So, I've got a belt squeak that started about 3 weeks ago. It only does it when I first crank it up, and goes away after about 10 or 15 minutes of driving. It's hard to tell, but it sounds like it's coming from the passenger side, maybe the tensioner or AC compressor area. It varies directly with the rpm. I can get a video later if need be, but it's warm right now and isn't squeaking, so no video for now. It sounds like this, except louder. YouTube - 96 Mustang GT belt squeak (Procharger) Spraying belt conditioner on the belt quietened it down, but it also throws crap all over my underhood and fenders...The squeak would come back within a day. Because the belt conditioner quietened it down, I'm thinking it has to be something external, like pulleys or the belt. I really hope it isn't anything internal like the timing chains or bearings in the blower...
So, a couple weeks back right when it started doing it, I did the sensible thing and got a new (35 freakin dollar) belt. It's a Dayco from Advance Auto, which is the exact same belt I've had on it for the last 8 months (since I put the blower on) with no problems. The squeak went away for about a day, then came right back, just like before. I have not put belt conditioner on this belt.
So, I got home this weekend from school and got a new idler pulley. I spent an hour this afternoon swapping that new pulley into the place of the old tensioner pulley and the two old idler pulleys (one extra for the blower) one at a time. The new pulley swap in place of the 3 old ones didn't change anything at all. So for now, I'm assuming all 3 of them are fine. They all spin freely with no noise, as do all the pulleys under the hood.
So I come to my question: what else would cause this squeak?
I read in some old threads that the belt would cause this problem, but considering putting a new belt on didn't fix it for me, I don't think this is the problem. Everyone I saw was recommending Gatorback belts; because I haven't had a problem with the Dayco that was on it, I was thinking it was a fine brand. Does the brand really matter?
I also saw a few people saying that the tensioner could cause this problem. I don't really understand how. Could someone elaborate on this? Is there a way to know if the tensioner is bad?
Any other advice?
Thanks for the help Stangnet!
So, a couple weeks back right when it started doing it, I did the sensible thing and got a new (35 freakin dollar) belt. It's a Dayco from Advance Auto, which is the exact same belt I've had on it for the last 8 months (since I put the blower on) with no problems. The squeak went away for about a day, then came right back, just like before. I have not put belt conditioner on this belt.
So, I got home this weekend from school and got a new idler pulley. I spent an hour this afternoon swapping that new pulley into the place of the old tensioner pulley and the two old idler pulleys (one extra for the blower) one at a time. The new pulley swap in place of the 3 old ones didn't change anything at all. So for now, I'm assuming all 3 of them are fine. They all spin freely with no noise, as do all the pulleys under the hood.
So I come to my question: what else would cause this squeak?
I read in some old threads that the belt would cause this problem, but considering putting a new belt on didn't fix it for me, I don't think this is the problem. Everyone I saw was recommending Gatorback belts; because I haven't had a problem with the Dayco that was on it, I was thinking it was a fine brand. Does the brand really matter?
I also saw a few people saying that the tensioner could cause this problem. I don't really understand how. Could someone elaborate on this? Is there a way to know if the tensioner is bad?
Any other advice?
Thanks for the help Stangnet!