When at idle I'm getting a squeaky sound coming from tensioner pulley. I thought it was from a bad belt so I replaced the belt. But the noise is still there. What can I do about this?

When at idle I'm getting a squeaky sound coming from tensioner pulley. I thought it was from a bad belt so I replaced the belt. But the noise is still there. What can I do about this?

At the risk of being captain obvious I am going to say you could replace your tensioner pulley. It is held on by 3 bolts and does not cost much.
Also, take a very good look at your crank pulley; if it is wobbling, stop driving the car immediately. Some times the chirping can come from that pulley being ready to come off; there was an issue with the bolt that held it in place and some have failed in the past, causing real damage on their way out.

Also this could be a pulley that is not aligned properly.

Also this could be a pulley that is not aligned properly.

How would that make the belt squeak?

Mine was squeaking and I replaced the belt. My old belt felt like there was little glass/sand crystals in the grooves. Not sure if that was from road grime or what. also my alt pulley had grime/rubber build up too. I took a screwdriver to the grooves. I would say there was 1/16-1/8 inch of grime in them

How would that make the belt squeak?

If the belt isn't aligned that will make all sorts of noise.

At the risk of being captain obvious I am going to say you could replace your tensioner pulley. It is held on by 3 bolts and does not cost much.
Also, take a very good look at your crank pulley; if it is wobbling, stop driving the car immediately. Some times the chirping can come from that pulley being ready to come off; there was an issue with the bolt that held it in place and some have failed in the past, causing real damage on their way out.

:goodpost:

Help! Is there some magic to replacing the tensioner pulley assembly in a 2000 C5. Thought i could loosen the alternator to create enough belt slack to get to the 2nd bolt on the tensioner but that doens't seem to work. Is this a DIY job or do I need to get it to the dealer??
THNX

Help! Is there some magic to replacing the tensioner pulley assembly in a 2000 C5. Thought i could loosen the alternator to create enough belt slack to get to the 2nd bolt on the tensioner but that doens't seem to work. Is this a DIY job or do I need to get it to the dealer??
THNX

that is not the way it works
move the tensioner
I think it's a 15 mm wrench and pull the belt off

Help! Is there some magic to replacing the tensioner pulley assembly in a 2000 C5. Thought i could loosen the alternator to create enough belt slack to get to the 2nd bolt on the tensioner but that doens't seem to work. Is this a DIY job or do I need to get it to the dealer??
THNX

The bolt (one) at the center of the tensioner pulley comes off. You don't need to replace the tensioner, just the pulley, or do you?

As belts are subjected to high temperatures they will harden with age and then they begin to lose their former amount of grip. So a squeaking belt is very common. There are "belt dressings" available that will soften the belts and restore their grip but that is only a "Band-Aid" fix. If your belt has anywhere close to 50,000 miles on it consider it has given you good service and replace it.

What I have seen in the past is when the belt squeeks and when the belt is replaced and do not change or gets worse, chech the balancer. Let the car idle and look at the balancer if you can see it "wobbling" back and forth the outer piece moved on the rubber. The only way to stop the noise is to replace the balancer.

When at idle I'm getting a squeaky sound coming from tensioner pulley. I thought it was from a bad belt so I replaced the belt. But the noise is still there. What can I do about this?


It is very easy to find the exact source of any noise by holding one end of a 4-foot piece of 5/8" garden hose up to your ear while using the other end to probe around. The hose blocks out all other noise so you can easily go right straight to the source.

Dressing on belts was common practice is the past!

On today's one main belt system (on C6, two belts), you need the necessary friction between belt and pulleys. Its not wise to apply dressing.

Identifying source of sounds on an engine is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you can and sometimes you just can not. Good luck!

Identifying source of sounds on an engine is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you can and sometimes you just can not!




I have been using a 4-foot piece of 5/8" garden hose for 45 years and it works perfectly. I can close my eyes and follow the noise right to the exact origin. Try it sometime and you'll be utterly amazed over how well it works.

I have been using a 4-foot piece of 5/8" garden hose for 45 years and it works perfectly. I can close my eyes and follow the noise right to the exact origin. Try it sometime and you'll be utterly amazed over how well it works.

Great that works out for you, you are a better man than me!

For decades, I had used various sized hose, 24" long screw driver, long solid/hollow rod and I have one Snap-on stethoscope to assist in locating external drive noise. Unless part in question is near catastrophic, especially on LS pushrod engine along with its noisy fuel injection while in operation, still a draw of luck! I don't throw parts in car and hope that is the problem. I find it better to take off accessory belt and rotate each pully and check for correct run out along with abnormality.

Great that works out for you, you are a better man than me!

For decades, I had used various sized hose, 24" long screw driver, long solid/hollow rod and I have one Snap-on stethoscope to assist in locating external drive noise. Unless part in question is near catastrophic, especially on LS pushrod engine along with its noisy fuel injection while in operation, still a draw of luck! I don't throw parts in car and hope that is the problem. I find it better to take off accessory belt and rotate each pully and check for correct run out along with abnormality.


Back in the 70's when I was twisting wrenches for a living I demonstrated to my co-workers how well a 4-foot hose worked to isolate noises. I had one of my co-workers lightly tap a wrench against a metal surface when I was standing about 20 feet away and was blindfolded. As my co-workers watched in amazement I walked up and found the exact spot where my co-worker was tapping the wrench against. Even in a very noisy setting that is filled with many other noises a piece of 4-foot hose will quickly isolate one noise from the other noises as the hose will completely block out the other noises.

Back in the 70's when I was twisting wrenches for a living I demonstrated to my co-workers how well a 4-foot hose worked to isolate noises. I had one of my co-workers lightly tap a wrench against a metal surface when I was standing about 20 feet away and was blindfolded. As my co-workers watched in amazement I walked up and found the exact spot where my co-worker was tapping the wrench against. Even in a very noisy setting that is filled with many other noises a piece of 4-foot hose will quickly isolate one noise from the other noises as the hose will completely block out the other noises.

Wow, that is some talent! Able to do it with an 4 foot hose at 20 feet away, blindfolded to boot!!

Your avatar "toobroketoretire". Is that true in regards to your not retired?

I don't have your talent but I retired at 59 three years ago!!

But, if I had your talent, I would have retired from my past life when I was wAAAAy younger and go down Waikiki and be a street performer, collect the donations and buy my ZR1!!! :thumbsup3:

Wow, that is some talent! Able to do it with an 4 foot hose at 20 feet away, blindfolded to boot!!

Your avatar "toobroketoretire". Is that true in regards to your not retired?

I don't have your talent but I retired at 59 three years ago!!

But, if I had your talent, I would have retired from my past life when I was wAAAAy younger and go down Waikiki and be a street performer, collect the donations and buy my ZR1!!! :thumbsup3:


So if you retired three years ago at the age of 59 I assume you're around 62 years old? Maybe 63 now? Well, judging from your childish response I would say you are very immature for your age.

So if you retired three years ago at the age of 59 I assume you're around 62 years old? Maybe 63 now? Well, judging from your childish response I would say you are very immature for your age.


My sincere apology to the OP as we are clearly off the subject with no constructive suggestions.