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Rodney’s 2.8 V-6 idler pulley question by pcwentworth
Started on: 06-06-2012 08:12 AM
Replies: 20 (749 views)
Last post by: css9450 on 04-20-2014 09:50 AM
pcwentworth
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Report this Post06-06-2012 08:12 AM Click Here to See the Profile for pcwentworthSend a Private Message to pcwentworthEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I am looking for a little advice. Last night I installed Rodney’s 2.8 V-6 idler pulley to take care of the horrible squeal. Any rate, installed, the startup squeal is gone. The belt seems tight; however I have a low pitched squeak now when running all the time. I did not have it before. You can tell it is coming from the belt area. Any advice on what it might be or how to track it down.
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Fiero84Freak
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Report this Post06-06-2012 08:17 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Fiero84FreakSend a Private Message to Fiero84FreakEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
What it could be;
- the belt is slipping over the idler pulley, as something may not be lined up correctly
- you tightened everything WAY too tight, and it's causing strain on pulleys
- you have a pulley that is wearing out
- you have a water pump that is wearing out (I put that last because light squeaks from that area are typically a water pump going bad, and hope for your sake it's not your water pump. They're a lot of "fun" to replace)
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Arns85GT
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Report this Post06-06-2012 08:22 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Arns85GTSend a Private Message to Arns85GTEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I had a similar problem. It had to do with belt adjustment. If you don't get the adjustment correct, the belt can move on the idler pulley. With the engine running, shine a light down there and the belt should be showing about ~1/8"~ on the inside if it is riding correctly. I also sprayed a bit of Jigaloo on it when I was testing it and the squeal disappeared. That's how I could tell it was squirming.

Arn
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Electrathon
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Report this Post06-06-2012 10:04 AM Click Here to See the Profile for ElectrathonClick Here to visit Electrathon's HomePageSend a Private Message to ElectrathonEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Be very cautious about spraying anything but water on the belt. As someone who worked through the noisy belt era at GM durring the 80's I can tell you that I have spent hundreds of hours trying to clean off every sort of lubricant and dressing known. They all make it quiet at first, then make i ta lot noiser in the end.

Put water in a spray bottle, spray each pully and you will find the noise. It is either a tension or an alignment issue.
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Formula88
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Report this Post06-06-2012 04:46 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Formula88Send a Private Message to Formula88Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Could be belt adjustment, or a pulley out of alignment. I'm using Rodney's idler pulley with no issues. I'd check to make sure all the pulleys are in line and square to each other.
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pcwentworth
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Report this Post06-06-2012 10:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for pcwentworthSend a Private Message to pcwentworthEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Just a small update. If I spray water on the new pulley, the sound goes away for afew minutes. I figured it would have made it worse.
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Formula88
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Report this Post06-07-2012 12:53 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Formula88Send a Private Message to Formula88Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
If it only makes a difference on the new idler pulley, that's where the noise is coming from. My first guess would be the pulley isn't exactly square or in line with the other pulleys.
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jscott1
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Report this Post04-09-2014 05:19 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I know this is an old thread, but I found this in the search as I have the same problem.

The idler solves the main problem, but the idler itself is squeaking. I've actually replaced it (maybe twice) and the squeak comes back after a time. Gets a little better the more I drive it, but almost unbearable if the car has been sitting a while.

Maybe I'm over tightening my belt, but is there a better solution maybe that self tensions the belt?

thanks.

- Jonathan
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Patrick
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Report this Post04-09-2014 05:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by jscott1:

...but is there a better solution maybe that self tensions the belt?


Yes.

I love Rodney's products, but IMO that one is better than his.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 04-09-2014).]

