Finding the Squeaky Pulley

clfrye · 10-22-2008

I have a squeaky pulley. It makes a serious racket until the car warms up. Any ideas on how to figure out which one it is, other than replacing them one at a time?

jerry9665 · 10-22-2008

Are you sure it's the pully. When the belt(s) wear out they begin to squeal too until the engine warms up.

**stlwagon** · 10-22-2008

Do you think it's an idler or an actual pulley. You can VERY CAREFULLY put a piece of rubber hose near each pulley and hold to your ear to try to narrow it down.

$teve · 10-22-2008

Spray WD-40 INSIDE the alternator -- that may cure it. Did for me.

(Do not spray belt!)

**stlwagon** · 10-22-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by $teve

Spray WD-40 INSIDE the alternator -- that may cure it. Did for me.

That doesn't sound like a long-term solution if there's a bearing issue..

cman · 10-23-2008

I find spraying a little water on the belt while the engine is running helps to rule out a squeaky belt. Or perhaps try a little belt dressing.

BlueLou · 10-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by clfrye

I have a squeaky pulley. It makes a serious racket until the car warms up. Any ideas on how to figure out which one it is, other than replacing them one at a time?

I had an idle pulley go on my '00 GT. What I did to identify which one was going was blast the center of the pulleys, one at a time, with WD40. When the noise went away I know which idle pulley it was and replaced that one.

**stlwagon** · 10-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueLou

I had an idle pulley go on my '00 GT. What I did to identify which one was going was blast the center of the pulleys, one at a time, with WD40. When the noise went away I know which idle pulley it was and replaced that one.

Not a bad idea except you end up contaminating your belt..

BlueLou · 10-24-2008

The belt didn't seem to mind.

I had changed the belt at ~50,000 miles, changed the idle pulley at ~70,000 mile, sold the car just shy of 100,000 miles and the belt still looked good...