I bought about 4’ of vinyl hose to use like a stethoscope but it’s curly not straight. So far nothing within reach is noisy.
Next step is buying some PVC pipe to extend the “listening end” lower on the engine without getting it tangled in the moving parts.
Is there an easier way? .
Chirp chirp chirp or squeeeeeel
I would pull off the belt and spin everything by hand. If it all goes smooth, replace the belt and see if the problem goes away.
I usually do the shotgun approach and just change all the idlers and the tensioners and belt as a matter of course if I start getting noise.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
It’s chirp chirp chirp. It’s had two new belts in the last four weeks - so idler pulley is what I suspect. But hoping to isolate before buying more parts.
$5 HF mechanic's stethoscope.
Get a spray bottle, fill it with water, and spritz each belt one at a time to see if the noise changes or goes away.
If everything else checks out and you cant get rid of the noise my go to has always been a goodyear gatorback belt. They are quiet as long as there no significant mechanical problems.
93gsxturbo said:Chirp chirp chirp or squeeeeeel
I would pull off the belt and spin everything by hand. If it all goes smooth, replace the belt and see if the problem goes away.
I usually do the shotgun approach and just change all the idlers and the tensioners and belt as a matter of course if I start getting noise.
This is probably the most effective way to identify the sound.
spin everything by hand as mentioned before . with the belt off.
if you are brave.. start it up. and get a candle. rub the candle on the belt while running. if it quiets down thats your belt.
alternatly you can use WD40 on the belt watch over spray to other belts.
What I read, and it seemed to work on the Cherokee, is spray the inside (ribbed) of the belt with water. If the sound goes away, a pulley is misaligned. If not, spray the outside. If it goes away, the belt is slipping. The Jeep had a misaligned pulley due to a crappy replacement water pump, but I could not see it. The shop put a laser on it and got it worked out.
Plastic bottle (megaphone) on a long screwdriver method is awesome too
OHSCrifle said:Plastic bottle (megaphone) on a long screwdriver method is awesome too
You can do this with a piece of brake line also if you cant find a screwdriver long enough.
gearheadmb said:If everything else checks out and you cant get rid of the noise my go to has always been a goodyear gatorback belt. They are quiet as long as there no significant mechanical problems.
Came in here to see this, only now they're branded as Continental's Poly-V belts.
I use a long rod pressed on the pulley bolt and the other end pressed onto the flap just in front of your ear canal. Then confirm by spraying water or brake cleaner on the bolt (not the belt surface) to see if it changes.
chirp chirp is almost always a bearing in a pulley.
Long pry bar on something that isn’t moving but has something that is.
It was the idler pulley bearing. I couldn’t get a variety of audible devices to make it speak to me... but turning the pulley provided the necessary proof. And I got some new tools. Win win.
In reply to masterjr33 :
Make sure to let the WD-40 set for a few minutes. It'll makes the belt grip better as well.
In reply to chada75 :
What surface(s) are you saying to spray?
........chirping again after 2 new belts and one new idler pulley
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