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Knight
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Report this Post04-09-2014 05:42 PM Click Here to See the Profile for KnightSend a Private Message to KnightEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I agree. I do love Rodney's products. But I chose Dodgerunner's tensioner because I like the self adjusting tension so never too tight or loose, and it was GM's solution to the belt issues of the 80's.
Belt hasn't sqealed for more than a second since. And only then faintly, at startup and after some really bad weather.
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jscott1
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Report this Post04-09-2014 05:55 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks I was looking for Dodgerunner's but the links I found were dead.
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Report this Post04-10-2014 12:02 PM Click Here to See the Profile for whitestarSend a Private Message to whitestarEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Here you go Jonathan. I tried this today and it work fine for me. Hope that helps you.
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jscott1
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Report this Post04-10-2014 03:23 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Thanks...
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josef644
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Report this Post04-11-2014 03:17 PM Click Here to See the Profile for josef644Send a Private Message to josef644Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by jscott1:

I know this is an old thread, but I found this in the search as I have the same problem.

The idler solves the main problem, but the idler itself is squeaking. I've actually replaced it (maybe twice) and the squeak comes back after a time. Gets a little better the more I drive it, but almost unbearable if the car has been sitting a while.

Maybe I'm over tightening my belt, but is there a better solution maybe that self tensions the belt?

thanks.

- Jonathan


I have about 20K on one of Rodney's units with zero problems. You can take a good look at mine to see if your belts are lined up as mine are before you spend an additional 'C' note.
-Joe

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 04-11-2014).]

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jscott1
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Report this Post04-11-2014 11:45 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by josef644:


I have about 20K on one of Rodney's units with zero problems. You can take a good look at mine to see if your belts are lined up as mine are before you spend an additional 'C' note.
-Joe



I don't know what the deal is with mine. Maybe I tightened the belt too much out of habit. I ordered another Dayco idler and belt in the mean time. If that fails in short time then I know something is wrong.
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jscott1
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Report this Post04-19-2014 08:53 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
Okay something is definitely wrong because I replaced the idler and belt and it sounds exactly the same...as in something is squeaking loud and very noticeable.. Maybe its something else or the pulley bracket is bent. I really dont know whst to do next but its driving me crazy.
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Dodgerunner
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Report this Post04-19-2014 10:47 PM Click Here to See the Profile for DodgerunnerClick Here to visit Dodgerunner's HomePageSend a Private Message to DodgerunnerEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
I'd check your water pump really well. I thought my tensioner pulley was making noise and replace the tensioner. Didn't help.
spun the WP with the belt off and could hear it was bad. Was making a kind of rumble/squeal.
Check the alt also of course.
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Report this Post04-19-2014 11:31 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Dodgerunner:

I'd check your water pump really well. I thought my tensioner pulley was making noise and replace the tensioner. Didn't help.
spun the WP with the belt off and could hear it was bad. Was making a kind of rumble/squeal.
Check the alt also of course.


Can a water pump bearing go bad like that? I've always had them leak but never make a little squeaking sound. At this point I think it has to be something else besides the idler. I can't imagine a new belt squeaking like that. I could bypass the ider with a stock belt, but I'm already tired of messing with it.

Is there a microphone gizmo that can pinpoint where a sound is coming from? It doesn't sound like the alternator and it's relatively new.
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Patrick
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Report this Post04-20-2014 12:07 AM Click Here to See the Profile for PatrickSend a Private Message to PatrickEdit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by jscott1:

Is there a microphone gizmo that can pinpoint where a sound is coming from?


Here you go...

 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Eliminate the guesswork and spend a whole 3 bucks on a Mechanic's Stethoscope !



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jscott1
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Report this Post04-20-2014 12:38 AM Click Here to See the Profile for jscott1Send a Private Message to jscott1Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Here you go...



Thanks... I need to hit the Harbor Freight and pick one of those up... danger is that I'll come back with a car load of cheap crap tools.

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 04-20-2014).]

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css9450
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Report this Post04-20-2014 09:50 AM Click Here to See the Profile for css9450Send a Private Message to css9450Edit/Delete MessageReply w/QuoteDirect Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by Dodgerunner:

I'd check your water pump really well. I thought my tensioner pulley was making noise and replace the tensioner. Didn't help.
spun the WP with the belt off and could hear it was bad. Was making a kind of rumble/squeal.
Check the alt also of course.


Good points, both.

I've had water pumps that growled but didn't leak. And an alternator that growled but before I got around to investigating further it seized and the belt wouldn't slip so it stalled the engine at a stop sign! It was a long walk home to get tools...

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