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Alternator belt squeal

G

Garys1969RR

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My 67 Satellite with a 400 engine has a belt squeal that starts after 3-4 minutes of running. The alt bearings were rough so I replaced the alternator. No help. So I put on another water pump, and replaced the cast iron W/P pulley with a good steel one. Still no change. I drove the car 1200 miles from Ohio to Colorado, and cant hear the sound on the hi way, but at slow speeds driving around town you can. Its really annoying after awhile. Could it be the 4.99 Valu Craft belt I put on it? The original belt made the same noise, and it was a ribbed design on the pulley side. Pulley Alignment is perfect, and the bottom pulley looks to be cast iron. Could the noise be coming from another source such as the timing chain or cam? Would belt grip/dressing help?
 
Gary,

An easy way to check the belt is to take a bar of soap and CAREFULLY hold it to the belt on either side while the engine is running. If it quiets, then the belt is probably 'glazed'. If it doesn't quiet, you get to keep looking. Also, have you tried tightening it up just a tad more than it currently is? That may be all it is as well. Good luck and let us know what you find.
 
Try spraying it with a belt dressing? And, if so did it quite the Noise???
check belt tightness & pulley alignment. Check alternator Pulley for looseness.. Check harmonic balancer (crank pulley) separation.A belt that's too wide or too narrow will not ride at the right depth in the pulley grooves.

Take A listen to the timing cover..Possible oil slinger ...
 
What does the WP have to do with the alt? Got PS? What fan or fan clutch? A/C? How many belts are on the alt? Pics? Those pulleys should not be cast iron. Pull all the belts off to see if it still makes the noise,but beware the engine will run hot eventually.
 
The water pump had slight movement as if the bearing was loose. I had 4 good used ones, and decided to replace it just to see if it had an effect. The top pulley was definitely iron and weighed about 3 times what the steel 1 did. So I replaced it.

- - - Updated - - -

Flex fan, 2 groove pulleys, 1 belt

- - - Updated - - -

I will try the soap on the belt and also running w/o a belt
 
Check pulley alignment. Never know what has been replaced by am almost correct part. Also replacement alternator sometimes will not have the pulley pressed on properly.
 
Garys1969RR said:
The water pump had slight movement as if the bearing was loose. I had 4 good used ones, and decided to replace it just to see if it had an effect. The top pulley was definitely iron and weighed about 3 times what the steel 1 did. So I replaced it.

- - - Updated - - -

Flex fan, 2 groove pulleys, 1 belt

- - - Updated - - -

I will try the soap on the belt and also running w/o a belt
Click to expand...

I have done everything that you have done down to running it with no Belt and had the same problem.
Turn`s out it was the oil slinger on mine.Had just enough difference in the one that was in it to one i had in an old 440 motor i had laying around.
Here is the Post i had over at Mopart`s if that helps ya with pics and some video of mine.
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=7355623
Good luck hope it helps you.
 
Thanks twinscrew! That makes sense. I will try it with no belt, and if it still squeals then will check the oil slinger.
 
try cleaning the pully that you didn't repace with a wire brush ive had to do this befor
 
Gary...what has 2 grooves, crank pulley or water pump? Picture would help here if possible.

do not use belt dressing or any grip stuff as a solution, that crap will make it worse
 
All the pulleys have 2 grooves. This was an A/C car. I am now suspecting the oil slinger. The sound comes and goes for a few seconds then comes back.
 
Garys1969RR said:
All the pulleys have 2 grooves. This was an A/C car. I am now suspecting the oil slinger. The sound comes and goes for a few seconds then comes back.
Click to expand...

Stethoscope time or get a long screw driver..place on timing cover to ear......
 
Pops1967GTX said:
Stethoscope time or get a long screw driver..place on timing cover to ear......
Click to expand...
Garys1969RR This is what i was doing in the one video almost like a stethoscope but used a hose,can also use a screwdriver or such.
 
Garys1969RR said:
All the pulleys have 2 grooves. This was an A/C car. I am now suspecting the oil slinger. The sound comes and goes for a few seconds then comes back.
Click to expand...

if this is the case, then that's probably the problem. you need a one groove water pump pulley, your belts are fighting each other because the crank pulley grooves are not same diameter.....again, picture would help here
 
Not yet

- - - Updated - - -

In Tx until the 14th. Then will fix the hard pull to left when braking, and remove the alt belt for a minute to see if that is causing the sound.
 
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