Belt Chirping/Squealing... Tensioner or Power Steeringt?

Three days ago my 2001 Impala 3.8 starting get a chirping sound. Now, sometimes I get a No Noise at all, a Chirp, or even an Ear piercing Squeal.

The Power steering was really low when I checked it yesterday, so I topped it off, Still get the same noise. So I'm not sure if that is the problem or not. Car Turns fine?

I have Read that it could be either the Power Steering or the Tensioner. Is there a way to check which of the two I should replace?

may just be the belt. I hear Gator Belts are much quieter.

If the noise gets worse as you turn the wheel left or right it might be the PS pump... I had mine changed on my 2001 LS for the same reason... If there is no change in the noise as you turn the wheel, or you hear the noise even at engine idle, it could be the belt tensioner...

when it makes the Noise it is all the time, Idle, running everything. Belt was replaced in Oct. Very quite till now. We put some Wax soap on it and no change in the noice

Tonight I will be replacing the Belt Tensioner. Hope this solves the problem

Oh yeah How hard are these to take off?

Okay replaced the Tensioner. That didn't work. Took the belt back off and noticed that the Water pump was making a squeak when we would spin it, and it would spin like crazy.

So after Taking the car apart twice last night to changing out both the Tensioner, and the Water Pump, I still have the squealing sound. So we will replace the Power Steering tonight.

Does anyone know how to get the Power steering out? We had it disconnected to replace the Water pump, but did not try remove it. Looks like it might be a pain to get out. I'm hoping it will fall out underneath the car, and slide back in that way..

Also need to know what size Star I need to take the wheel off the pulley? I think that might help it slide out under the car.

hey lon check to see if there is a o- ring in the pvc valve if you have had it out i threw mine away didnt even know there was one there but mine made the same type noise but before i did everthing you did i took belt off to see if it was one of the componts .some one on here told me to check that and bingo thats solved problem

Yeah I figured it out last Wed. Night.. that is what it was.. $400 later.. But hey got some new parts.

Hello, the names Brandon.

I'm new to this forum and would like some insight. I am having the same issue as you guys were having. I just replaced my OEM alternator for a high power alternator to handle the watts my amp is pushing. Prier, I was having some slight chirping on cold start but now I believe I amplified it when i replaced the alternator. Both my belt and my tensioner have now been replaced and no improvement. I see that both of you guys found the problem with the o-ring in the PVC valve, I don't understand the relation. Could you elaborate and maybe show a picture of the location?

Thanks,

by the way my car is a 04' Impala 3.4L

Yeah, you know how you can blow up a balloon and then grab the open end and stretch it to make it 'sing'? Well my car was making this funny noise and I thought it was the belt slipping until I determined that that little rubber 90 degree elbow at the PCV valve was actually collapsing when the vacuum got high and making that singing sound every time I came to a light.