Thread: Pulley Squeak

I have a pulley squeak but i have no idea which 1 is squeaking and i wanna get it replaced but as a newbie with cars. I have no idea how to take off the belt to find out whats what. By the way, i have a '98 grand prix gt and my engine is a II series. Any thoughts?

No, when the car is in parked and when im driving doing about 25 30, it squeaks. No matter if im turning or not.

the pulley by under the alt is the tensioner you put a wrench on the bolt and try to turn it, one way it will not move the other way the whole arm will move and make the belt loose, then slide it off.

then spin all of your pulleys to see if they spin freely and smoothly and have no wobble.

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

the pulley by under the alt is the tensioner you put a wrench on the bolt and try to turn it, one way it will not move the other way the whole arm will move and make the belt loose, then slide it off.

then spin all of your pulleys to see if they spin freely and smoothly and have no wobble.

I shook that pulley from the top a bit an it had just a little bit of play to it so i was thinking thats where it was coming from. All that was missing is finding out how to take the belt off. Now i heard these belts are a huge pain to put back on? I do have a belt diagram that shows how exactly the belt comes on so that part im aware of.

its not hard, a friend can be helpful, one to hold the tensioner and the other to put the belt on. if you have not taken one off before, getting it back on can be a fight, but does not need to be.

also flip your belt over your fingers, groves up and check for cracks and or missing chunks.

Its fine actually. Was looking at it earlier and i didnt see anything at all. Thanks by the way.

The belt is relatively easy when you learn the trick of it. Get it routed all the way except leave the tensioner out of the path. The lift up the belt off the water pump and hold it next to the tensioner. It'll just clear the bolt in the center of the tensioner. Put your socket and or tensioner tool on and engage the tensioner by turning in a counter clockwise direction. Now slide your belt on release the tool on the tensioner. Double check the belt to be on all the ribs etc and in place. Start the car for a moment ensuring no one is standing in the path of the belt if it were to fly out. After a few seconds of running, turn the engine off and check the belt once again to ensure it's still in the right place. If it is.. you are good and can close the hood.

BTW for you this is actually easier than most. 99+ there was an overflow coolant tank between the tensioner and the strut tower. For those years, you need to move the overflow to get most tools on the tensioner.