• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Supercharger belt came off today

99gtxws6

New member
If anyone read my last thread about trying to diagnose a rattle at idle, then you're probably already familiar with my car's problem.

If not, I'll fill in as needed...

Anyways, car was making a rattling noise at idle that went away anywhere above idle.

I replaced the supercharger tensioner and the coupling inside the supercharger and the rattle still remains, though once I take the supercharger belt off, the rattle goes away.

Well today driving home I heard something hit the underside of the hood and smell rubber burning so I knew it was the belt. Pop the hood at home and sure enough it was just hanging off the front of the motor.

I notice the entire inside 3/4ths of the belt tread is completely worn off, and I replaced the belt with a brand new Gatorback within the last 2 years, so something's been causing it to wear out much faster than normal.

So what do you think would be causing this?
 


Take a look at the tensioner. My brother lost one on his GTP and it was causing the belt to pop off.

Yes, as I posted above, I just replaced the tensioner a couple weeks ago.

Did you check the idler pulley?

There's 2 idler pulleys right? Both of them seem to spin freely and I can't see any play back and forth with them. They don't make any noise when I spin them by hand.

What are the odds it would be the harmonic balancer or something else making the rattling noise? Had someone suggest the flexplate, but the noise goes away with the belt off so I'm thinking it has to be somewhere in the supercharger belt drive setup.
 
What are the odds it would be the harmonic balancer or something else making the rattling noise?

it does happen. pop the rf wheel off and the splash sheild and take a look at the rubber for cracks or chunks missing. they're cheap and easy to replace.
 
it does happen. pop the rf wheel off and the splash sheild and take a look at the rubber for cracks or chunks missing. they're cheap and easy to replace.


The rubber does have some minor cracks in it, but the balancer still spins true when the motor's running, doesn't look as if it'd cause the belt to come off.
 


The rubber does have some minor cracks in it, but the balancer still spins true when the motor's running, doesn't look as if it'd cause the belt to come off.

well, if the sc isn't the rattler and the tensioner isn't the rattler you're pretty well out of choices. I'm not so sure I'd discount the cracked rubber you're seeing.
 
It is possible the tensioner although new is throwing the belt off when the engine is under load. Ive seen them cock to one side making the belt come off. Run the engine and recheck all the idler pullies and tensioner and if possible try putting a load on the engine to see if you can recreate the issue.
 
did the belt snap or just fall off?

Didn't snap, looks like it just slipped off somehow. There is a slight tear in the belt though I'm thinking that's from where the crank pulley was rubbing it after it came off. Not positive though.


It is possible the tensioner although new is throwing the belt off when the engine is under load. Ive seen them cock to one side making the belt come off. Run the engine and recheck all the idler pullies and tensioner and if possible try putting a load on the engine to see if you can recreate the issue.

After replacing the tensioner, I ran the motor and revved the engine up and checked for anything moving around or out of line for the belt and everything seemed to be just fine.
 


you may want to check the pully's, i have a few times where there is oil on mine and it slips off, it does the same thing when it is just wet with water.
 
what brand tensioner and how much deflection is in the belt?


Whatever the most affordable one on Rock Auto was, I think it's a Dayco

Belt stayed pretty tight. Was running the Gatorback 4060660 or whatever one is recommended for 3.4 pulleys
 
Back
Top