This is a thread to document how NOT to diagnose and fix a belt squealing problem on a 3.0.

About 2 months ago my belt began to squeal and became very annoying. Being the idiot that I am I started with the expensive fixes first and moved my way down to the free fixes last. The squeal is now gone and I wanted to share my inexperience with others who might have this problem.

This is the order of events that took place to fix the squeal.

1. Replaced crank shaft, alternator, and water pump pulleys with 20% underdrive crank shaft and water pump pulleys and 20% overdrive alternator pulley. (why replace when you can upgrade?) Also replaced stock belt with appropriate length Gator Back belt.
SQUEAL BECAME LOUDER
2. Replaced idler pulley
SQUEAL MISLEADINGLY LESSENED
3. Replaced tensioner pulley
SQUEAL MISLEADINGLY LESSENED
4. Cleaned belt and grooves of pulleys
NO EFFECT
5. Scarred the surface of the idler and tensioner pulleys with sandpaper
SQUEAL DISAPPEARED AND HAS REMAINED GONE FOR 2 MONTHS

To summarize:
Don't do what I did.

 

lol

 

Haha atleast you can laugh at yourself for it!

 

Why oh why didn't I only do steps 1 and 5? My wife got mad at me for using her stethoscope for work (RN) to try and listen to my pulleys.

 

LOL, well you know I had to replace my tensioner pulley because my squeel was so loud you could hear it down the road.

 

Sounds a lot like my "how not to clean a windshield" post.

Glad you got it fixed.

 

checking the trucks vitals....haha glad you got it fixed

 

good idea

 

Well, at least you won't have any pully problems for awhile!

 

Pulley BEARING is Napa part number 6203-2RSJ. Taps easily in and out of each pulley.

I carry spare bearings and a spare belt.







Mine still squeaks on damp mornings (it's a Dayco belt- I know, "get a Gatorback", but I'd have to mail order it - no one carries Gatorbacks in my one-horse town).

Squeak goes away when truck gets warmed up.

 

well we can do what you did, just do it backwards :P

 

Squealing,
When it rains or cold weather my 95 does this now, use not to.
When moving on the road I can push in the clutch and the noise stops, push on gas and almost always comes back . A lot of times it will stop after I push in clutch.
Have took off belt and tried all pullies, no issues that I could tell -alternater, fan, tension, idler...
No power steering.
Any other things to try ?
Will do the sandpaper thing next.
Thank you !