I have a loud squeeling coming from the belt area. It starts right at idle and is continuous even under acceleration.I am 80% sure the squeeling is coming from the tensioner pully. The tensioner is almost right at the stop being completely relaxed. This makes me think I have a streched belt (unless this is steeda's spec with the stock belt and their underdrive pulley. When I called them they were no help.) Or could it be the bearing prematurely wearing out which would be odd seeing as how the car is only 8 months old. Should I go with an inch shorter belt anyways to pull the tensioner back down to give more play anyways? If that corrects the issue great since there would be a load on that pulleynow or are the chances that it is the bearing and just continue to usethe stock belt.

Thank you for your insight.

 

WD40

 

A stretched belt is unheard of with a serpentine. Methinks you need a shorter belt.

You said you have the Steeda UDP. Did you not also install the water pump pulley? It should have come with the UDP set. The larger water pump pulley is used to take up the slack from the smaller crank pulley. If you didn't do that (or if you are running the UDP plus an electric water pump) then you definatley need a shorter belt.

 

I thought my belt was pretty loose (real easy to get back on and tensioner pretty relaxed) after I installed my Steeda UDPs. I have had no sqeeling though. Try to hear where noise is coming from with a piece of tubing, workd pretty good, just be careful. Could be a bad bearing in an idler or something, deler probable won't help because of the mod.

 

Tried WD40 first I didn't think it would work and to no surprise it didn't. I did install the water pump pulley as well. It didn't squeek at first but over the last week it has gotten progressivly worse. It just seems weird that the stock belt would be that loose but I guess for all intensive purposes for Steeda the stock belt works. Iwould be very surprised though if a bearing is going so soon.The carruns great if anything it is more embarrassing becauseoutside the car you hear it over my exhaust.

 

Well, what you are describing is what I went through with my 1999 Ranger. The dealer called it "chirping". The changed the serpentine belt, pulleys and tensioners. The "chirping" goes away, but if it gets wet...then next morning is there again. Belt dresser, WD40 will not work. Bottomline: I still have the dang chirping...since I am not spending a single dime to change something else.

 

Many older Fords had a chronic chirping problem. TPony's Ranger, both of my old Explorers, my friends F-150..etc...in those cases it happens when the bearings wear out in the belt tensioner or idlers. If you want to fix it,find the ilder or tensioner that's squeaking and replace it.

I don't think that Smokem's problem has anything to do with that for several reasons:

1) Even an '05 is way too new for this to be a problem.
2) He specifically mentions being able to SEE that the belt is "too long" and the tensioner is almost bottomed out
3) If he did in fact install UDPs without the bigger water pump pulley, then this is what would happen...and we know he did install UDPs.

Smokem, did you install the larger water pump pulley with your UDP install or not?

 

I think CrazyAl is right on the money with this one...!!!

JMO and his...


R

 

Yes I did to spec. I installed both supplied with the steeda kit balancer and water pump. Until now my installs have been perfect. The balancer is running true and there is no noticable vibration. Has anyone else noticed at "relaxed belt" with the steeda kit. My belt is on there fine car still runs fine I just wonder if Steeda says stock belt is fine which it is but 1 inch shorter would be better. Because of the lack of tension on the tensioner pulley it is causing the "chirping/Squeeling" in my case.

 

If you used the larger water pump pullet then the STOCK length belt is correct.

It is possible that you might have accidentally routed the belt incorrectly when you re-installed after the UDP? If that is OK, then I would try a new stock-length belt. Though unlikely, your stock belt could have stretched.