Noisey Serpintine belt

[Randy1]

I have a "98" Aurora and have noticed a squealling noise when its cold. It is
progressively getting louder day by day.
First i thought it was the alt. so i pulled the belt loose and started checking
pulleys, I thought it was the idler pulley because its alittle loose so i ordered
one from a dealership. (hasn't come in yet). This weekend my brother took a
look at it and said try spaying alittle wd-40 on it to see if the squeal goes
away, and sure enough it stopped instantly. I could have sworn it sounded
like metal to metal. The belt looks perfect, no cracks. I almost had the dealership
change that idler pulley ($250) for me because it looked like a job. It looks hard enough
just to change the belt, I think it can be done without removing the motor mount,
Has anybody else had any problems with squealing belts? This is a first for me.
Randy1

[bustedratchet]

Mine started squeeling as soon as it got cold (If I remember right 2 days after I waxed my car in A FRIGGIN T-SHIRT) But it goes away in a couple seconds. Check this link about the belt . http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=139946

[jjdewd]

one of my pulley's chatters in below freezing hope it lasts til spring lol

[Indy8]

As the engine is idling and starting to warm, spray some silicon on both sides of the belt for a good 30 seconds(about a 1/4 can). I do this every couple of months. A mechanic gouged the surface of my idler pulley pretty bad, which then started tearing up the back side of the belt. I replaced the pulley($25@NAPA),then when my A/C compressor exploded and was replaced under warranty, they damaged the new one. I then used some crocus cloth and sanded it down smooth again. The silicon should take care of the noise if it is coming from the belt.

[jlaird]

I changed my Serp. belt a couple of months ago because it was making a high pitched squeal. It was ok for a short while but now the new one is squealing. Indy, any particular brand of silicone spray? I used some belt dressing on the old belt and it helped a few minutes only. I was afraid to use it on the new one, though.

[Indy8]

Pyroil(Valvoline brand) is okay, and available just about everywhere. Gunk brand has a little more silicon content if you can find it. Sometimes Home Depot has it. That's why you need to use so much of it, the government keeps telling makers to reduce the "harmful" silicon.

[ckpaas]

Spray wd-40 on what Randy, the belt or the pulley? I have a 99 and it has the same problem and as you guys have said i've only noticed it when it's cold.

[Randy1]

Spay it on the belt, the side that rides on the pulley. Mine is really loud until it warms
up. I thought for sure it was metal to metal. I bought some silicone spray today, so
i'm going to try it

[mikelebo99]

Its amazing how the same problem can plague so many cars. I also have the squealing noise on my 98. I changed the serpentine belt, but still have the noise. The silicone spray covers the problem up, but how do we fix?

[bustedratchet]

A way I found on many cars is whenever your changing the serp belt is to clean all the pulleys. Wire brush the pulley ribs and spray them out with carb cleaner. Put the belt on when everything is dry.

[BKVic]

Just a wild guess but could it be that your tension pully is shot and by not putting enough tension on the belt it is slipping while cold? After it has been running a while, the belt warms up by friction and regains some of its rubber grippyness and the squeeling stops. Like I said its just a wild guess but it may be worth a look.

BKVic

[Indy8]

Originally Posted by mikelebo99

Its amazing how the same problem can plague so many cars. I also have the squealing noise on my 98. I changed the serpentine belt, but still have the noise. The silicone spray covers the problem up, but how do we fix?

Buy a quality foreign car.

[mikelebo99]

Well I tried the silicone and it did not work. I am going to try and change the tension pulley this weekend and see what happens.

[zimaad]

I have a 98 that had the squealing for over a year before I did anything about it. I just kept spreaying silicon spray (gunk) on the belt here and there but really, I just got used to it. About 2 weeks ago I changed my serpentine belt and the squeal went away. I have driven 1600 miles since and still no squeal (all highway though..) I did clean off my pulleys when I had the belt off, but don't know if that had any effect or not.

[Indy8]

Some belt compounds harden and make noise prematurely, Gates belts do not.