like the title says, i have had the most annoying sound coming from the belt/pulley/fan area. it has been there for about 5 days now. i still cannot find were its coming from. I put WD-40 on the belt the other day and now the squeak is not as bad when idling. The sound gets louder and more frequent when accelerating.

here is a crappy camera phone video of the problem:



any ideas on what the problem might be?
:0

 

Take your fan off, just to make sure it's not the fan clutch.

 

ill try that first thing tomorrow. im thinking the tensioner needs to be tightened, now that i did a little research... i doubt it its the belt itself, it was replaced about a year ago.

 

I would just change that damn tensioner. They are not too expensive.

 

I wouldnt even bother taking off the fan cause thats not the problem. You said you sprayed wd40 on the belt and its not as loud so what I would do is take the belt off and make sure all the pulleys are spinning freely. I had the same noise after I went threw a deep mud hole I replaced the belt and it was gone then it came back the other day after crossing the creek so to make sure the tensioner wasnt wore out I took off the belt and made sure it was ok put the belt back on and there was no more noise.

 

My truck had a squalling noise like that too, back when I first bought it with 42,000 miles on it. The noise was pretty bad too. I bought a tensioner at Autozone and it did not look like the factory tensioner. They checked the computer several times and assured me it was the right part, I put it and a new belt on and that tensioner would sling the belt right off the pulleys soon as I started the truck. They exchanged it for a new tensioner, and the same thing happened.

Then I got to looking at a picture of the replacement tensioner on the Napa web site, it was different from the Autozone part and it looked exactly the same as the original tensioner. Of course, it also cost more. But I returned the Autozone parts and bought the Napa tensioner and a new belt at Napa and never have had a single problem with it since. I think the Autozone part was just somehow slightly out of line because of the difference in the frame construction on the tensioner itself. And that was when I learned sometimes I just have to pay more to get the right part. I had to replace my idler pulley a couple of years ago and went with the Napa part there too, no problems at all.

I replaced my serpentine belt about 2 months ago with a Carquest belt for 20 bucks. It is a really good quality belt, I think it is made by Gates. It was 5 bucks less than the cheap Drive Rite belt at Advance and 10 bucks less than the Autozone cheaper brand. If you wind up needing a new belt to fix the noise, maybe check Carquest. They might also sell the right tensioner. I have had good luck recently with Carquest parts, and for the most part their prices are in line with the other parts stores around here. Carquest had the belt for my girlfriend's Honda when no one else had it all, and it was only 15 bucks. Her belt was squealing like a banshee, I replaced it and it has been fine ever since.

Jimmy

 

I think it all depends where you live the carquest in my town is a rip off I went down the other day for a helicoil kit for my atv and he wanted 40.00 for it ended up going home and looking threw the tool box and found the one I needed lol but I got my duralast belt at auto zone for 23.99 I think it has a 2 year warranty also

 

I guess I am lucky then, the Carquest here in my town is a little mom and pop place, literally an older man and his wife own and run it and they are always knowledgeable and willing to help you out, plus their prices are pretty reasonable on most stuff.

There have been some parts I bought at Advance either because it was cheaper there or I had a coupon, or both. I saved 45 bucks on the new fuel pump for my truck by using an online coupon from Advance. One of the better points about Advance is they are open on Sunday; Napa and Carquest are closed on Sunday and they close early on Saturdays too. Napa here is pretty good but it's a hike to get there. Advance and Carquest are both just up the street from me and there is a good sized Carquest around the corner from my work too. The only bad thing about Carquest is they don't have a website where you can look up parts and prices like the other stores do. You have to do it the old fashioned way and call them up on the phone.

Jimmy

 

A bit off-topic, but...

I think that ALL of the "major" parts stores have certain shortcomings:

1. Ever try to buy u-joints for a 99 SLT V8 5 speed at Advanced?? Good luck. Three returns later, I gave up. NAPA knew exactly what I needed.

2. For some reason, my "formerly local" Autozone was a magnet for ****-poor plug wires. It didn't matter the brand, either. I bought a set of Accel (I think?) for the Mustang, shooting spark out the wire right out of the box. Don't even ask me about their cheapy brand.

3. NAPA around me is un-Godly expensive. But, they price match. Still, why should i have to haggle them down on windshield wiper blades for my wife's Buick? I will NEVER spend $53 on wipers. I will reach out and clear snow with my hand first.

4. CarQuest is even more expensive than NAPA. But, they have a machine shop

I still think you need to replace that tensioner. I don't have video of mine doing that, but...

 

Advance here is pretty good, they are all older guys and one who works part time is a tech at a local dealership. They try pretty hard to help you get the right part and they don't mind coming outside to help you figure out what you need. Napa here is another real small store, been there for years. Carquest had a good sale on Carquest oil (made by Ashland, the same place where Valvoline comes from) and The Carquest Red oil filter (made by Wix to Carquest specs) a few months ago. That's what got me to check out Carquest. I agree, Napa can by pretty expensive, but I use either Napa brand or Carquest oil (both from Ashland) and their house brand oil filters (both from Wix). For air filters I just pick up a Fram at Walmart. I don't go to Walmart much though. And I just don't go to Autozone unless there is some part they have that no one else carries. It's a hike to get there too.

Jimmy