Belt Squeak

Guys

I thought my squeal was gone but it's still there. I replaced water pump, idler pulley, belt tensioner and tried 2 different belts. One belt was a Gates and the other a Continental. I thought I was getting a Gatorback belt but I don't think they exist anymore. Continental belt number that supercedes the Gatorback is not a Gatorback style belt. It looks like my Gates has the same part number. The noise is usually first start of the morning and will squeal for a few seconds and sometimes longer. You can shut the engine off and restart and sometimes get a very faint quick squeak that goes away instantly. This morning I started up and it was quiet. I'm not sure what else to try or change. I would try a Gatorback if I could find one but I don't think they make that style anymore? Anyone know the Gatorback belt number for the Tundra. Maybe I could find one but it may have been sitting on a shelf for a while. Suggestions?? To be clear, once the squeal stops which could take 10-30 seconds or just 1 second it's completely quiet.

 

Mine does same stupid confusing frustrating thing.
I've changed my belt and idler , tensioner and water pump and still have same issue.

Mine only does when its cold out.

Your not alone, sadly i don't have an answer. If i install a new belt it stops, but comes back next season. Only when cold (below 40 degrees) and goes away after up to temp.

Squeaking/squealing is always tension or alignment or bearings.
could be your A/C clutch bearing as well or alternator. That and power steering are only other places with bearings in that could squeak.

I've installed my belt incorrectly before as well. Which is somehow possible. (double check that first).

 

Since its that initial/short start up, try starting the truck up with no belt at all for a couple seconds. That'll narrow you to the belt or a pulley.

 

Thanks for the reply. Before I changed all my parts, I had no squeal. I tried putting on the old belt and it also squeals where it was whisper quiet before I replaced everything. Wished they still made the Gatorback style ribbed belt.

 

That I have not tried but I will. How many pulleys turn however with no belt to turn them?

 

Should just be the crank as that's what rotates everything.

 

Well, I'm not ashamed to say i installed my belt incorrectly. Yes its possible.
This caused it to squeal at anything more than idle.
check that first.

And then make sure everything is lined up correctly.

If the belts out of alignment that will cause the issue as well. (so check your idler is pushed fully on and is correct for the truck, even swap with old idler).
I'd consider even swapping the tensioner back to old one to see what happens.
(granted this is all easy to say and much harder to actually do on the truck).

Then piecemail your assembly back to new components and see what shakes out?

Keep us posted.

 

I laid under the truck for a good 15 mins wondering why my belt was still loose and quadruple checking the routing. Finally dawned on me that I had the tensioner locked with an allen key.

 

Well it looks like we are part of the same club. I double checked the belt routing and indeed I did install it incorrectly. I must admit, I'm fairly embarrassed but more happy that it's not squealing. Thanks to all you guys for helping me figure it out. Much appreciated.

 

Something got fixed.
Your luck is way better than mine.
And you didn't break the tensioner trying to overtightent a left hand threaded bolt or buy another 100 dollar tensioner and 60 dollar belt because you didn't fix the belt routing first.

Great job.
now if only somebody could figure out why my belt chirps at start up when its cold out.

 

Well if it makes you feel any better, I did replace the tensioner and idler pulley because it squealed after my radiator, water pump and belt replacement. But tensioner and idler pulleys eventually go bad so I'll just consider that a little early preventive maintenance.

 

Mine squeaks at full lick when turning. When revved it makes the same noise but shorter, like a serpentine belt. Any clues? Belt was replaced not all that long ago either.