Squealing belt

[charles129]

I have a 1998 Trans Am ws6, Ls1. I have replaced everything that moves on the front of the engine to include two water pumps and several belts. My squeal goes away with a new belt for about a month then returns. I have even tried a belt just a bit shorter and still it squeals...very aggravating. Any suggestions?

[Knight]

Start by checking the pulley alignments. Do you run the same brand of belt each time, or have you tried different ones?

[TransAmFanatic]

I also had that problem, I used some prestone belt dressing and drove around for a while and it stopped.

[shortdog]

Idler pulley tends to go bad and squeak in later model f-bodies.

[Firebirdjones]

Common problem for serpentine belts. All it takes is a pulley to be slightly out of alignment and eventually it wears on the belt ribbing and causes a squeak. I have the same issue on a truck engine after about 3,000 miles.

I know the 4th gen Fbodies also had this issue from 98 up through the middle of 2000 production. There was a bulletin for an idler pulley change that was causing the problem, until GM finally changed production during the middle of the 2000 model year.

I'll see if I can dig up that bulletin, but that's where I'd start, it's a simple swap.

[Firebirdjones]

Here you go.....I forgot it also requires you switch the generator bracket along with the idler pulley to correct the alignment issue.

BULLETIN NUMBER:
00-06-01-008

SECTION:
06 - Engine/Propulsion System

DATE:
March 2000

TECHNICAL

SUBJECT:
Accessory Drive Belt Squeak/Chirp Noise (Install New Double Row Idler Pulley, Generator Bracket and Serpentine Belt)

MODELS:
1998-2000 Chevrolet Camaro
1998-2000 Pontiac Firebird
Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint Y2107225 with 5.7L V8 Engine (VIN G - RPO LS1)

CONDITION
Some customers may comment on a squeak/chirp noise coming from the accessory drive serpentine belt. The noise will be most noticeable at idle and low engine speeds.

CAUSE
The serpentine belt squeak/chirp noise may be caused by misalignment between the idler pulley and crankshaft pulley. A slight rocking motion of the idler pulley causes the misalignment, which results in noise.

CORRECTION
To correct this condition on vehicles built prior to the above VIN breakpoint, instal the new generator bracket, double row idler pulley and serpentine belt following Service Manual procedures.







Important: The new generator bracket can be identified by the depth of the idler pulley mounting pilot. The pilot dimension (2) on the new generator bracket is 10 mm. Dimension (2) on the previous bracket was 8.3 mm.

Parts Information

Bracket 12563327
Pulley 12563326

[KMdef9]

It's more than likely an out of alignment pulley as previously mentioned. Check your belt very closely for any vibrations, at idle and higher RPM's. It should be perfectly smooth at idle and after a second or two, smooth at higher RPMs. If you see a vibration between two pulleys, it could be on the pulley that's earlier in the belts rotation. It's also easiest to see a vibration on the longest stretch of belt between pulleys.

Quality of belt can make a difference too, as can dressing, but those are only temporary fixes, and the root cause will continue to plague each of those issues after time.

What brand belts have you been using? What brand tensioner?

[charles129]

Here you go.....I forgot it also requires you switch the generator bracket along with the idler pulley to correct the alignment issue.

BULLETIN NUMBER:
00-06-01-008

SECTION:
06 - Engine/Propulsion System

DATE:
March 2000

TECHNICAL

SUBJECT:
Accessory Drive Belt Squeak/Chirp Noise (Install New Double Row Idler Pulley, Generator Bracket and Serpentine Belt)

MODELS:
1998-2000 Chevrolet Camaro
1998-2000 Pontiac Firebird
Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint Y2107225 with 5.7L V8 Engine (VIN G - RPO LS1)

CONDITION
Some customers may comment on a squeak/chirp noise coming from the accessory drive serpentine belt. The noise will be most noticeable at idle and low engine speeds.

CAUSE
The serpentine belt squeak/chirp noise may be caused by misalignment between the idler pulley and crankshaft pulley. A slight rocking motion of the idler pulley causes the misalignment, which results in noise.

CORRECTION
To correct this condition on vehicles built prior to the above VIN breakpoint, instal the new generator bracket, double row idler pulley and serpentine belt following Service Manual procedures.







Important: The new generator bracket can be identified by the depth of the idler pulley mounting pilot. The pilot dimension (2) on the new generator bracket is 10 mm. Dimension (2) on the previous bracket was 8.3 mm.

Parts Information

Bracket 12563327
Pulley 12563326

This is the type of info I was lookig for. I was affraid it may be an alignment issue but had no idea where
to look for the info. I am a service tech for a Kenworth dealership so this type of info makes more since to me than just guessing. I have tried everything else. I will have to get ahold of these parts and make the repair.

[sjsingle1]

i had the same pro.....my car is covered under the TSB........what finally fixed it was replacing ALL the pulleys and a goodyear gatorback belt

[Jdep162]

Here you go.....I forgot it also requires you switch the generator bracket along with the idler pulley to correct the alignment issue.

BULLETIN NUMBER:
00-06-01-008

SECTION:
06 - Engine/Propulsion System

DATE:
March 2000

TECHNICAL

SUBJECT:
Accessory Drive Belt Squeak/Chirp Noise (Install New Double Row Idler Pulley, Generator Bracket and Serpentine Belt)

MODELS:
1998-2000 Chevrolet Camaro
1998-2000 Pontiac Firebird
Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint Y2107225 with 5.7L V8 Engine (VIN G - RPO LS1)

CONDITION
Some customers may comment on a squeak/chirp noise coming from the accessory drive serpentine belt. The noise will be most noticeable at idle and low engine speeds.

CAUSE
The serpentine belt squeak/chirp noise may be caused by misalignment between the idler pulley and crankshaft pulley. A slight rocking motion of the idler pulley causes the misalignment, which results in noise.

CORRECTION
To correct this condition on vehicles built prior to the above VIN breakpoint, instal the new generator bracket, double row idler pulley and serpentine belt following Service Manual procedures.







Important: The new generator bracket can be identified by the depth of the idler pulley mounting pilot. The pilot dimension (2) on the new generator bracket is 10 mm. Dimension (2) on the previous bracket was 8.3 mm.

Parts Information

Bracket 12563327
Pulley 12563326

thanks firebirdjones, a question also, this sounds like exactly what my 98 camaro does, only occasionaly, and and when i shut engine off, it goes 'chirp chirp' 5 or 6 more times, before i buy these parts and replace, that sound like my prob to you too? only ask because of the chirps after shutting off.....

[01SsRacing]

Im glad you post this thread, But you didnt say when yours does it? because mine only every does it on cold starts in the mornings of sometimes if it a cold start later at night but after it all heats up it goes away. So my question is, is this the same problem or am I just needing to greas it up?