How To Diagnose A Squeaking Pulley!

AC Delco Idler Pulley: amzn.to/2xJy6xK
In this video I completely misdiagnose a squeaky idler pulley on my 1995 GMC Suburban k1500 with the 5.7L motor. This is just part 1 of a multipart series so stay tuned!
**This channel is for entertainment purposes only! Do not do what I do. Do not take my advice. I am not a professional. The methods I use may be completely wrong and/or dangerous. Please seek professional help with anything and everything and do your own due diligence (research). Working on cars is extremely dangerous. I am not responsible for any loss of life or limb or property. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. THIS CHANNEL IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!**
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[@frankfohn315]

I like your style. I work on something forever, just like you and it never fails to always be the wrong part. Then I curse bitterly, wash my hands, end up locking up the garage, head to the house and crack open a beer. Muttering to myself that I should have become a priest like my mother wanted.

[@valleyalley1438]

Or you get that neighbor who senses you failed and tells you you could of done it their way but you say im just gonna take it to a mechanic

[@calebrussell7588]

Sir this is a Wendy’s

[@jorged0712]

hone in your diag skills before firing the parts cannon. Usually, firing of the parts cannon is caused by a lack of proper tools.

[@mariamadrid2508]

Thanks 1road guy! I am rookie (single mom) learning 'how to'. Figuring out what's wrong is my nail biter. Very reassuring to see I'm not alone with changing parts that didn't fix problem. Haha! BTW water pump is my problem, too. Thanks again.

[@obviousgiant4568]

Thanks for the vid Jimmy. Going through the same thing myself. Got an 04 Ram 1500 that was making same type of noise. Changed belt, idler pulley and just today swapped out water pump. All the other pulleys aren't making any noise. Next step is swapping out belt for a gator belt. I hear those can stop the squeaking. Worth a try. UPDATE: adjusted idler pulley and belt as well as sprayed belt with belt lubricater. That did the trick. Truck is sounding nice. Thanks for the post and comments. They are very helpful!

[@unleavenedkaraiteplus3412]

Belts don't need lubrication, on the contrary.

[@grantevans5568]

I had the same squeaky belt issue on my 01 Sequoia and it turned out to be the 10 year old Gates serpentine belt and idler pully needing replacing. Replaced it with a Continental belt and NAPA pulley and now super quiet. Great video!

[@MarzNet256]

If you put some water on the belt and the noise changes, then the problem is belt wear and/or belt tension, not the pulley bearings. Generally: If it gets quieter, the belt is worn. If it get louder, it's slipping from low tension.

[@wolfeadventures]

So much room in that compartment you could change the pulleys from your living room.

[@michaelgodson4016]

I always enjoy your videos. Very easily understood. Thank you for the helpful advise

[@marcoolivares4412]

It's all great practice makes perfect. You may not bee the sharpest tool in your garage but you learning to diagnose I give you. A plus

[@andydixon3909]

Got to say, you have a great sense of humor, lol good video!

[@ginnroad]

On the idler pulley, leave the "dust cover" off. I had the same noise and that solved it.

[@SmartHerSparty]

I am having the same issue with my f150...changed the tensioner, belt, and top pulley..still sqeuaks/ squeals/ grinds a little when engine is cold...thx dude u helped me with nothing...good luck...before u go replacing that coolant pump make sure it's not the crank shaft pulley

[@isaiahcaler7986]

Loved it bud thank you for the advice! Great camera too Haha

[@frankm2385]

Thank you for Showing us how to change idler pulley.

[@JeS-ii6yp]

I had the same issues with my car. Tried everything like you did. It turned out to be the water pump as well.

[@preacher031163]

For future ref. Take a hollow metal broom handle,taoe it into a milk jug,cut the bottom out of the milk jug...place broom handle carefully against each pully...in a moment you will know what is bad

[@manuelester7420]

And if you stick a sewing needle 🪡 onto the tip of the broom pole, you might be able to play a record. 😂 Just get a screwdriver and spin the record on it and put the needle on the record.

