Belts...

[MatthewDavid]

I have this god awful screaching sound under my hood... I'm sure it's just a old belt... I'm sure this is a dumb ?? but is there anything different about belts I should know?... is there better manufacturers?.. I doubt there is but I figured might as ask... also is it pretty easy to change?... I saw the belt tensioner but it looks like it goes down pretty far... I'm gonna draw a diagram on how it goes before I pull it... thanks for the input

 

[NYC LS8]

Nake sure it's not a belt tensioner. I know the 95 I gave my father makes a wretched squeeling noise when it's cold out, and it's definitely not the belt.

 

[mespock]

Tensioner or the idler pulleys. Pulleys don't cost too much and are easy to replace. Top one only one bolt. Bottom on the tensioner you have to take the tensioner off first. 3 bolts and then one on the tensioner.

 

[isaiah3g]

mine had the same problem, it was the idler pully, $23.46 i think it took like 2 minutes to fix.

 

[Dmaup]

What about Gatorback Belts? I have heard that they are better but don't really have any proof. Are they more expensive? If so are they worth it?

 

[slickemhoundd]

What about Gatorback Belts? I have heard that they are better but don't really have any proof. Are they more expensive? If so are they worth it?

When i first got mine my belt went 1 day after i bought it, got a gatorback and its very well built and i used to sell them and not one complaint. If you have a stethascope or just take a wrench and put it up to every pulley (bolt) and figure out where it coming from. I wound up changing my idler pulley and my water pump and not a noise.

 

[turborich]

What everyone else said! +1 on the goodyear gatorback belts, they last a long time and are known to be very quiet as well.

It's a very easy job if it turns out to be the belt or a tensioner/pully.

 

[mespock]

What about Gatorback Belts? I have heard that they are better but don't really have any proof. Are they more expensive? If so are they worth it?

I agree also Gatorback Belts are good...

 

[papa bear]

I am having the same problem,just started when i replaced my belt, on a cold startup at 1200-1500 idle it screams at me and tells me its cold i yell back and say move to Florida,this does not seem to fix it so my guess is the tensioner is on its way out.I think i have a gator back or something close to it and would say these belts rock.at least i have no more scream at 6000+ rpm

 

[mespock]

I get the same thing on my 95... I had some pulleys from the 94 I parted out but still the same. Goning to try new ones after Christmas...

 

[poniesviii]

I also agree w/ gatorbacks.

I've had noise due to spilled antifreeze, had to wash the belt off in the bathtub and clean the pulleys. Check that.

I've had a noise from the idler pulley, I remember spending only $18 at o'reilleys.

I had a noise from the bearing in the tensioner pulley, tensioner actually came apart that time. That was a $30? fix, for tensioner AND pulley.

I've had a sporadic squeak after replacing parts, and cleaning the belt, and put on a gatorback about a year ago and haven't had a noise since.

 

[Dmaup]

I get what I assume is a belt squeak between first and second gear, I assume a new belt will take care of this because it really sounds like a belt. Anyone else have that problem?