Belt noise when weather very cold

[rocketman]

I have a 1999 Silverado, 4.8L engine, roughly 105,000 miles on it. Runs extremely well. However, on start up when it is extremely cold out, I get this unbelieveable squealing (rattle, too) from the belt area that goes away when belt dressing is applied (temp. fix). Now that it is milder out, the noise doesn't happen. How can I tell if it is the belt, the tensioner or something else? I would think it is the belt since it goes away with belt dressing. Also, most importantly, how do I change the belt myself?

 

[T-Keith]

When it's cold, there is more load on the alternator and powersteering pump. I've heard that belt dressing can actually soften and harm belts, so perhaps your solution made it worse.

Sounds like you need a new belt.

 

[rocketman]

Ya, I know that belt dressing isn't the best solution, it was only temporary. The noise was bad. So.... how do I replace the belt myself if it is solely a belt problem?

 

[JTK]

Take note of the serpentine belt routing if the underhood label is gone. Put a wrench on the tensioner pulley nut, move it in the direction that removes belt tension. Pop the belt off & give every pulley a spin by hand that will spin. This will help you troubleshoot the noisey accessory. It's probably bad bearings in the idler or tensioner pulley.
G/luck
Joel

 

[Kestas]

Belt dressing is not recommended for multigrooved belts.

 

[kenw]

If the belt dressing fixed it, even if only temporarily, it IS the belt....putting belt dressing on a belt won't fix a tensioner, a pulley or anything else, even for a second.

The belt v-groove surface is glazed, it has a slick surface on it from slipping slightly for a long time, and that's perfectly normal. But that makes it squeal. The fix as you state is to replace the belt, altho dressing has been known to "fix" belts for years...

yes, belt dressing softens the belt's surface, it is supposed to do this.

no, it does not harm belts. But it won't fix old, dying belts either.

if the belt fails later it's because it was old and needed to be replaced anyway. The dressing merely let it die quietly.

 

[JTK]

quote:

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Originally posted by kenw:
If the belt dressing fixed it, even if only temporarily, it IS the belt....putting belt dressing on a belt won't fix a tensioner, a pulley or anything else, even for a second.

The belt v-groove surface is glazed....

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Good point Ken. But we are talking about a serpentine belt here, not a "V" belt.

G/luck
Joel

 

[kenw]

serpentine belts still get glazed. And belt dressing on a serpentine belt still won't help a tensioner....in case I left any doubt.

But dressing can help a serpentine flat belt. It's unlikely to help a multi-v belt as they don't see the same slipping mechanism. Altho it certainly won't hurt it.