FAQ: Chirp Chirp Chirp - Belt Squeal, Pulley & Tensioner Squeak

The tensioner does not visually move. It does feel rough when relieving tension, but it is still VERY firm. The tensioner pulley is relatively new and was replaced with a metal assembly.

I'm not an alternator expert. Are there bearings inside the pulley or would they be housed inside the alternator? I noticed on gmpartsdirect that they sell the pulley assembly.

The pulley is external, the bearings are internal to the alternator. Replacing the bearings yourself requires disassembling the alternator and a good press, I would not recommend it if you are not mechanically inclined for that. I rebuilt my entire alternator using parts from http://www.alternatorparts.com/category_cs144.html but I would recommend buying a complete alternator from them as I had trouble replacing the front bearing on my alternator - the original bearing retainer did not press out and broke. It may have needed some heat. I was able to press the new bearing into the broken retainer and I used some locking compound.

Unless you really really have a desire to DIY your alternator rebuild, you'll just have to buy a rebuilt unit.

Sounds good, thanks again everyone.

The supercharger is chirping when I get on it and when It idles, and also it doesn't whine at all...

Is there any oil in it?

S/Cs whine and grind,continuously rather than chirp when defective.sure the problem isn't in your pulleys? have you installed a CAI yet? the stock air box and heimholtz do a great job of keeping dogs from strangling themselves on their leash as you.." whine" by as it were...

Where's the supercharger oil dip stick ?

Oil level should come up to lowest threads.

Just went 45 minutes and picked up an alternator from the junk yard. $40 and my car is beautifully quiet again, right at 200k.

There had been a little clicking noise for some time I figured was an exhaust leak or something else, well it's no longer present.

Cool, congratulations!

Eldo wrote:

Cool, congratulations!

Not so fast It's back. I guess on the bright side I'm only out $40 and have a spare alternator.

Its completley stock, I think its the pulley, were could I get a replacement?

I use to could hear the whine when I step on the gas but now their isn't any noise except for that irrating chirping cricket noise.....

How do you know it's the supercharger? Maybe it's the belt tensioner?

manofmany wrote:

Eldo wrote:

Cool, congratulations!

Not so fast It's back. I guess on the bright side I'm only out $40 and have a spare alternator.

If you turn the alternator pulley is it smooth? If not, most boneyards will let you return for a different alternator, check your receipt. If it is smooth the problem is elsewhere. It is not uncommon for the alt bearing and oneor more idler/tensioner pullies to go at about the same time.

Point is no kidding you have to slip the belt off and turn *all* the pullies to find the squeaker/grinder(s). Idlers, water pump, PS pump, the works.

Albertj

albertj wrote:

Point is no kidding you have to slip the belt off and turn *all* the pullies to find the squeaker/grinder(s). Idlers, water pump, PS pump, the works.

Albertj

Thanks deekster. You all have been extremely helpful.

One interesting thing to note - I switched the metal pulley on the tensioner with one of the other idler pulleys and the noise has not returned in the 100 miles I've put on the car. Could very well just be a coincidence.

manofmany wrote:

Thanks deekster. You all have been extremely helpful.

One interesting thing to note - I switched the metal pulley on the tensioner with one of the other idler pulleys and the noise has not returned in the 100 miles I've put on the car. Could very well just be a coincidence.

Noise will come back in a while; you probably changed the orientation of the bearing a bit, putting the load on a surface that was not so worn. So if the bearing does not outright fail it will squeak after a while, maybe a long while maybe not -- enjoy it while it runs. If you go to any pick-n-pulls you may spot a lightly-used pulley on a GM or Ford engine somewhere, they'll let you have it very cheap...

Albertj

My experience with noisy pulleys: they usually fail quickly, withing a few hundred miles.

My experience with the chirp-chirp sound: it went away after installing a new tensioner.

When I installed the tensioner, I reused my idler & tensioner pulleys; noise did not return.

Hi guys,

For about a week my Riv started squeaking and I'm almost positive it's the belts. A buddy of mine wanted to try a trick he saw online by rubbing some candle wax on the insides of the belts. It stopped the squeak for about 5 minutes.

Now all of a sudden, the car wouldn't start and the dash lights started flickering. I jump started it and was able to get home. The next morning the same thing. So I'm thinking either the battery is dying or the alternator is not charging it because the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley.

From my research here and on other sites, I heard it's a pain to change out the belts because a motor mount needs to be removed? Is this true? I've also seen where people have changed belts and pulleys and still get the same squeak.

When the car is running it seems be fine, maybe just a little down on power as the super charger isn't spinning up as efficiently. But then again, I'm not entirely sure the belt is slipping enough to cause any real damage.

Any tips?

Thanks!

Jel

BTW, I had no idea how much center caps for this car costs brand new. Thank goodness for Ebay!

Jelorian wrote:

Hi guys,

For about a week my Riv started squeaking and I'm almost positive it's the belts. A buddy of mine wanted to try a trick he saw online by rubbing some candle wax on the insides of the belts. It stopped the squeak for about 5 minutes.

Now all of a sudden, the car wouldn't start and the dash lights started flickering. I jump started it and was able to get home. The next morning the same thing. So I'm thinking either the battery is dying or the alternator is not charging it because the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley.

From my research here and on other sites, I heard it's a pain to change out the belts because a motor mount needs to be removed? Is this true? I've also seen where people have changed belts and pulleys and still get the same squeak.

When the car is running it seems be fine, maybe just a little down on power as the super charger isn't spinning up as efficiently. But then again, I'm not entirely sure the belt is slipping enough to cause any real damage.

Any tips?

Thanks!