[@kristianthony9080]

That's the exact sound my van is making. Now at least I can show this to my mechanic. 😁

[@PAPALOU1964]

Jimmy remove the dust cover to the idler pulley then change out that belt replace it with a gator back belt they are known to be quality made quiet belts. This should fix it

[@johntahan2189]

Hi Jimmy, nice video, great content, I have question for you and maybe you could help with this. I have a Mazda Tribute 2008 4 cyl. I lost the serpentine and noticed that the top pulley was loose, so I removed it and say that the washer behind it was damaged (it's for the power steering pulley) according to a diagram I found online. The pulley is still good, not damaged. Would you know where to get that washer part without having to change all the pulleys? Many thanks, John

[@jamesmars16]

Jimmy, the impeller on your water pump may have one of the fins bent and rubbing the impeller land of the water pump. I used to build water pumps, and the sound you have there sounds exactly like impeller rubbing a little bit. Will not hurt a thing. I would just run it.

[@manders78]

Oh my, i just went through the same process. 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD 8.1L V8. I replaced the idler pulley and Belt but not the tensioner. Everything was silent for 1000 miles then it came back. Ordered a belt tensioner, put it on and it still squeaked....crap, ordered a second new belt & Idler pulley, so now everything is new at the same time. Problem solved. Follow up: It’s been now 5000+ miles and all is well. Lesson learned...replace everything at the same time!!!

[@geraldmontoya2791]

Douse it with WD-40 and have peace of mind for 10 minutes

[@racers115]

Sounds more like a belt that is in need of replacing than the pulleys from the sound it's making. lf you're ever unsure about the idler pulley or the tensioner pulley, if the noise has just started then you can simply remove those pulleys, carefully pop off the bearing seal and then repack the bearings using a synthetic high temperature red grease like Redline CV2. Then replace the seals and reinstall the pulleys. lf the sound was coming from one of the bearings (happens when bearings run dry) the new grease will eliminate the noise. lf the noise is still there then you know it wasn't the pulleys and plus you're only out the tiny bit of grease it took to repack the bearings plus you just greatly extended the life of those bearings which is not a bad thing. Next step would be to change out the belt (since that's the next easiest and cheapest thing to address) but if you want to test the belt first before buying and installing a new one, using either a spray bottle or even just a long piece tube (such as refrigerant line) start the car and carefully drip some water on the groove side of the belt either by finding an exposed part of the grooved and applying the water directly to the grooves or carefully drip some water on one of the pulleys that the grooves ride on. lf the squeeking stops then that confirms it's the belt that needs replacing. Using the aforementioned methods you can easily and cheaply eliminate 3 different possible sources of the noise and at the very worst your re-greased pulley bearings will be very happy for another 50k miles or so. My bet is on the belt though.

[@dangnguyenhai9535]

I have a Chervolet Spark M300 1.4 (98hp) car with 25,000km run. Recently the weather has been cold, the car has made a noise from the engine compartment when the car accelerates between 1500-1700rpm (The sound appears in the belt - pulley area), reduces the throttle or exceeds 2000rpm, the noise will stop. I tried spraying belt conditioner on the belt, the noise decreased but it still appeared. Where is the core problem? Thank you.

[@wakenow1]

Belt conditioner is not good, because it can hide the fact you need a new belt. when that sucker snaps and send shrapnel through your engine compartment,​ you are going to wish you bought a new belt instead of conditioner@@dangnguyenhai9535

[@manbearpig2164]

That alternator looks brand new

[@davidg813]

