Chirping Belt

[NibbanaBanana]

Greetings Oil Men,

My 2002 E150 4.2L has a belt chirp at startup. Hot or cold it doesn't matter. Just for a second then no noise and the vehicle runs and drives as it should. Previously was squeeling for a couple seconds on startup. Changed to a new OE belt which greatly improved things. I checked that all spinning items on the belt drive system were free and smooth spinning.

Do these tensioners loose tension and need replacing ever?

Thanks.
Nibbana

 

[Kira]

How many miles are on your 2002?

While I do not know your engine at all, I do know tensioners loose tension and are indeed a maintenance item.

One observable symptom of a tensioner aging is seeing it hop n' quiver with the engine running.

 

[The_Jeff]

They can. You can usually feel "sticktion" when you lever the tensioner to fit a new belt if it's bad.

 

[doitmyself]

Right or wrong, when I replaced my tensioner at about 120,000 miles I replaced all of the small pulleys using OEM parts. Once and done - should be good for another 100,000 miles.

 

[Kira]

^^Yes to that.
I also believe (do NOT know) that blue steel springs are in the lever arms (or drum shaped housings) of external tensioners and can rust, weaken and break.

 

[Lubener]

For just a short time( one second as you said), I wouldn't do anything until the chirping gets worse. You can very easily check the belt tension if the tensioner is weak.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Yes, tensioners can lose tension and can need replacing

 

[Tdbo]

I'd recommend replacing the tensioner.
My Ranger was doing the same thing.
My long time mechanic looked at it, said the belt was glazed, and recommended replacement.
Six months later, doing the same thing, Recommended new belt, again.
Told him not until he at least inspected the tensioner.
He tore into it and found it weak.
Replaced it and the belt, and all has been fine since.

 

[martinq]

Make sure all the pulleys are clean and free of rust / corrosion!

I did a belt swap recently and later on replaced a bad idler bearing in one pulley. After cleaning the belt I was surprised to find a loud squeal that slowly diminished. The solution was to clean the rust off the water pump pulley using sandpaper, files, screwdriver/chisel, etc. It was an awkward location but getting down to clean steel cured the noise.

 

[DemoFly]

I’ve had belts squeal after a new tensioner and belt. There was rubber material in the grooves of the pulleys and I had to remove it easily with a pick.

 

[Oliveoil2]

It’s also cold and that may have an effect on the tensioner. I’d let it squeal until you can’t take it anymore.