CMC Corvette

I saw that so many of you had success with the Goodyear Gatorback belts that I got one (the main belt; stock # ends in 798) and put it on my 2001 5.7L. THE NOISE IS GONE; HOWEVER---- While replacing the belt, I noticed that as I would release and apply the belt tension on the main tensioner pulley (top of engine, passenger side), that the pulley would turn slightly sideways. (Tension off, the pulley would be straight; tension on, the pulley would go slightly sideways again.) Even though the new belt eliminated the squeak/squeal, I am convinced that the pulley was the main problem and I did not want a pulley out of line. I have just replaced the tensioner/pulley ($40 for the part). It took me less than 10 minutes to get the belt off, unscrew the two tensioner/pulley bolts and remove, and replace with the new tensioner. I've got a total of $60 in the belt and tensioner/pulley.

guido7834

For what it's worth, I just went through this on my 02 ford Ranger. Terrible squeal. Changed the belt, (it did stop for a couple days) idler pulley, and tensioner pulley to no avail. Finally changed the tensioner and all is quiet. Upon inspecting it, you could see the twist.

taucoin

I went through the same issue, finally sent to dealership after trying 2 new GM belts plus gator back, alternator & idler pulley & still had the squeal. It ended up being the harmonic balancer which did look like it had a wobble. Good luck, mine was loud too!!!! Know what you are going through.

'Shifter

Here was my solution:

My balancer did not wobble a bit...it had begun to delaminate, and had walked forward about an 1/8" of an inch. That in turn caused my a/c tensioner to angle to adjust to it's new position, which ate the bearing.

I ended up replacing the balancer with an ATI unit (overkill), the a/c tensioner completely with a Dayco unit (made in USA, instead of the GM unit that is made in Korea), all of the other pulleys, also Dayco, and the belts with Gates Racing Blue belts, the main drive tensioner with a fixed Katech unit. My a/c compressor was also barely leaking at the halves, but I wasn't taking any chances that the seeping oil was responsible for any of this, and changed it too.

No more squeaks or squeals....

SusanD37083

What kind of powder cleanser? The squeal drives me nuts. The faster I go, the louder it squeals.

Evil-Twin

Welcome to the Corvette forum Susan. Do not put any cleanser on your belts... Find out which belt of the two ( the AC Belt or the drive belt ) ( both belts have a tensioner and an idler ) is squealing, and replace the belt and the tensioner and idler pullies for that belt system.
Bill aka ET

Yello95

Welcome to the CF Susan...There is a very good chance that your harmonic balancer needs replacing....GM C5 balancers are famous for seperation and need replacing over time...especially if yours is the original from 2003...otherwise even if you change all the other things the problem will persist...

CMC Corvette

Yello95

Actually a lot more than $50...i replaced 2 tensioners , 2 pulleys and 2 belts and it worked for a while...then the chirping came back because the harmonic balancer made them go bad and I had to replace all again plus the balancer......So much for MY "$50 chance"......
.

CMC Corvette

Yello95

It wasn't that expensive...had my Vette since new in early 2004...a new balancer and a few other normal replacement parts...i wanted to start fresh after 14 years...time is the killing factor of the crap GM balancer that was purposely engineered to crap out after about 7 years of deterioration not mileage per say.....i paid more for my Z06 wheels......anyhoo...this Vette owes me nothing......i feel sorta guilty for being blessed with pleasure for the past 14 years......

Kmadr1

I have the same problem this year, replaced two belts, cleaned all the grooves in the pulleys, what stumps me is that if the air or outside temps are warm ( over 65* plus ), the noise is gone until it cools off again.

Dave Anthony

Its the Harmonic Balancer dude...

helga203

He drove it off a cliff back in 2012 when that was his last post.

dmsog

Could you point me to a reference showing that this indeed fact? Thanks-

Gordy M

The C5 Harmonic balancer has two known problems, on is the de-lamination of the bond or the bolt becomes heat cycled and the balancer moves forward into the power steering rack. Many who have HPDE, raced or autocrossed their cars have experienced this problem. For the race cars and HPDE cars, the ATI, etc HB was an easy replacement for those who autocross in a stock class, you had to replace it with a GM one. The only recourse was to pin the balancer. In either case: separation or movement, the belts will sequel loudly and confuse what is the problem--usually a tensioner.

jjc508520

My chirp was remedied when the idler for the AC belt was replaced. Also - just before going to Carlisle I read some notes from a seminar I attended last year. I recall reading that one (only one) of the idlers has a "depth adjust" and maybe fiddling with that would help.

Ls10291

With the colder weather and the humidity in my area I’ve had belt squeak on start ups and it’ll stop once the car hits about 140 degrees had me stumped. To preface the vette started squeaking it about a week after I bought it put a new tensioner and serpentine belt in the squeaking stopped for about two weeks. Then started to come back. I looked into it possibly being

the harmonic balancer(checked no play or slippage)

tensioner(still tight)

belt(no cracks or wear)

ac belt and ac tensioner we’re both replaced right before car was bought checked both and they are still in great condition

one thing I’ve found is the power steering pump pulley on these cars are pretty terrible they can crack and due to them being pressed on they can become loose

to check this today I removed the belt checked for cracks(there was none) and there was no play)

after putting the belt back on there was no squeaking and the engine was cold so my problem has resolved itself I’ll update with any changes

I apologize for the long post.