I have the same issue on a 2000 Tahoe with 74K on it. I changed the Idler Pulley and still have the noise that sounds like metal on metal. Its so frustrating. When I spray WD 40 on the pulley the noise goes away but then a day later its right back. I sprayed the belt with belt dressing and no change. The belt is good. The noise sounds like its on the Idler Pulley side so I'm now suspect of the tension pulley. That water pump on the 5.7 is no fun to change out. Usually they weep if they are going bad so I'm not going there yet. I did one on my 5.7 Yukon and its a big job just to get at it, not to forget the 11 or so bolts to deal with. I too saved my old serpentine belt for emergency use. I don't suspect that on this Tahoe. Its not that old. The nearest neighbor to the idler pulley is the alternator or the tension pulley. Its definitely on that side. SO FRUSTRATING. WHY does it just go away when sprayed and then come back? I am at a loss on this one,, this has been going on for a few years with no luck to fix but no final breakdown of a part. ????

[@paulepling]

I have a Pontiac Grand am, and when I was looking at mine, my crank shaft is behind and below my ac compressor and idler pulley and the water pump sits above it all. The crank shaft pulley looked wobbly, and I guessed it could possibly be making the water pump stress out by belt stress, so I got a water pump and harmonic balancer part, from O'Reilly's. I hope it works to get rid of my squeekiness

[@martinbeckmann9376]

I made a hearing device from two ft of heater hose with a funnel stuck in one end. Works good .

[@dangerousfreedom4965]

So what was the fix?

[@AntonDoiron]

My Blazer's pulley went out and it was making more of a moaning, groaning sound. I'm troubleshooting a similar noise on my Celica now, hoping it's just a belt issue. Did you figure it out eventually?

[@lathe293]

My 94 k1500 had the same sound. Spray some rubber protectant on the belt. I used ArmorAll and it cured the problem.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

Just get a new belt, not some made in China or Mexican made garbage and you will never have a problem again.

[@charlessuhr6910]

Yea if you didnt see any vibration it should be the belt.

[@efrainb.orozco2715]

Did you put back the spacer? Mine broke I couldn’t find the right one so I got it at the junkyard

[@terryhill4732]

One of the best ways to check idler pulleys is to get a car stethoscope which is pretty cheap and start running your engine and most of the time if you can get close enough with the stethoscope to the bearings you can hear them real easy that saves a lot of trouble

[@mmmmmlemons]

did you watch the vid?

[@terryhill4732]

@@mmmmmlemons No I used the stethoscope

[@alrgaines]

​@@mmmmmlemonslmfao

[@donaldpauli129]

Very carefully touch your stethoscope to the area behind the water pump pulley as close to the bearing support as possible. Be very careful around the rotating parts

[@ninja-jw3dt]

It was the belt tensioner on mine

[@GregReyes-lv7wq]

Doing the same sound on my 2000 camaro 3.8 so I squired a little bit of armor all to the idler pulley first and it stopped the noise so I replaced the pulley and everything went back to normal.

[@joshrothman4443]

You need a "cheater" - a 2' piece of pipe slipped over your ratchet handle - to increase your leverage when working the tensioner. You need a breaker bar too, just because, but the tensioner doesn't require that much force, just more than you can easily impart with a short lever.

[@superhall229]

Use a piece of wood from the bolt or solid nonmoving part on one end and the other end to your ear.

[@jaydegelder2964]

Don't feel bad I've got the same squeal and I still haven't found the cause, trying for the past year. ( just crank your music and roll up the windows and guess what.... noise gone. !! amazing. !!! )

[@ernestdegannes720]

Good work

[@Sophie-go3ql]

The alternator even with good bearings, will make a noise when rotated in the opposite direction of it's normal spin. This is because the brushes create a "lip" that is smooth only in the normal rotation. Also the bearings of the A/C clutch will also make a noise when worn out.

[@snapon1583]

Man ive been having the same issue on my 93 5.7 ive replaced all the pulleys belt except power steering and crank. Have done the water pump alternator compressor tensioner just because of the squeel and i still have to spray deodorant on the belt every morning to shut it up drives me nuts did you ever figure it out?

