Belt/Pulley Noises?

I realize that they're many topics on this, but I kind of need the help right now. I don't really have the time to search and read through a few threads to hopefully find what I need.

A few days ago I noticed what sounds like a hissing noise coming from the engine. A friend's dad told me that it could be the idler pulley. But, I don't know what one it could be, or if the idler pulley is grooved or smooth. I need help on that. We could see metal shavings down near the A/C pulley I guess It's called.

Secondly, I started hearing a separate noise from the hissing noise and it sounds like someone is sawing through a tree. Not kidding. What could this be? The S/C coupling? I'm kind of lost on this and would like to fix it as soon as possible if I can.

Do you have an automotive stethoscope or length of garden hose? Use that to pinpoint where the noises are coming from.

Diagnosing bad pulleys is actually pretty easy - just remove the belt and spin each pulley by hand. Don't forget the alternator. Idler pulleys are a pretty common wear item.

Are our pulleys smooth or grooved? Or does it not matter? I'd like to replace smooth with smooth, or grooved with grooved. Should the pulleys just spin freely by hand?

We have a mix of smooth and grooved pulleys. Like deekster said, just pop the belt off and start spinning each one. They should spin freely. If one is noisy or feels like it's grinding then you need to replace it immediately. If one fails while you're driving it will ruin your week. To test the supercharger just rotate the pulley back and forth slowly. If it clicks each time you change direction then the coupler needs replaced.

The tensioners and idlers are pretty to replace minus the one that requires you to take a motor mount off. The coupler is a little more challenging but it can still be done with basic tools and a bit of time. There are plenty of write ups for doing either task so I'll just let you go to each thread for a good write up.

I just read one of the belt/pulley write-ups, and I think It's actually my tensioner pulley that's making the noise. From what I understand, I DO NOT need to take the entire belt off to do this? I can just use a T-50 torx bit and loosen the tensioner pulley enough to slip the belt off the tensioner and idler pulleys. I'll have to also take it off the S/C pulley. From here, I can take both the tensioner and idler pulleys off? I have a smooth idler pulley, so I think I'll just replace both of them while I have the belt slipped off the pulleys.

Daymon,
Please do us all a favor and go to your Profile, and fill in (and enable) the Signature with the year of your car and whether or not it's supercharged. It's also helpful for all of us if you list any mods you've done there.

Yes, you should be able to remove the pulley without completely removing the belt. One of them (I forget which) has a left-handed thread. I _think_ it's the supercharger tensioner. It can be hard to find the tensioner pulley listed by itself sometimes - some parts breakdowns want you to get the entire tensioner assembly (when you really only need the pulley). I believe our FAQ page has a link to a pulley breakdown.

I'm going to make a run to Autozone and hopefully get me a S/C tensioner pulley and exchange this smooth idler pulley for a grooved one.

So, Autozone didn't have what I wanted, but I stopped at O'Reillys and was able to order the S/C belt tensioner unit and it comes with both of the pulleys.

Quote :

I don't really have the time to search and read through a few threads to hopefully find what I need.

I don't really have the time to help you right now. Best of luck.

Only AA could ever be upvoted for saying that.......

Here's what I'm trying to replace:


That's the S/C Belt Tensioner Pulley. What is the correct replacement pulley that I need to order from here: http://catalog.autopartmonster.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=1998-BUICK-Riviera-V6--231ci--3.8l--F/i--S/c--Vin--1&yearid=1998%40%401998&makeid=13%40%40BUICK%40%40B&modelid=11235%40%40RIVIERA&engineid=22073@@V6-231ci%203.8L%20F%2FI%20S%2FC%20Vin%201@@22073&catid=2@@Belts/Hoses/Cooling&subcatid=31@@Belts,%20Tensioners%20and%20Pulleys&mode=PA

I see three Belt Tensioner Pulleys, but I don't know what one is the correct one that I need to get. 89007 says "Main Drive" in the notes, but I don't know what that's supposed to mean. 89006 just says "smooth pulley". 45979 says "Supercharger belt drive", but it also has "idler pulley" next to it, so this is really throwing me off. I just want to replace this gosh darn pulley!

Sorry for the size of the link. Don't know why It's doing that.

Since you don't want to search, I searched for you. Look here:
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t725-write-up-replacing-belts-and-pulleys
First post has a picture with the Dayco part numbers and a picture of where each pulley is.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Since you don't want to search, I searched for you. Look here:
https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t725-write-up-replacing-belts-and-pulleys
First post has a picture with the Dayco part numbers and a picture of where each pulley is.

That's actually the thread I've been referring to the entire time. I just wanted to make sure everything was still the same being that the thread is 6 years old. I figured I'd double check.

Anyways, I just ordered the part.

Hi, Daymon. When you get some time, read this. It may save you more time in the future.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t2245-multiple-threads-not-necessary

Since this thread will be merged with the other pulley noise thread when I have the time, you may want to read this wiki - so you will understand why it happened:

http://rivperformance.wikispaces.com/Welcome!

Best,
AA

AA wrote:

Hi, Daymon. When you get some time, read this. It may save you more time in the future.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t2245-multiple-threads-not-necessary

Since this thread will be merged with the other pulley noise thread when I have the time, you may want to read this wiki - so you will understand why it happened:

http://rivperformance.wikispaces.com/Welcome!

Best,
AA

Read, and definitely understood! Sorry!