2000 GMC Sonoma Serp. Belt will not stop chirping

Tiny
TMONEY145
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 GMC SONOMA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,000 MILES
About 2 months ago I noticed some cracking in my serp. Belt. Replaced the belt and the auto tensioner, tensioner because felt it may be due. Ever since I have had problems with the belt chirping. I took the tensioner back and got another replacement, no help. Got another belt, good for a week then back. Cleaned all the pulleys with brake cleaner and brush, put another new belt, new tensioner and new idler pulley. Good for a week then back again. It does it at idle while cold, but goes away at idle after warming up. Always does it while driving. I have used the same brand of belt and tensioners, Dayco. I even tried the more expensive poly cog, I believe thats correct, belt. I noticed that if you get the smooth side of the belt wet right at the idler pulley it goes away for a few seconds. I sprayed belt dressing on the smooth side of the belt and was good for about 3 days, but then the sound came back. I think it is slipping at the idler pulley, but I have done and replaced every thing I can think of. I even wrapped electrical tape sticky side up around the idler pulley just to see if that was where the slip was and the sound was gone. Obviously not a fix as the tape lasts all of about 10 seconds. Could it be a load of defective belts? In total it has been 3 tensioners (old one included), 5 belts, 1 idler pulley (not counting original one) and multiple headaches.
Friday, March 27th, 2009 AT 9:16 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
First off you need a new belt now. Belt dressing will ruin a serpintine belt it takes the coating off of the smooth side. While you are in there you should check the alternator and the idler pulley as one of those may be you source of the noise. You can use a long screw driver or automotive stethescope to listen to everything to pin the noise down too. After the belt is replaced get back to me with what you find.
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Friday, March 27th, 2009 AT 11:17 AM
Tiny
TMONEY145
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok. I put another new belt on and the chirping is gone. Now this will last about 3 days before it starts chirping again. It does this the same way every time I've put a new belt on. This is the 6th one now. That's not counting some of the used ones I just had in the garage. If it was the alternator wouldn't it be constant regardless if it was a new belt? (I do understand why you said change the belt, I am not questioning that) I have already replaced the idler pulley. Both the old one and the new one have no affect on the chirping issue. Is it possible that advanced auto parts has a bunch of defective Dayco Serp. Belts? Does this help- If I put a little water on the smooth side of the belt just before it gets to the idler pulley the sound goes completely away for 10-15 seconds or so.
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Friday, March 27th, 2009 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
It is the brand of the belt thats you issure. You should go with a gates belt. The alternator can make chirp noises but it would not go away with a new belt for that long. See the reason I mentioned the alternator is because of the rear bearing can make noise when the belt is on as thats how it seems to carry the load with the belt tension.
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Sunday, March 29th, 2009 AT 9:57 AM

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