[@drumvannelle69]

Always a great video. I have slightly similar noise but it is only happens in the morning when the car is cold and once it is warmed up and running, noise is gone. What do you think it could be the problem?? Appreciate your point of view 👍👍👍👍

[@terryhill4732]

I have the same problem and I believe now after changing pulley's it's the belt

[@kennyl3734]

Don’t replace that pump! Belt first. Also especially during cold or humid mornings,some belts squeak at startup from condensation build up!

[@MrRoy-rb1je]

Kenny Lopez correct GM belts are notorious for the AM cold wet squeaks

[@marianluc6235]

Not only that dayco too.

[@acappellahymns]

Just came across this video and my first thought was - what a sharp recording! If you don't mind my nerdy question, what camera are you using?

[@87royalbruh]

My belt moves on the tensioner twards the engine. what could be the problem?

[@obs350kevin5]

Does anyone know where I can get that pulley spacer? I need one ASAP! Thank you!

[@williamduhamel7726]

I went through the same thing. After a changed the alternator I developed a squeak. I ended up replacing my alternator again, my idler pulley,and both belts. Still kept squeaking. I then pulled the dust shield off of the idler pulley. Squeak gone.

[@howardchandler3368]

The alternator bearings

[@kuprebou57]

I have 4.3 same block /parts as 5.7, I have new alt and same squeak..idler pulley dust cover you say...

[@dgordon9645]

Remove the dust cover doesn't do anything the cover act's like a speaker it intensive the sound replace bearing.

[@234yomo]

Change the belt. Had the same issue with my car.

[@dennissecor8092]

I replaced both the tensioner pulley and idler pulley and belt on my 01 express, 4.3 and it still is noisy?

[@WarehouseFit]

Lesson learned. Better luck next time.

[@ryan70639]

Well was it the belt?

[@huntguy3831]

You’re making that tensioner way harder to move than it needs to be. Put the ratchet parallels to the ground and it’s a lot easier

[@Brendalo1]

so what was the issue??? I have a power master alternator, the second one in a month. Now I have a belt slip? surging, I replace my serpentine pulley , idler pulley, when I put in the stock alternator, all issues go away ... Summit & Powermaster tech involved hoping you would finish this video ...

[@punker4Real]

also by watching your videos i have fooled google into thinking I have a 1995 GMC suburban with 5.7 motor LOL

[@marztar]

LOL

[@taisking7599]

Hahaha

[@90210sky]

hahahaaha

[@sleepe361]

Could be the ac pulley pump bearings too.

[@dangerousfreedom4965]

Put the jack handle on that 1/2 inch ratchet when your trying to remove the belt.

[@brentlines6238]

had the same issue Sprayed a little water onto the belt and noise stopped for a while , new belt .

[@charlessuhr6910]

They do make gatorback belts still that dont squeak whatssoever! Just check how all the pulleys are aligned and maybe one is sticking out further, causing a misalignment issue. The gatorback belt can help with that problem though.

[@1RoadGarage]

+Charles Suhr I remember those but haven't seen them for a while now.

[@MrRoy-rb1je]

Charles Suhr gatorback/ continental elite is what I'm running now. Rockauto.com has em in stock for about $25.00 Jimmy!

[@charlessuhr6910]

Yea theyre called continental elites now. You just have to make sure the dimensions of the belt are the same as the original belts

[@creedosmax]

Hello so what is the solution?

[@cmahar3]

So what ultimately did it end up making the squeaking?

[@Carlzday]

on mine....It was the a A/C, belt tensioner

[@jhuntosgarage]

Try squirting water on the belt while the engine is running. If the squeak goes away, it's your belt. On the groove side and the smooth side.

[@1RoadGarage]

+J. Hunto's Garage really? Just a little bit or a lot?

[@qynniyah]

What about if u changed your belt an pully

[@mikehenderson7606]

Hello if you getting transfer from the belt onto the pulley and if the pulley has play when you rock it side to side more than likely there's your problem.

