So I bought the car about three weeks ago, the alternator was replaced because it was going bad, and a new belt was put on. The noise when away for maybe a week then started to slowly come back. If you put "belt dressing/soapy water" over the belt, the noise goes away. The belt is BRAND NEW. I would think if it was the engine support bracket that everyone is talking about, that putting anything on the belt wouldn't do a thing to eliminate the noise. So basically, I am asking what else it could be? Pulley too tight? The alternator pulley is brand new. The belt is flowing evenly, not offset whatsoever.

 

So, here I was in the same boat 4 weeks ago facing a cross country drive in my VIII which doesn't have the bracket issue, listening to a noise that could only sound like a supercharger dying.

Replace the Accessory belt, no dice.

Check the tensioner pulley, holy crap, this thing sounds like rocks in a can. Amazon Prime'd a replacement Gates piece, noise went away.

Is that your problem? Maybe, maybe not, this is just what I experienced in the last month.

 

Thanks for the reply. Well, I've come to notice that the squeaking only happens when it's cold. So basically after about a half hour of driving it, the squeak goes away. I'm not sure where to pin point it since it's not constant. The alt is brand new so the pulley can't be bad. Maybe it's too tight, not sure. But you would think if those were one of the issues, the squeal would be constant.

 

My car did something similar. It Would make a noise during cold morning only. Took it to a shop and they said it was one of the Pulleys, and recommend I do my timing belt service with all the bells and whistles. Once I got my car back noise was gone. Could be one of the pulleys going from what your describing and I would recommend you just replacing them all once in there cuz if you replace one that ain't the bad one you'll be back at it��

 

This noise?

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...elt-video.html

If so, it's the bracket. Look on the last pages of the thread for the part number

 

yes, that is the EXACT noise!! Does yours only happen at start up then gradually go away when you drive it and it gets warm?

 

Also, I see the part number for a 2003, is the 2006 a different bracket? How do I know if it is the "fixed bracket" and not the original one that is going bad.

 

1091A133

that is the part number you need

 

Sorry about the other thread. I need 15 posts to sell something lol. but okay, I'll grab it. thanks.

 

Hey demon. I talked to the dealership today and they told me a simple diagnose of if it's the bracket or not is if soapy water on the belt when squeaking takes it away or not, and it does so they told me the bracket deals with the timing. Since the soapy water on the accessory belt causes the squeak to go away for like 10-15 seconds. What can you conclude?

 

Yes, bracket only affects timing belt, you're correct in that. I suppose I should have put two-and-two together earlier when you had been talking about the alternator belt and not a timing-belt-related squeak.

I'd guess it's either a tensioner or idler pulley that's causing the squeak, or that the belt is too tight causing the squeak. Only way to check those is to pull the belt and see if they bearings in the pulleys are bad (if they have a lot of play) or if they're adjusted improperly

 

What do you mean by pull the belt? If the tensioner is bad, how can I tell? Can I give it a little slack from underneath then have someone start the car and see if the noise is still present with the belt looser?

 

Please step away from the car!

 

by pull the belt i mean take it completely off and look at all the pulleys and test them for play in the bearings

you can adjust belts with or without the car running, but unless they're easily accessible i'd do it without. there's no reason to have the car running to properly tension a belt. general rule of thumb is that for a 10" run, you should be able to twist the belt 90* and that's about the right tension

 

if the belt is so tight it's making noise. if the tensioner is going bad, you need a new tensioner. i'd start there. if you have a stethoscope, you can find out right away. that's they easiest way i know of.