2002blackedout2500
Full Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2013
- Messages
- 668
My serpentine belt was squealing like a bat out of hell, but I knew it wasn't the belt because I just replaced it less than two months ago. I read somewhere that it could be my tensioner so I replaced it with a brand new one and it still squealed, more so when I accelerate.
I took the belt off again and started it up to see if it was the AC belt, wasn't that. Some even said it could be my water pump pulley, but I wasn't about to spend more money on the pulley removal tool and a new pulley...besides I don't think my mechanic level is high enough to take that on
I found a video on YouTube that had some guy cleaning his pulley and rollers so I figure why not? Here's the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUJQ271mHPs Here's the steps:
> Remove the serpentine belt
> Use carb cleaner and spray all over rollers and pulleys. The guy in the video said the reason for carb cleaner is because it dries very quickly
> Take some steel wool and clean pulleys
> Take an old toothbrush (the video said to use a wire brush but I didn't have one on hand) and clean all the gunk off the pulleys (do this more than once)
> Take the tooth brush and clean off the belt removing all dirt and debris in grooves
At this point the video said to replace the belt...but I figure to make sure the belt sticks to the rollers and pulleys I also...
> Sprayed a little belt dressing on a rag and wiped down the entire belt, did this twice which made the belt a little sticky. I didn't soak the belt with dressing but just coated it.
I then replaced the belt and its been four days without any squeals even as I accelerate!!
Lesson learned? Doesn't hurt to do some cleaning before replacing parts
I took the belt off again and started it up to see if it was the AC belt, wasn't that. Some even said it could be my water pump pulley, but I wasn't about to spend more money on the pulley removal tool and a new pulley...besides I don't think my mechanic level is high enough to take that on
I found a video on YouTube that had some guy cleaning his pulley and rollers so I figure why not? Here's the vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUJQ271mHPs Here's the steps:
> Remove the serpentine belt
> Use carb cleaner and spray all over rollers and pulleys. The guy in the video said the reason for carb cleaner is because it dries very quickly
> Take some steel wool and clean pulleys
> Take an old toothbrush (the video said to use a wire brush but I didn't have one on hand) and clean all the gunk off the pulleys (do this more than once)
> Take the tooth brush and clean off the belt removing all dirt and debris in grooves
At this point the video said to replace the belt...but I figure to make sure the belt sticks to the rollers and pulleys I also...
> Sprayed a little belt dressing on a rag and wiped down the entire belt, did this twice which made the belt a little sticky. I didn't soak the belt with dressing but just coated it.
I then replaced the belt and its been four days without any squeals even as I accelerate!!
Lesson learned? Doesn't hurt to do some cleaning before replacing parts