Squealing pullies?

[N S]

Upon startput it sounds like the pullies are "squealing" a little. Typically goes away after a few minutes.

Replace? Grease? If so, with what?

[upallnight]

Replace.

[wpoll]

Squealing is usually belts, not pulleys (bearings actually). Try some belt dressing and see if it stops (but this is usually only a diagnostic step - belts may need replacing).

[StephenVA]

NS, the squealing noise on start up is usually belt/tensioner friction due to the pulley(s) not spinning at the same speed as the belt due to the "bearing" being worn or ready to go. Recommendation is a simple quickie test. Remove belt when cold, check free play in tensioners/idle pulley, check belt for edge wear and cracking. Fire up engine for 1 min. Noise gone? Or try this other quick test: GATES: Diagnosing Belt Noise - The Spray Bottle Test- see youtube video.https://youtu.be/fPjmBQc2gGQ
If your mileage is over 60K replace belts, if over 100 replace lots more.

If we knew the engine size it would help....

It is considered normal maintenance to replace water pump, belts and tensioners at 80-100K on 3.0 engines. After all they are over 12 year old by now. In place of records replace it all and you will be happier in the long run.

Tensioners have little to no play new. The little brass/aluminum bushing wear out and allow side play. The noise is the metal on metal tear/wear. There are no "lube" points just check and replace as required.

www.ecstuning.com for images

[blackbeast]

I've had an intermittent annoying squeal/squeak for the past 2 weeks or so which has been slowing progressing to be louder and more frequent. I finally dug in this morning and took off the belt to check the pulleys by hand and it was my water pump. The pulley/shaft had tons of play in it and it didn't spin smooth.

I sourced a new graf replacement WP locally for $112 bucks and i'm going to replace it myself tomorrow.


Your squeal could potentially be a ticking time bomb so I would try to get to the bottom of it sooner then later.

[N S]

Originally Posted by StephenVA

NS, the squealing noise on start up is usually belt/tensioner friction due to the pulley(s) not spinning at the same speed as the belt due to the "bearing" being worn or ready to go. Recommendation is a simple quickie test. Remove belt when cold, check free play in tensioners/idle pulley, check belt for edge wear and cracking. Fire up engine for 1 min. Noise gone? Or try this other quick test: GATES: Diagnosing Belt Noise - The Spray Bottle Test- see youtube video.https://youtu.be/fPjmBQc2gGQ
If your mileage is over 60K replace belts, if over 100 replace lots more.

If we knew the engine size it would help....

It is considered normal maintenance to replace water pump, belts and tensioners at 80-100K on 3.0 engines. After all they are over 12 year old by now. In place of records replace it all and you will be happier in the long run.

Tensioners have little to no play new. The little brass/aluminum bushing wear out and allow side play. The noise is the metal on metal tear/wear. There are no "lube" points just check and replace as required.

www.ecstuning.com for images

2006 4.4L V8 with 109k mi

[blackbeast]

Originally Posted by N S

2006 4.4L V8 with 109k mi

I would recommend starting by removing the serpentine belt and spinning/checking each pulley individually by hand.

Check for binding/coarseness/sounds. Every pulley should feel tight and smooth with no play.

Also check the entire length of the ribbed side of the belt for abnormal wear/missing chunks.