Squeking/Squealing Serpentine

[NaggiDonkee]

Well this is my very first technical post and I am hoping someone can lead me in the right directioin. So I am trying to fix a squeal/squeak coming from my serpentine belt/pulleys. It seems intermittent doing every so often and at start up/shut off. I replaced a new Napa (Gates) serpentine belt, Napa Tensioner pulley, and Napa Idler pulley. I then noticed when I was changing the idler pulley, that the sleeve on the new pulley didn't turn easily and make contact with the black threaded sleeve that fits over the idler pulley bolt, but thought maybe was due to tighter/newly packed bearings with no wear unlike the orginal pulley. Does this black sleeve need to be replaced too? After I replaced all of this and put new belt back on, I still couldn't eliminate the squeal. I've heard something about a camshaft postion sensor, but don't know anything about them. I have added links to videos which will take about 30 sec to 2 min to load for each video, if the screen is just black, be patient, it will load soon enough. Any suggestion or comments are always appreciated.


Stock pulley
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0317.mp4

New pulley
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0318.mp4

Black sleeve I was talking about
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0319.mp4


Steering pump pulley has back and forth play?
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0321.mp4


Idler pulley play..minimal...guess this is normal though?
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0320.mp4

Squealing noticable
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0322.mp4

:02 small squeal at shut off
http://s919.photobucket.com/albums/ad38/mreams02/?action=view&current=DSCF0325.mp4

 

[NaggiDonkee]

Bump

Sorry... I am too impatient I know...just want to get this thing fixed

 

[tad3695]

Squeaking Serpentine

Just curious, have you poured any water on the belt while it is actively squeaking? I ask only because I have had the same squeak as you. Exactly the same as in your videos. I would pour a little water on the belt, the squeak would go away. I continued to replace the belt, multiple times. The belts would last 500 miles or so, (I drive 500 miles in two months)(weekend ride). The one thing in common was a Gates belt. It may work for some, but not for my explorer. I ended up putting the Gator quiet belt on it. So far the problem has not returned. The Gator has been on for about a 1.5 years. The Gator belt was shorter than the Gates, without a doubt. It is possible there is still something wrong with my explorer, but it drove me nuts. I replaced the water pump, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, alternator, pw steering pump, all but the a/c compressor. I would run the explorer without the belt, and of course, no noise. After multiple Gates belts, I decided to try a different mfg. It worked for me. Try pouring a little water on the belt while it's runing. See if the noise goes away. Hope this helps!

 

[NaggiDonkee]

Just curious, have you poured any water on the belt while it is actively squeaking? I ask only because I have had the same squeak as you. Exactly the same as in your videos. I would pour a little water on the belt, the squeak would go away. I continued to replace the belt, multiple times. The belts would last 500 miles or so, (I drive 500 miles in two months)(weekend ride). The one thing in common was a Gates belt. It may work for some, but not for my explorer. I ended up putting the Gator quiet belt on it. So far the problem has not returned. The Gator has been on for about a 1.5 years. The Gator belt was shorter than the Gates, without a doubt. It is possible there is still something wrong with my explorer, but it drove me nuts. I replaced the water pump, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, alternator, pw steering pump, all but the a/c compressor. I would run the explorer without the belt, and of course, no noise. After multiple Gates belts, I decided to try a different mfg. It worked for me. Try pouring a little water on the belt while it's runing. See if the noise goes away. Hope this helps!

Okay, thanks a lot for your feedback. I guess I can try using water, although I can't imagine that helping long term. To me it just seems something else is making the chirping noise. Something that I overlooked and needs replacing. So I can take the belt off and turn it over to see it there is a squeak? Do I disconnect spark to make sure it wont fire?

 

[GETMYBELTSON]

Okay, thanks a lot for your feedback. I guess I can try using water, although I can't imagine that helping long term. To me it just seems something else is making the chirping noise. Something that I overlooked and needs replacing. So I can take the belt off and turn it over to see it there is a squeak? Do I disconnect spark to make sure it wont fire?

Well you would want the engine to be running, so you want spark. If the sound is still there, it's probably fan related. If its gone, its one of the other pulleys or the belt itself. You can go without your water pump for the 30 or seconds it takes to check... I used to do all my 1/4 mile runs without a belt on!

 

[tad3695]

Sorry I was not clear on the water. The water is not a permanent solution. It is only a tool, or a test for you to perform while the engine is running. It will coat the belt temporarily, but will dry in a matter of seconds. Again, only a suggestion that takes only a moment to perform. You may take the belt off and run the engine temporarily. Remember, your water pump is not circulating water; your alternator is not charging; This can help eliminate pulley/belt combination or internal engine problem.
I ended up with bad belts. Gates belts to be exact. Belts that my particular explorer did not like. Hope you figure it out.

 

[firepop5]

You can take the belt off and run the engine for 25-30 seconds without doing any damage. If you hear the squeak still it's probably the cam position sensor. Search this forum and you'll find many posts about it and how to replace it.

 

[my98nnj]

I had the exact same squeak, and just like tad3695 nothing seemed to fix it. A belt brand change from GATES to the GATOR belt also solved my issue. The GATOR belt is indeed slightly smaller overall, which you could see by the position of the tensioner.
Bottom line, it's been over 6 months and no squeak!