Belt tensioner "Q"

4potsoffury · Aug 17, 2007

Have had a persistent squeak in the engine since I got my '97 GT earlier this week. Based on reading here, and my ears, I believe it's either the belt tensioner or the idler pulley... or both.

Pulled the belt tensioner (what a Rube Goldberg'd way to set that thing up!) and spun the pulley on it to check for noise... No noise... but the pulley does not spin freely. Is that right or not? Also pulled the idler pulley... blatantly squeaking... so that's no big deal, I'll just get a new one. Some idiot oiled down the pulley where the bolt goes through though...

The tensioner is the question mark though- what should the pulley be doing if you spin it?

JBushman73 · Aug 17, 2007

Spray some belt dressing on the belt. If the squeak stops, that typically means that it is the belt and not the tensioner.

4potsoffury · Aug 17, 2007

Belt's off the car, planning to replace it when the new tensioner and idler go in.

Tally_4.6 · Aug 17, 2007

I replaced my idler pulley to resolve my squeeling noise but to no avail, haven't tried the belt tensioner yet. << Probably what it is.

CobraRed_96_GT · Aug 17, 2007

Dont put belt dressing on it, that's only for V-belts we have serpentines. As for the squeak, my belt tensioner was the problem - but when i took it off it didn't squeak when i spun it. Put the new one on and presto chango it's fixed.
Made a vid of the squeak - but the camera can't pick much of the high pitched noises it makes. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ebBbzkT-93s

BobHyatt · Aug 18, 2007

thoughts...

1. The pully should spin pretty freely since it has a bearing in the hub. It won't spin long as there is a bit of drag, but it should feel silky smooth when you spin it. Worth replacing if you hear any noise. This applies to idlers and the tensioner pulley.

2. The tensioner arm moves a lot. Particularly as the A/C compressor cycles on/off, etc. That arm can squeak as it moves since it also has a pivot point. That is usually more of an annoying rattling noise that when you watch carefully, you notice the rattle is in sync with the arm movement.

Mike97gt · Aug 18, 2007

If it does not spin freely then replace it.. the tensioner and idler freewheels easily when normal.

RandyStinchcomb · Aug 18, 2007

4potsoffury said:
Have had a persistent squeak in the engine since I got my '97 GT earlier this week. Based on reading here, and my ears, I believe it's either the belt tensioner or the idler pulley... or both.

Pulled the belt tensioner (what a Rube Goldberg'd way to set that thing up!) and spun the pulley on it to check for noise... No noise... but the pulley does not spin freely. Is that right or not? Also pulled the idler pulley... blatantly squeaking... so that's no big deal, I'll just get a new one. Some idiot oiled down the pulley where the bolt goes through though...

The tensioner is the question mark though- what should the pulley be doing if you spin it?

1st thing is your tensioner arm made from aluminum or steel, Ford had several TSB's for belt & pulley noise on the mid 90's modulars.
the tensioners wth the aluminum arms would bend or bow outwards causing all kinds of belt tracking and squealling issues. so if yours still has the old style aluminum arm tensioner, get the new "steel" tensioner kit, part #XR3Z-6B209-DB and be done wth it, it is $$$ but it does come wth a new belt

smasher41 · Aug 18, 2007

RandyStinchcomb said:
1st thing is your tensioner arm made from aluminum or steel, Ford had several TSB's for belt & pulley noise on the mid 90's modulars.
the tensioners wth the aluminum arms would bend or bow outwards causing all kinds of belt tracking and squealling issues. so if yours still has the old style aluminum arm tensioner, get the new "steel" tensioner kit, part #XR3Z-6B209-DB and be done wth it, it is $$$ but it does come wth a new belt

Randy,
would a tensioner sqeal the entire time the car is running or only at startup?

My car randomly squeals for a breif 1-2 seconds after the crack intially cranks itself, im thinking maybe the tensioner or starter. changing the belt made no difference in sound?.?.

RandyStinchcomb · Aug 18, 2007

belt squeal can be anytime, at a cold start-up, while under load, upon decel and even just sitting at a hot idle.

belt squeal is usally not from the bearings in the idlers/tensioner. belt squeal is from the backside of the belt(flatside) rubbing scross the "flat" sides of the idler and or tensioner, moving front to back or "shimming" across the flat side of the pulley(s), when this happens the belt will emitt the noise. that's why so many belts like the Goodyear "Gatorback" work so well, wth the x-cuts across the rib of the belt allows it to "walk/squirm" back and forth across the flat of the pulley, thus reducing the squeal

4potsoffury · Aug 18, 2007

Got a new idler pulley and pulley for the belt tensioner. Part # at Autozone was the same- the arm on the tensioner is still straight as an arrow- also picked up a Gatorback belt.

Already swapped the pulley on the tensioner and it's night and day versus the old one... the new one spins free whereas the old one wouldnt spin...

I'm thinking the squeak will be gone.

This and front brakes are my projects for today... any suggestions for proper break-in on ceramic pads?

4potsoffury · Aug 19, 2007

Just as an update/closure, the new pulleys are on and the squeak is gone.

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