accessory belt squeak/chirp

my accessory belt under the hood has started squeaking/chirping. it does not have any obvious cracks or uneven wear, and i'm not sure the last time it was replaced (i've had my 98 jimmy for about a year and havent replaced it myself). should i replace it or am i able to lubricate it to try and get it to stop squeaking? and if i CAN lubricate it, what is a safe product to do so with? thanks in advance, guys

Get a Goodyear Gatorback replacement and the problem will be solved.

None of the belt dressings last very long.

//2000CAYukon

Also make sure the tensioner is in good shape.

//2000CAYukon

thanks! can i get the gatorback replacement at any schucks/kragen/napa/auto parts store or do i have to go to a dealership?

I had this same problem once on an F150. The problem was the belt tensioner. I hit the back of it with some lube and the chirp went away and stayed away.

thanks! can i get the gatorback replacement at any schucks/kragen/napa/auto parts store or do i have to go to a dealership?

Any place that sells Goodyear belts and hoses. No need to go to the dealership for the belt.

http://www.goodyearbeltsandhose.com/wheretobuy/index.html

//2000CAYukon

I would advise against the goodyear gator back belt, if you do a search here or on the blazer forums you will find many stories of how some people had those belts rip apart in less than a 1000 miles, I went to the dealer and for only 15 dollars more than a gator back i got an original belt and it has worked great for 10k , Good luck

I prefer the Dayco belts from advance auto. I like their cross cut groove design, if something happens that causes the belt to leave the grooves of the pulleys...the Dayco's cross cut groove design lets the belt go back in place, belts with continuous grooves would be destroyed.

Blazee, i am not trying to contradict you i just wanted to post the link to the thread i had started with regards to this issue, wolfox says that gates are also good belts http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=369082

Blazee, i am not trying to contradict you i just wanted to post the link to the thread i had started with regards to this issue, wolfox says that gates are also good belts http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=369082

That doesn't contradict what I said it shows a couple more opinions. My opinion is based on a past experience with my Impala. About 5 years ago I replaced the belt tensioner on my Impala, when I did I put on a Dayco belt, too. About 3 years later the belt started squealing, so I put on a new one. It lasted a month and then it started squealing. I thought that maybe Dayco was having problems and produced some bad belts, so I bought a Gates from NAPA. After about 5 minutes the Gates belt flew all to pieces. I got another Dayco belt and used it about a week while I tracked down the problem. The plastic pulley on my aftermarket belt tensioner had worn and was causing my belt to run off center. I replaced the tensioner and used the same belt that I had used for a week with the bad tensioner. That has been 2 years and about 30,000 miles ago and the belt is still good. The Daycos lasted longer, because they could go back in the groove after jumping out. That is what I like about them and why I still use them. Granted, the problem I had with the Gates belt wasn't the belt's fault, but it showed me the value of having a belt that could correct it's track, if for some reason it should jump a groove.

My opinion is based on the thought that it would give me better protection in case of a rare event. The Gates or OEM belts may indeed last longer, I really don't know for sure, but I know that I have used Dayco a lot and not had to replace any, except the ones I mentioned above and that was in a situation that wasn't caused by the belt.

my belt was chirpin alot so i replaced it still chirped
so later on i took it off cleend with some brake cleen and a wire brush replaced belt and gone runs exta quiet now

That doesn't contradict what I said it shows a couple more opinions. My opinion is based on a past experience with my Impala.


The reason i threw that out there is becasue i read these forums a lot and i noticed that a lot of people get really touchy sometimes, so to not start up any sh*t i just wanted to be safe, just trying to be careful not trying to tick anyone off, i have used these forums a lot and they been a great help so i dont want to make enemies here

The reason i threw that out there is becasue i read these forums a lot and i noticed that a lot of people get really touchy sometimes, so to not start up any sh*t i just wanted to be safe, just trying to be careful not trying to tick anyone off, i have used these forums a lot and they been a great help so i dont want to make enemies here
Your opinions and views are just as valid as anyone else's, you should never be nervous about posting them. As long as you are trying to help, no one should criticize you.
The problems occur when someone comes in and posts their opinions and says that their's is right and everyone else's is wrong. Or when someone posts incorrect info and continues to support it even when it is proven to be wrong. And of course...threads about oil or dexcool always cause problem. :)

threads about oil or dexcool always cause problem. :)


Hehe

alright, so i replaced the belt with a Drive-Rite 5060960DR from schucks. still squeaking!!!! maybe belt tensioner???

The tensioner would be my next path to change.

If it is still squealing, I would lean towards the tensioner.


My local Advance Auto refers to Drive-Rite as Dry-Rot. :)

Squirt the tensioner with some lube before you replace it. You never know it might work. Worked for me.

Charlie M.
Dallas, Tx

Definitely sounded like the belt tensioner from the get go. Might I suggest getting the dealer part. I changed the belt tensioner on my 87 Jimmy after 15 years of use from it and looking at the after market plastic junk, the dealer part was the way to go. Still going strong too.

I dunno how expensive it is on the 98, but it was reasonable for my 87.

so next question: is the tensioner difficult to replace?

Not difficult at all. Well, on my 87 I just needed a torx socket. Remove belt, remove the tensioner and reinstall the new one and reinstall the new belt. That's it. Note: the threads are left handed, thus, if you turned the wrong way and brake the bolt, then the job would become difficult. Check the haynes manual for further details and torque specs, they should be there.

The job looks similiar on my 95, but I haven't needed to change that one.

and where it says to use a specal tool to put belt on just put a 3/8 ratchet and load it with that