Jel

BTW, I had no idea how much center caps for this car costs brand new. Thank goodness for Ebay!

First tip: put your Riv's info in your signature, on your profile. What year, what options, what modifications you've made.

Second: if you have a '97 or later you don't need to remove the front motor mount and if you can find a '97 or later in a junkyard you can get the newer style mount and install it. Mount has a ferrule at the 4 o clock position (when facing the front of the engine looking thru the passenger side wheel well) that you can remove and slip the belt out.

Third: based on your post my guess is you like to post a lot more than you like to read. That could be a problem. Start getting in the habit by doing a search on this site for belt replacement. You will find some nice write ups that take all the mystery out of belt replacement.

Fourth: the squeak may not be the belt, it may be the pulley.

Fifth: I have no idea how you're gonna get that wax off your pullies, maybe dry gas.. good luck with that. Tell your buddy not to believe everything he reads on line, including this post of mine.

Last: welcome to the site. You would profit from taking an hour or two to browse the site. Click on the Index box in the navigation bar and look at the way the topics are organized. Click on a topic and see the subcategories.

Welcome aboard and please post again maybe after you fix your sig and read about belts...

The wax will eventually wear off, it's a pretty soft material and I wouldn't worry about it.

The squeak is likely an idler pulley or the alternator. Get a stethoscope or piece of garden hose and find it. You can also remove the belt and spin things by hand to find something that sounds wrong...

I bought an automotive stethoscope for $9.99 last time I was at my local advance auto parts...

albertj wrote:

First tip: put your Riv's info in your signature, on your profile. What year, what options, what modifications you've made.

Second: if you have a '97 or later you don't need to remove the front motor mount and if you can find a '97 or later in a junkyard you can get the newer style mount and install it. Mount has a ferrule at the 4 o clock position (when facing the front of the engine looking thru the passenger side wheel well) that you can remove and slip the belt out.

Third: based on your post my guess is you like to post a lot more than you like to read. That could be a problem. Start getting in the habit by doing a search on this site for belt replacement. You will find some nice write ups that take all the mystery out of belt replacement.

Fourth: the squeak may not be the belt, it may be the pulley.

Fifth: I have no idea how you're gonna get that wax off your pullies, maybe dry gas.. good luck with that. Tell your buddy not to believe everything he reads on line, including this post of mine.

Last: welcome to the site. You would profit from taking an hour or two to browse the site. Click on the Index box in the navigation bar and look at the way the topics are organized. Click on a topic and see the subcategories.

Welcome aboard and please post again maybe after you fix your sig and read about belts...

Thanks for tips and suggestions. I had no idea that having a sig with all your car info was required, but I do see the merits of it being there considering I provided no other info about my Riv.

There was an oil based residue on the inside of belt which could be causing the slippage as well. Can I possibly spray some degreaser to clean it up? Brake cleaner? Would that damage the belts?

I'll definitely do more research but the main intention of my post (again probably was not clear) was to find out if the belt slippage could cause the alternator to not charge the battery.

deekster_caddy wrote:

The wax will eventually wear off, it's a pretty soft material and I wouldn't worry about it.

The squeak is likely an idler pulley or the alternator. Get a stethoscope or piece of garden hose and find it. You can also remove the belt and spin things by hand to find something that sounds wrong...

I bought an automotive stethoscope for $9.99 last time I was at my local advance auto parts...

I'll try and take the belt off and spin the pulleys by hand. Hopefully get this figured out.

Thanks for your suggestions.

After buying this car from a friend I've already replaced the front struts and the rear shocks. The wife's Taurus just had the steering rack go out so I had that replaced, so at this point I'm getting a little frustrated with all the work being done on the cars all of a sudden.

This is a great site with tons of info. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to do the write ups and faqs.

Cheers,

Jel

PS. Were you guys just as bewildered as I was the first time you tried to jump the car and couldn't find the battery?

--
1998 Buick Riviera (Silver) Bone Stock

my S/C side idler pulley is "squeeking" i purchased the car not too long ago and the guy i got it from told me it was just replaced. very nice looking and still has the paint on it so it is deff. not too old but at idle its sqeek ....squeek ....squeek is driving me crazy any sugestions?

Get a stethoscope and figure out if it's the idler pulley or the alternator squeaking. Or remove the belt and spin things by hand.

Maybe he replaced a different idler pulley?

Jelorian wrote:

Hi guys,

For about a week my Riv started squeaking and I'm almost positive it's the belts. A buddy of mine wanted to try a trick he saw online by rubbing some candle wax on the insides of the belts. It stopped the squeak for about 5 minutes.

Now all of a sudden, the car wouldn't start and the dash lights started flickering. I jump started it and was able to get home. The next morning the same thing. So I'm thinking either the battery is dying or the alternator is not charging it because the belt is slipping on the alternator pulley.

From my research here and on other sites, I heard it's a pain to change out the belts because a motor mount needs to be removed? Is this true? I've also seen where people have changed belts and pulleys and still get the same squeak.

When the car is running it seems be fine, maybe just a little down on power as the super charger isn't spinning up as efficiently. But then again, I'm not entirely sure the belt is slipping enough to cause any real damage.

Any tips?

Thanks!

Jel

BTW, I had no idea how much center caps for this car costs brand new. Thank goodness for Ebay!

It was the belt tensioner in my case. Ordered Part # 38152 off Amazon.com for about $62. The assembly came with the accessory pulley as well as the coolant elbow. Gonna keep the pulley as a spare even if it is plastic. Got the tensioner replaced and the chirp/squeak is gone. After going through all of this I found that all the pulleys have been swapped out for metal ones by the previous owner so I'm hoping I'm good to go for awhile.