serpentine belt problem?

[rnelson]

I have a 98 Aurora with 85,000 miles that has started having several problems in just the last month or two. The car started making a noise in the power steering pump area. It also would make a noise when the a/c compressor would engage. Finally, the "Check Charge System" light came on getting me to thinking that the alternator is not charging properly. All three of these items are powered by the engine accessory belt. Could it just be that this belt needs replaced? It has the original and the manual suggests checking/changing at 60,000 miles. A cheap fix. Or could these three items (power steering pump, compressor or it's clutch, and the alternator) just all be going bad at the same time?

[zimaad]

take a look at your belt and see if it is showing signs of wear. I would say it's time for a new one anyways. I assume the "noise" is a squealing type noise. This could be a belt issue. Places like NAPA and autozone will test your alternator for you. Check to make sure the pulleys and bearings are ok in the alternator and power steering pump. Basically, you can put a screwdriver tip to the metal housing ( be careful not to let it slip into the moving parts) and put the handle end to your ear and listen for excess noise/vibration. A mechanics stethescope is best to use...they are only like $5 usually, but a screwdriver will work. Watch out...changing the belt on this one is a beast. A shop will likely charge at least a couple hundred bucks and say you have to remove an engine mount. You can do it yourself, but expect an hour or two and some cuss words. You ahve to remove the front right tire and plastic skirt to get access to the area. You have to take tension off of the belt and phenagle it around to get it off. Same with getting it on. I did mine after a $250 quote from a shop. They said it'd take em at least 3 hours b/c the engine mount. I did it myself in less than an hour and a half and w/o removing the mount.

[RobertHammen]

For a quick visual inspection of the serpentine belt, shine a flashlight on a place where the "underside" (i.e. ribbed, non-smooth side) of the belt is visible. If there are multiple cracks in the rubber there, it's definitely time to replace it. Just did this a few weeks ago, ended up taking off the passenger front tire and pulling the shielding off to more easily route the new belt. She runs quieter now (except for the roar when I put my foot into her, after modding my airbox :-)

--Robert

[jlaird]

I replaced the S belt on my 98 a few months back. I didn't remove the passenger side tire but in retrospect it would have made things easier. My problem now is that the belt has too much play, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Has anyone changed the idler pulley. It looks difficult.
Thanks

[jlaird]

Sorry, I meant tensioner pulley. Long day....

[radvra]

I replaced the Alternator in my 97 at about 120K miles after some god-awful noises that were a cross between howling and bearing grinding type of noises. This accompanied by some strong petroleum smells (sorta like gear oil). I had my local repair shop do the R&R and he said it was a major pain....apparently not much tolerance to move things around. Check engine light was intermittent during this period.

[ugsrich]

If you are referring to the just replacement of just the pulley itself (not the tensioner) it is easy to replace but of course difficult to access. There's a good chance that it's a left-hand bolt (although I have not mucked with it on my Aurora I have on my '97.5 Buick Regal). I confirmed it was a left-hand bolt that held the tensioner pulley on (of course it's metric) it practically jumped off.

Total replacement time on the Regal, 15.9 minutes including removing/installing the serpentine belt. As for the Aurora, I am relatively confident that the pulley is identical to that of my Regal and I suspect it's left-hand bolt as well (I am not confirming bolt's thread configuration here, verify based on pulley rotation). My concern with the Aurora is getting a socket on the bolt as it is so darn cramped at the "front" of the engine.