02 GT Belt problems

[KDubb619]

Here's the issue, need advice and assistance from the gurus...

Under load, going up hill, at the end of my burnouts and shifting through the 1/8 mile with my automatic tranny...a squealing sound emerges from under the hood.

At no other time does this sound appear...only during high-rpm shifts.

Do I need a new belt? The current one does not have any shine on the backside so I doubt it's slipping.

Do I need to tighten up the pulleys???

Do I need smaller pulleys?

I'm lost on this one and no one around me down here has a clue about what to do.

Thanks for the help all.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

That is normal. You get on it, perhaps there are some onlookers, you let off, HUGE SQUEAL It is embarassing.

A gator belt will go a long way to fix this but once it gets broke in after a few months ot so it will also squeal.

This is just the way it is. It is normal to have belt squeal unfortunately.

However, it would not hurt to inspect your idler pullies and other pullies while you are replacing the belt.

Also, keep the old belt in your trunk with the spare tire Might need it some day...

 

[KDubb619]

Thanks for the great advice...you're the first person to actually say what I suspected the whole time. Most others just shrug their shoulders and say "wow never heard of that!"

Thanks so much,
Kasey.

 

[rjstaaf]

Might be time to replace the tensioner and idler pulleys. I would drop in a Gatorback belt while you are at it. Stick with Motorcraft replacements.

Here are the old parts.

Here are the new parts installed along with the Gatorback Belt

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Thanks for the great advice...you're the first person to actually say what I suspected the whole time. Most others just shrug their shoulders and say "wow never heard of that!"

Thanks so much,
Kasey.

You are welcome. That was actually a pretty easy one and most of the regular posters here could have answered it. I just happened to be the first one.

Also, rjstaaf makes a great point about sticking with Motorcraft idler pullies. OEM quality is best. I will admit though that I put a cheap AutoZone idler pulley on bacause I was short on cash at the time Need to replace that with the real deal one of these days...

I do believe however, that in the case of the belt, the Gatorback is the way to go instead of Motorcraft...

 

[vipergt]

My auto does it to and I only have 6,000 miles,but done it from mile 90 when I bought my car.First time it happened thought something broke but was under warranty and I kept doing it and nothing ever broke so I assumed it to be just one of the 25 things that annoy me about the car, but completely normal according to ford, but I love the car, uuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm kind of like my wife I guess.

 

[KDubb619]

Great info from all, I really appreciate the good advice and personal experiences.

Vipergt made a good point, there are always going to be things that irritate you about your car, wife, job, etc...but that is just how things go in life ;-)

I'll probably go ahead and get a new belt and replace the idler pulley since the car has 50,000 miles...might as well.

Or maybe I'll start saving for that turbo kit!!!

 

[Torinalth]

turbo will just make more noise, not get rid of the currentl ones

Torinalth

 

[chinostang]

My auto does it to and I only have 6,000 miles,but done it from mile 90 when I bought my car.First time it happened thought something broke but was under warranty and I kept doing it and nothing ever broke so I assumed it to be just one of the 25 things that annoy me about the car, but completely normal according to ford, but I love the car, uuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm kind of like my wife I guess

exactly