CAYukon

Nice work mate.
I'll try that first thing tomorrow.
Is there a threadin map somewhere so that the belt turn every part arround like it should?

In your picture with the hood up, you can see the routing diagram for the belt. The sticker is black with write writing. It is under the white sticker but a little towards the passenger side.

//2000CAYukon

Nice, thanks for your help....
You have been most helpful.

Is it usual for the belt to get lose like this over time?
The Chevy dealer told me that they sprayed some sort of silicon spray or something inside and that was the reason for the sound.
He told me that the sound would disapear after a while.
But i dont beleave that, it should be tight and firm.
So i'll make them change it on their own bill...

Nice, thanks for your help....
You have been most helpful.

Is it usual for the belt to get lose like this over time?
The Chevy dealer told me that they sprayed some sort of silicon spray or something inside and that was the reason for the sound.
He told me that the sound would disapear after a while.
But i dont beleave that, it should be tight and firm.
So i'll make them change it on their own bill...

Tensioners do wear out. I have owned my 90 GMC K1500 Pickup for 17 years and I am on my 3rd tensioner (122K Miles and still going).

The belt could be the wrong size or the tensioner is worn.

If you put on a new belt (correct size) and it is still loose, you should probably replace the tensioner.

//2000CAYukon

What i beleave is the tensioner on my truck, doesn't have any tracks in it.
It's a completly blank black plastic wheel in the middle of the engine towards the engine coolingfan, so it doesn't look like the one in the picture.

What i beleave is the tensioner on my truck, doesn't have any tracks in it.
It's a completly blank black plastic wheel in the middle of the engine towards the engine coolingfan, so it doesn't look like the one in the picture.

You are confusing the idler pulley with the tensioner. I think you are refering to this http://info.rockauto.com/Dayco/Detail.html?89006.jpg

You need to find the tensioner to get the belt off. I will take a look at my 2000 Yukon later tonight and post where it is (unless someone else beats me to it).

//2000CAYukon

You are absolutly right 2000CAYukon. What i was reffering to was the idlepully like you said.
I think that the tentioner might been worn out.
I'll check with the service book to se if the tentioner has been replaced with a new one. The truck has 103750 miles to it so it should have been changed at 96k after what i read in other threads here.

So my dealer changed the belt as a part of the deal and used car warranty and the squeeking noise disapeared :grinyes: