Belt squeal?

**yellowv** · 11-23-2010, 06:06 PM

Hey guys about a week or so ago the alternator on my Formy went bad. I replaced it with a rebuilt unit and also replaced the belt with one of the Duralasts from Autozone while I was at it. After finishing I started it up and noticed a chirping sound which turns into a loud squeal or whistle as rpms go up. The sound lasts about 10 minutes or so and when the car gets good and hot it goes away. I figured before I really go crazy I would try another belt and I got one of the more expensive Dayco belts instead, didn't help. Next I replaced the tensioner pulley, sound still there. Next the idler pulley sound still there. At this point my only options are that either the rebuilt alternator has a bad bearing or maybe I should try another gatorback belt. Like an ass I threw my old one away as soon as I finished swapping alternators. Also I did run the car without the main belt to rule out the AC belt and tensioner. It is quiet without the main serpentine. Any suggestions will be appreciated. It's driving me fucking crazy and I would rather not swap alternators again. Thanks.

**blue02Z** · 11-23-2010, 06:18 PM

i gots me a hunch that your new alty mite have the pulley not set right and it is not even with the others causing your belt to squeal when it gets to the alternator. take off the belt and eyeball the new alternator to all the other pulleys

**yellowv** · 11-23-2010, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by blue02Z

i gots me a hunch that your new alty mite have the pulley not set right and it is not even with the others causing your belt to squeal when it gets to the alternator. take off the belt and eyeball the new alternator to all the other pulleys

I'll give er a look, but if that were the case the sound would be constant and wouldn't go away after 10 to 15 minutes.

**blue02Z** · 11-23-2010, 07:01 PM

well not always ole son, once the belt is warm then it can have the tendancy to not squeal as much.

**yellowv** · 11-24-2010, 04:40 PM

FUCKING BELT!!! Put a new gatorback on and the noise is gone. All that time wasted. And I thought I was doing something good replacing the belt with the alternator. I bet if I put my old ass gatorback on it after the install I would have never had any issue. Oh well I have a new belt, tensioner pulley and idler pulley now. Not like thats a bad thing.

**cammed goat** · 11-24-2010, 06:09 PM

Tis better to be safe than sorry.

**blue02Z** · 11-24-2010, 07:24 PM

Haha good! Glad to see you got her fixed up. Sucks being a bad brand new belt

**yellowv** · 11-24-2010, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by blue02Z

Haha good! Glad to see you got her fixed up. Sucks being a bad brand new belt

2 bad brand new belts. From now on I only buy gatorback belts.

**JayTA98** · 11-26-2010, 05:06 AM

Whats the difference with these gatorback belts as far a visual? Can you get them from any autoparts? pardon the ignorance but I will like to know. Thanks.