[@wilsolo1986]

Goodyear or Continental or Bando belt replacement before waterpump. IMO

[@mazariqbal9514]

All brand new parts like a new alternater have 1 year manufacturing warranty, so what are you worried about...

[@NeutronX101]

My Nissan Pathfinder barely has any room. Your engine bay is mechanics dream

[@Brendalo1]

put the tensioner on a vice & use the torque wrench over 40 ibs?

[@sleekitwan]

Keep going. Regards breaker bar, as others have said, you can use a ‘cheat’ on that, and in fact in my experience, much of the time, the force required by the time you already have a 12” normal-sized ratchet fitted to the bolt/nut in question, is low. In other words, a PLASTIC 1.5” rigid drain tube for sinks etc, is sufficiently strong. I literally have half a dozen different colours and lengths of off-cuts laying around at any time, from different houses I been in fixing. Get one, push it over the whole normal ratchet you’ve got, and you will almost be able to double the length of leverage, before the plastic gives way where the metal ratchet ends. I replaced 3 different car tensioner pulleys, and you have done the things it normally is. I would look now, to the heaviest-duty part - what gets used a lot, and collects a lot of dust etc? There are two things that make and collect dust - the magnetic-clutch unit that the aircon kicks in and out as and when it’s called for, and the alternator makes its own dust from those brushes you mentioned. Brushless alternators must exist. Spray-lubing the bearings you have access to might help. That water-pump you replaced, there isn’t by any chance a part of that set-up that you re-use when you replace it is there? The auxiliary belt is a real legacy idea, isn’t it? Take care all.

[@davidg813]

A trip to Harbor Freight just to buy a breaker bar? I use a small pipe around 3 ft long on my ratchet and it works fine. Its not a high pressure thing so the ratchet is safe from damage.

[@TUB320]

I got a 1995 grand jeep Cherokee and I changed all the pullies, water pump, alternator,.belt and I still get that sound

[@jamescrabb8766]

Try some drops in your ears. That ringing noise will go away--sorry--couldn't resist it. :)

[@mariolugo-ol6gf]

I saw another video guy shared the gator belt that is ribbed in a way that it doesn’t squeak also most of the time it’s a pulley miss alignment not that it’s detrimental entirely but most belts will squeak with a small pulley miss alignment

[@carlosmagana5909]

I have the same “Remove before flight” keychain lol

[@northeastparanormalinvesti4570]

My pulley making lord noise when should I fix it been like that for a month will it fall off or something? How far can I drive it to till I get it fix

[@jonnysnipes3123]

Won’t fall off but it’ll eventually seize and your belt with burn apart lol

[@elgatoremendado1115]

The best part is if you still have the receipt

[@6XXBANSHEEXX8]

Use a longer ratchet on the tensioner. The longer the lever = less force needed

[@randygomez5498]

I'm going through the same thing. I have a new belt new alternator new water pump new ac compressor new power steering new tensioner and new idler pully. And it's still squeaking. I have no idea what else it could be.

[@tedthornton7791]

Brother presently going thru the same squealing scenario, 97 f150 4.2. Tried tension pulley no dice still squeals. Tried new serpentine belt, was cracking on grooves, no dice still squeals. Oh boy. Water pump was leaking let's try that. Discovered fan clutch scrubs and tight. So might as well do that to. No dice still squeals with new water pump and clutch,, new coolant,, new radiator hose.. Lol, geez 62 clutch + 69 pump + 60 3 gallons antifreeze + 62 hose not to mention 25 for pulley + 26 for belt. Error! Next try idler pulley ( it's got 2). Alternator is very new, ac replaced with new one by local ac shop about 3 years ago. Well hopefully it's the idler pulley. Not a continuous squeals. Ever Few seconds momentary squeals.

[@roberthinchee3726]

Try a bar of soap on ribbed side of belt while running, be careful. If noise goes away with soap belt is bad, replace it.

