Screeching noise - pulley?

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Today I was driving my 'Voy around and at a red light I heard, what sounded to me, like a pulley that's time for replacment and making that "screeching" dry noise. I thought it was the crappy beat up Neon next to me at the red light because I'd never think my 'Voy could create such a noise!

Fast forward to me pulling in my driveway and now I can actually hear the noise again. I opened the hood while the truck was running and started pinpointing the noise. It seems to be coming either from the tensioner pulley or the alternator. :eek: Its loud enough that its the first thing you hear when the truck is idling. Sounds like a real dry screeching, the noise you hear alot on other peoples cars, but never yours lol

Whats the consensus out there? Do tensioner pulley bearings/assemblies tend to be a common replacement on T360's?? I have 93,500 miles and my alternator is original too. I felt the alternator and it wasnt overheating, same with the tensioner pulley. Neither were hot to the touch.

[85vette]

Do a search, I think I read a post pertaining to faulty tensioners in the 02, 03's.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Thanks 85vette! I will do that. :)

EDIT: I just searched the forums and there seems to be a lot about "whining" noises thats probably power steering pumps, but mine is a screeching chirping kind of noise. Kind of like a pulley with bad bearings combination slipping belt. :confused: My belt is a 2 year old Goodyear with lifetime warranty. That wouldnt explain the rough screeching noise though. And this just started today (I was under my hood checking trans fluid 2 days ago and it wasnt making any noise then)

[ghoster]

I would remove the belt and spin the tensioner and the alternator and see if you can tell which is making the noise. A tensioner going bad would not shock me at all. :cool:

[RedsN30]

I had a similar problem when I first got my TB used. brought it in twice to gm to get the belt replaced and they found out it was the crankshaft bumping or something. had the whole thing replaced and it was only around 45K in miles. I hope that u dont have the same problem, luckily mine was all under warranty so $3000 in repairs for free. something to look into at least

[85vette]

You might try shooting some wd-40 into the tensioner bearing while it's making the noise, this will at least eliminate the tensioner if it's not the problem....but be careful and use the tube that comes with the wd-40 can, don't use much, it'll get all over the belt.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Well I went out with my digi-cam and took a video of the belt/pulleys and the noise. It sounds a lot worse on video than it does in person :eek: but dont get me wrong - its loud and mean sounding!

Gimme a minute here, its a big clip and Youtube & dropshots is giving me grief..... :crazy:

[MTPockets]

Mich, don't forget there is also an idler pulley between the alt and a/c comp. Failed bearings in those are common. Like ghoster says, gotta remove the belt and give everything [that will] a spin by hand.
http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/2007/Photo%20Library/Line%20Engines%204,5,6/07%204.2L%20I6%20LL8%20TB1%20LoR.jpg

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Thanks MT! Heres the link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/v/doiAy3LEs9A

Excuse the quality. LOL... I think its time to replace the ol' Kodak digi-cam with a big boys camera :D

[Str8blazin]

mine started making a noise simalar to that the other morning. When I poped the hood, I could actually see the belt slipping slightly on the water pump pulley. I guess because it was early in the morning and the thermostat hadn't opened yet. And of course it is time to change the belt. Mine was making more of a chirping sound, but haven't heard it since then.

[MichEnvoyBoy]

Yeah mine chirps too. Im going to take the S-belt off in a few minutes and turn each pulley to feel for any roughness or evidence of a bearing going south.

Update: I went outside, pulled off the S-belt and started turning pulleys 1 by 1. The alternator was quiet and smooth. The water pump pulley was smooth also with no noticable play in it. But alas the idler pulley- although it spun freely with no resistance or any rough feeling, was the culprit. It squeeked even when I turned it by hand. To confirm this, I sprayed some Mobil 1 spray lubricant inside of the idler pulley assembly, careful not to get any on the pulley itself (the s-belt was on my bench in the garage so there was no change of it getting on the belt). Put the belt back on and started the 'Voy back up, it was quiet as the day it left the factory...err well almost :D

I just looked up the idler pulley on autozone.com and cskauto.com (murrays) and it looks like its going to be an easy replacement and for a pretty good price! $20.99 at Murrays with a 1 year warranty or $16.99 at Autozone with a 3 month warranty.

[MTPockets]

Good deal! Could be worse. Check the idlers on this baby. I think I count 3 + the tensioner!!:crazy:
http://media.gm.com/us/powertrain/en/product_services/2007/Photo%20Library/HVV6/07%203.5L%20V6%20LZE%20IMP%20LoR.jpg

[MichEnvoyBoy]

:eek: Yes, Im feeling forunate...LOL. And I found the idler pulley for $10.99 with a lifetime warranty :) There was 1 in stock and its been set aside for me to go pick it up!

[calhoun]

I just changed the belt on my 2003 tb. Now when I make turns I get a real bad embarrasing screeching. I checked the power steering fluid, level was good. I tried to pin point the noise sounds like its the tensioner. I wasnt getting any screeching prior to changing my belt. Im at @ 83,000 miles. Anybody out there have the same problem, and if so what was the solution?:bonk::mad: