belt question...

[doberman_52]

In my 90 century, i have a serpentine belt the constantly squeaks and it is getting very annoying, would replacing it and cleaning the pulleys help? I know the belt is getting close to having to be replaced but I wasnt sure if that will fix the noise.

[GM Line Rat]

Remove the belt 1st, then check items such as your Power Steering pump, Belt tensioner, Alternator, water pump and AC Compressor by spinning the Pulleys clockwise (The direction of the normal engine rotation) and check for "Squeeking" bearings in any of these items...If they all check out good.....Buy a "Goodyear Gatorback" Belt for the car from Autozone, advanced auto etc.....You wont be disappointed (Approx $25.00).....Dayco brand is another good belt if your strapped for $$$ (Not as good as the goodyear....My ).....Avoid the Kelly/Springfield belts......I had several problems with them in the past (Squeeking and 1 belt broke with less then 5K miles on it).

[doberman_52]

Well, after further inspection while changing the belt, I noticed a puddle of coolant under may car and looked around and found out that my water pump is leaking, so I got a new water pump to install after I graduate this weekend. The pump and belt are both Duralast and should last me another 6 months or so until I get my project one up and running, but I am now experiencing some electrical problems too.

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by doberman_52

but I am now experiencing some electrical problems too.

And what type of electrical problems might that be?

[doberman_52]

Well, sometimes when I hit my brakes, i lose all electrical things but the motor, and sometimes the motor dies, if it dies, its like unplugging the battery and my cd player resets and also sometimes when I turn my brights on, my cd player and radar scanner turn off then back on. this is all only sometimes tho, but to often and is really aggravating. I am guessing maybe a bad ground with the battery or maybe a short somewhere? any thoughts? otherwise I will make a new thread about it...

[GM Line Rat]

Sounds like you have a short to ground in your brake light circut..... Have an assistant push the brake pedal while you check your brake lights for proper operation while the car is parked and turned off....Also, get a schemtic wiring diagram from a repair manual, then Start at the brake light switch (Just above the brake pedal) and work the circut back, checking for wires that are chaffed and making contact with any metal...... All The brake light switch does is complete the circut and pass 12V thru it to the brake lights when you push the brake pedal......BTW, If this is an aftermarket stereo, Where do you have the 12V power wires (Red and Orange) from your stereo wired to for power? If you had a bad battery ground cable, your battery wouldn't be charging properly from the alternator and most likley, the car wouldn't be starting good either! It wont hurt to remove and clean ALL the ground contacts under your hood that attach to the firewall and most important, the battery ground on the front of the engine block.

[doberman_52]

2 days ago i cleaned my battery contacts and re-did my amp hookup to my battery because it was corroded, hasnt died or shut anything off since but Im still a bit warry about it. But I think its bout time to look for something new and in way way better shape, I have beat on this one to much when I first got it, so its starting to fall apart, literally.