[@ricksanchez1355]

My 1984 chevy k10 squeals whenever I acelarate but at idle nothing need help diagnosing

[@steelerfan-uo5xo]

"Take the belt toff" LOL

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

Take the belt out. Turn it around. Some times it will go away just long enough for you to know for sure. That the belt is in need of replacement.

[@ryans413]

Master Chief 00117 Oh I see what you are saying I was almost thinking you where saying flip it over I was like no there a rib side and a smooth side

[@rubensoria7457]

GOOD TO KNOW

[@xxxjspaxxx]

When you try to pull belt off change the angle of your wrench to get more leverage.or breaker bar/cheater pipe...

[@marztar]

Yeah even an old vacuum cleaner pipe does the trick. LEVERAGE is the key word.

[@vuzztraveler4722910]

tensioning pulley bearing toast best way to test is undo belt and wiggle them both laterally just like wheel bearings the more the movement if they are lose they are the squealer and steths work but hands on is best

[@xtremeboost7]

I can get the tensioner done with 3/8 rachet.

[@bullsh3176]

I just went thru that 11+ hours deep in Mexico. Paid to have my late 90s chevy water pump replaced - LOUD squealing seemed to originate from exactly there - replaced the serpentine belt as well. Wrong! LOUD squealing came right back. Sprayed the serpentine belt underside with 303 Aerospace and the noise went away. 🤷

[@1RoadGarage]

Figures...

[@marklennox2151]

I use a bicycle seat post as a breaker bar in a pinch.

[@robertcrittenden497]

Was waiting for helping figure mine out.got the... It better not be that waterp belt. Well this n though.... It better not be water pump belt. Got it few times. Not the water pump belt. So i guess check water pump belt

[@user-fr4fk1mu6f]

You help me I already replaced both pulleys I think I got a bad water pump 😊

[@sneakysnakepie1]

Get a dayco grooved "w" belt. They seem to last longer.

[@isitreal1459]

No get a gatorback Goodyear belt way better. Day Co belts will squeal.

[@WilsonInnovativeSolutions]

This will help me rule out what’s possibly wrong with my rav4

[@PaulHenreid]

Where is part 2? The suspense is killing me. If there is not going to be a sequel, can you update the description to confirm it was the water pump pulley?

[@vJiinxz]

37 pound feet? More like two ugga duggas

[@charlessuhr6910]

Go with mr.roys comment with the link

[@lisab3396]

So it's now Nov 2018. At the end of the day, what did you finally determine what and where was the noise emanating from? Clearly the alternator had a squeak but if I was to take a wild guess, it would have been the upper idler bearing! Let us know.

[@1RoadGarage]

Funnily enough it was simply the belt.

[@nickarrigo5540]

@@1RoadGarage you should update the thread

[@edwinprieto9428]

Good job guy wow it was not the problem

[@MrNedsaabdickerson]

Bet you that dust shield was causing it to overheat!

[@MrEyad1990]

Tip , if the bully is spinning freely and fast with your hand 6:08 like a spinner then it will squeak on you and you need to grease up the bearing inside with a good heavy grease , and it will last for a long time , do this for all bully's and bearing you can take off from the engine and you will be fine ...

[@stevenjames1951]

Sorry guy what a bummer. If it's any consolation I've been there before. I got what sounds like power steering going out a whining sound, but I think it's the pulley, idler pulley, cuz I can turn the wheel all the way, one way, or the other, and it doesn't wine, but when I rev the engine up, it makes whining noise you wouldn't believe. Just stepping on the gas and the garage it wines. How long can I let that idler arm go before I absolutely have to change it out?

[@buttonysquare8501]

It may of been none of these in his case. If no pulleys are obviously bad and you just replaced something, a used belt can squeak like that. They will stretch to the way they were originally put on, and will squeak if you put them on a different way. Mark the point on the belt where it goes to the tensioner before taking it off.