Sound Coming From Alternator Belt

[Orion]

I have a sound every so often that comes from my alternator belt. Anyhow every once in a while the sound comes back, sounds like wheels turning. It basically makes my car sound louder as in "the sound of older cars". I got 90 K on my engine right now. So anyhow every so often I go and get wd-40 and spray it on my belt, and it goes away. Any ideas what I could do to stop this from happening?

[jamcllw]

get a better belt

[Orion]

It sounds more like the pulley then the belt, but thats why I ask

[jamcllw]

what exactly does it sound like like. is it a high pitch squeal or what? does the sound increase when you rev the engine?

[Orion]

Its not a high pitch squealing, just sounds loud, like the pulleys and stuff are really dry, if that makes sense. It sounds like the car is "really old" and just makes the engine louder. Not the exhaust, but the engine itself. Its hard to explain

[jamcllw]

I have no clue what your talking about. Check your belt for any signs of wear. If theres any go ahead and replace it. Get a good belt like a Gatorback.

[Orion]

Got a link for a gatorback?

[jamcllw]

I bought mine at the local autozone. I think pfyc.com sells them.

[gre0481]

Stuff gets worn :P

Doesn't mean its bad and in need of replacement.

Get silicon lubricating spray. It's for plastic parts, rubber parts, metal parts..

Good for door squeaks too.

[AftermathAlero]

check ur belt tensioner and idler pulley. Spin them freely without the belt. If it too lose or sounds like worn bearing, then its time for change. Don't buy autozone belt tensioner for 40 bucks.. they blow. Get the OEM dealer one. My bro's 99 alero w/ 110k miles his belt tensioner seized up and broke the tensioner pulley in 4 pieces and broke the belt into 2 pieces. Then he was stuck on the road too.

[Orion]

I isolated the sound and its more of a higher pitch sound. I talked to a tech today at work (I work for mitsubishi) and he said my belt is really dry and I need a new tenchenor pulley. Because they seem to go dry and go over time.

[jackal2000]

i have a similar issue with the high pitch squealing. it only squeals when i push the gas though. me thinks its the alt. it also makes a lower pitch whine when i let off the gas. the thing is, i bought that alt just a few months ago from voodoo.

[Orion]

Yep I have the same issue its not the alternator

[jackal2000]

my alt has pretty much always squeaked though, it just didnt do it all the time. after the car was warmed up it would go away. now its not going away. i'll know more friday when i tear into it.

[jlenko]

From my experience with noisy belts and tensioners....

First, try replacing the belt. It's cheaper, and easier to do than replacing the tensioner.

If that doesn't solve the noise (nut quite likely it will, since you're spraying it and the noise goes away)... THEN replace the tensioner.

[AftermathAlero]

Originally posted by Orion@Oct 12 2005, 12:05 PM
I isolated the sound and its more of a higher pitch sound. I talked to a tech today at work (I work for mitsubishi) and he said my belt is really dry and I need a new tenchenor pulley. Because they seem to go dry and go over time.
Quoted post


if ur gonna change the tensioner pulley only. I would recommend changing the whole tensioner. Cuz over time, the spring in the tensioner rusts and loses its correct tension. So the belt won't have sufficent pressure on it like it should. Therefore you can lose some accessories performance (like poor AC, or alternator charging, ...power steering ..etc)

[Orion]

I will be replacing the Belt with a Gator belt and the tentioner pulley sometime around ThanksGiving Break. (I am a college student. I will let you guys know how it works out

[teebo7]

I have a similar problem. when I get upto about 30mph my car starts to make a low pitch almost winding type of noise. I know the noise wasn't there before and it usually gets louder the faster i go. I revving the engine does not make the noise only when i'm rolling. Any Ideas? same problem? something else?

[jamcllw]

front hub

[teebo7]

Oh yeah? they need to be replaced .. I have the three lights periodically popping up in my dash....