Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) squealing noise

[cmills]

I have a squealing noise coming from the front of the engine and I can't figure out what it is. It has a new water pump and tensioner pulley and belt so I'm sure it isn't any of those. I figure it has to be either the A/C compressor or the alternator, the weird thing is that the belt keeps jumping off one groove (It jumps back toward the engine) on the A/C compressor and when it does this the squealing pretty much stops but when I put it back on right it starts squealing again.



Any help would be great!

thanks

Cory

 

[DIESELWRKS]

this does this at idle does it increase louder as you raise rpm. your new tensioner pulley have you spun it without the belt on it to see if this is the sound or looked at the edge of the belt to see glazing from this... double check all pullys if this makes the sound at idle you should be able to pin point the sound by hearing use a 18" piece of hose and use this to listen with it up to your ear sounds funny but it works. hope this helps. . turn off selector switch for heat/ac when you check. .

 

[cmills]

I've tried listening for it like that but I can't find anything, I can't figure out why it does it when the belt is on right, but when it jumps back a groove on the A/C compressor it quits. I know this sounds dumb, but can a pulley actually wear out even though it is a rubber belt on a steel pulley?

 

[DIESELWRKS]

yes it can the compression on these motors is pretty tough. . do you think the tensioner pulley is to tight causing this. you said your pulley was recently new if it was I would take it off and take it back exchange it or compare it to another one see if there is any difference. other than that I know my belt will make noise if its wet or getting worn out. can you turn the motor over by hand by turning over the pulley on the alternator side and turning the belt or there is a special plug on the pass/side transmission/bottom that a barring tool goes in and this allows you to turn the motor over easier. I think I said that right see if this makes noise with the engine off and turning over the motor... if anything else carry a extra belt and dont worry about it. .

 

[cmills]

I think the tensioner pulley is fine, the reason I put a new one on is that I thought the old one was what was causing the noise. It seems as though something has to be out of alignment to cause the belt to jump back a groove but I don't know what it could be because everything is bolted solid.

 

[delliott]

After pulling the belt off to replace the front crank seal, I started getting the same noise you described. Like you, I immediately thought of the tensioner pulley, but after replacing it I still had the noise.



Since I saw some movement in the tensioner pulley, I decided to go ahead and replace the tensioner assembly. (Best price I found was $65 at Autozone)



That fixed the problem. Evidently, in compressing the tensioner to remove the belt, it weakened the spring enough to allow movement in the belt. That sounds like your problem as well. With the weak spring it's putting enough slack in the belt to jump a rib. Running on the lip of the pulley, or with the A/C compressor engaged, puts enough extra tension on the belt to keep it tight and not squeal.



Hope that helps.