I need some input on my problem. Its a 1999 Ram 1500 w/318, auto, a/c. I have a constant belt squeel and I can't figure it out with out changing out a whole lot of potentially good parts.

Everytime I change the drive belt, the squeel goes away for a few months but then it slowly returns and keeps getting louder. As much as I could isolate, I've removed the a/c compressor from the drive line by installing the shorter drive belt for engines without A/C option, and I still have the belt squeel.

I thought that maybe the tensioner might be bad, but when I change the belts, you really need alot of effert to move the tensioner back so it seems that the tensioner is good and strong enough.

I haven't changed the idler pully yet because I wasn't sure if I should since the sound goes away when ever I install a new belt and will be good for a few months.

I'm not sure if some type of greese or oil is getting on the drive belt and causing the squeel, and if there is some, I can only think of the power steering pump that has oil close enough to the belt, unless the water pump is bad, but I'm not loosing any coolant and the engine doesn't overheat.

I just don't know where to start.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

Probably the tensioner. When it squeals put a wrench on the tensioner and pull it tight. If your squealing goes away, you know it is the tensioner. Either live with the process or spend $150 to fix it. The belt can also make a difference. I have also found that on mine the 975K7 belts is more prone to squealing than the 973k7. The 2/10ths of an inch in size seem to make a difference.

 

See if any of the pulleys are out of line

 

Bearings could be going out in the water pump causing it to lag " make it harder to turn over " and it cant keep up with the belt so the belt just spin's on the pully instead of fully turning the fan.

i personally would try a waterpump, they'er not that expensive and it's always a good to replace your waterpump after so many miles.

 

I had the same problem, and it was the tensioner. It was REALLY hard to pull back the tensioner to remove the belt, but it didnt move back into position with tension on the belt. I had to manually move it back into position, which means it was bad. I bought one for around 65 dollars and put it on, problem solved.

 

try the gatorback belts if you can they cured my squeak right up

 

Thanks, i'll try that. I've purchased and installed a new tensioner (AC Delco #38116 $100.13 CAD), and a new idler pulley (Dayco #89048 $39.52 CAD) and put on a new drive belt (Dayco $53.21 CAD). We'll see if that works. If not, i'll try the next suggestion, waterpump:

If a pulley is out of line, how do you fix that? When I look at the A/C compressor pulley from the passanger side looking across the front of the driveline to the driver side, it looks like its out of line, but when I use the shorter drive belt to bypass the A/C, there is still squeel.

I can't get gatorback belts here, they (parts supplier) only sell one brand and you get what they give you. I installed a Dayco 7PK2470 Ploy Rib because that is all that they had to sell. Sucks

Thanks for all the suggestions and input, all is appreciated.

 

Let us know when you get it fix

 

try the bar of soap trick

 

+1 on the soap, easiest fix i've done for a squeeky belt.