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Hellacious Serpentine Belt Chirping When Cold

spf973

Full Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2002
Messages
95
Location
San Francisco, CA
My 2002 AV 2500 4X4 makes a Godawful chirping noise until truly warmed up....it's loud, real loud, and has gotten much worse over the past 1000 miles (I have just over 15K on it)...the belt looks okay, no cracks, fraying or chunks...but it sure sounds like a beater....any ideas? Thanks,
JM
 
yes, Yes, YES!!! Mine (1500 Z71, though) did this too when it was brand new--right after we bought it. (We bought it in October, so there were plenty of cold morning starts.) I took it in to the dealer, and they replaced the serpentine belt. It still did it for a day or two after they replaced it, but I haven't heard it since. I don't know if there was a true TSB or somesuch on this, or if I had some dealer perogative thingy... But the replacement seemed to be much better. We'll see when it gets cold agian.

Good luck.

Brendan

BTW, to further characterize the problem, the chirping was loudest at idle or slow speed, but had a definite frequency loop. That is, it's as if it was specific to a certain portion of the belt and would get louder when that part of the belt came 'round again. The faster you drove (and hence the faster the engine speed), the chirp "oscillation" would go faster and faster until you couldn't really make it out from the other truck noises... Hope this helps. The original belt looked fine too.
 
Thanks! You are absouluely right on with your description of the sound. Did you notice if the replacement belt was of a different make than OEM? For instance, maybe the stocker was a Chinese cheapie while the new is a Goodyear Gatorback?
JM
 
At 19K miles, I've been having a peep-peep-peep-peep type squeeling from under the hood. It got much worse on the way to Thanksgiving. Took it in to the dealer and he called back to say the belt was glazed and needed to be replaced to fix the noise. He said this IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY PAST 12K MILES. I couldn't convince him that it was obviously defective materials that caused it to go that soon but he said sorry. It wound up costing me ~$70. Just a heads up for you guys.
 
for $70 you could have bought six belts. in the future buy it from the auto parts store. look under the hood for the belt tensioner. using a 1/2 in. breaker bar remove tension from the belt. do the reverse to put the new one on. it should take you all of 5 minutes to do.
btw, did they tell you why the belt was glazed? apparently something may not be properly adjusted/positioned in the accessory drive belt system. it may happen again soon. :B:
 
I've had this problem for last 12K miles - dealer has replaced belt twice, noise always comes back within 1K miles. Is obviously something other than the belt itself, I have a 94 suburban that never made any belt noises, I replaced the belt only for something to do. As it gets nearer to end of warranty period I'll be more insistent with the dealer to find the real fix.
 
We had the same problem--the service people replaced the belt too. Without looking it up, I think it was @ 3000 miles or so. Have 10,000 miles now. Haven't heard the peeps since.

Oh yeah, and they did it under warranty.

Brendan
 
Big Block Driver . . .

I'd find a new dealer! Maybe technically, they can call this 'wear item' and weasel out of warrenty coverage, but a serp belt ought to go the 36 months / 36k miles with NO problem. Either something else is wrong or the belt was defective - either way (IMO) warrenty coverage is in order!
 
Mine did it around 15K...turned out to be the Alternator not the belt. Dealer swapped in new belt and alternator as well as cabin fan which was louder than my wife. Quiet as a mouse (SB) now.
JM
 
Something to watch for:

I have experience some serpentine belts that make noise after an engine detail. Some of the detail chemicals get on portions of the belt and with the heat of the engine create hard spots or slick spots on the belts, causing a chirp. Most of the time a product called belt dressing can be used to quiet the noise. However this product wears off and the noise does tend to come back.

I try to detail my engine compartment with a towel rather than spraying chemicals.

Just a thought...hope it helps.
 
any one with the 8.1 liter engine have a squealing noise when its really cold outside that sounds like its orginating from the water pump? The noise is louder when outside temp is around 20 degrees. No noise when its warm. I have tried water pump lub. didn't seem to work. Has made the noise since I bought the truck year ago October. No noise in spring, summer, and fall. Dealer didn't see a problem. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
In the last couple of days, I have noticed a louder than normal squeak/grind noise coming from that direction. It has always squeaked a little from the lower front of the motor, which leads me to believe, waterpump/crank pulley or belt noise, you could hear it within 7 to 8 feet away. BUT the last few mornings its downright loud, I could hear it all the way into the house and down my 150 ft driveway to the road, while putting the trash out. I have to stop by the dealer today for them to check my oil consumption problem, I will now add this noise to the list. I can see an overnight leave of my AV so they can check this noise, as it seems to only do it while the truck is cold then goes away. I will post here if I find anything out, and you are not alone. Today is my scheduled 30000 mile oil change and checkup, since they topped off the with 2 quarts at 2200, and now it has 3200 mile since last change its over a quart low again, cant wait til this thing gets broken in.

Troy
 
I'll bet you guys that you both are victims of the infamous glazed belt. Roadrunner, this is the exact description of what I saw on mine (squeel when cold, OK when warm). Mine made so much noise on the way to my parents for T-day that I almost turned around, went home, and got another car. I chanced it on the drive and it did finally quiet down after 100+ miles.

There are other posts on this, but mine was not covered by warranty as I had 19K miles on the truck. The dealer claimed "wear items" are 12K warranty. After spending the $70 I was POed but the noise went away and has not come back. So, I am actually happy about it all.
 
I had the same problem and the dealer replaced the belt. Now it is fine.
 
I smell a GM rat...mine just started to squeal yesterday. I havn't raised the hood yet, I just assumed it was a bad bearing in the alternator. Thanks for the info. :B:
 
Probably not. I thought mine was the alternator. In fact, I tried several lubes on the alternator bearing, all to no avail.
 
My belt started "squeeling" at 8k miles. The dealer fixed the problem but what it said on the repair invoice was interesting part: "ADJUSTED BELT TENSIONER AND REPLEACED BELT WITH RECOMMENDED BELT UPGRADE". It obviously appears that they were prepared for this problem and have a "fix" figured out. If you have any problems I suggest mentioning this to the dealer. It shouldn't cost you a dime to get this fixed!

GOOD LUCK!

?Eric
 
mine has started to make some noise at a cold start. it was real noticable the other day. i will keep an ear open for future noise if it persists i will probably change it myself. the belts are not that expensive, and i do not want to spend all day at the dealer for just a belt. on the other hand, if it still does it after the belt chenge i will take it in. :B:
 
Here we go!

2002 Avi 2500
21,000 Miles

I had a belt noise when hitting the accelerator (in park or while driving). So I searched the threads & found many possible answers. I then made my appointment and headed down to the dealer. When they were done they reported that they lubed the Serpentine belt and sent me on my way.

Less than a week went by and the noise came back. Returned to the dealer and this trip they reported that there was a Service Bulletin for this noise and replaced a completely different belt (I'm @ work right now and forgot the name of it) ...OK

Less than 2 days go by and the noise returns. Back to the dealer. This time they report that the alternator needs to be replaced. Cool! Right? Replaced!

Less than 1 hour goes by and the noise returns. The next morning back to the dealer. This time they report the entire pully system, belt & tensioner have to be replaced. Really Cool! Right? Replaced!

Well its been over 1 1/2 weeks and no noise when accelerating... GREAT... BUT now when I start my Avi when its cold there is a squeaking belt noise until it warms up.

After all that has been done and replaced. Does anyone know what ELSE could be causing this noise when cold. INPUT PLEASE!

P.S. You all must know that I did not just take all of this with a grain of salt. The Service manager deals with me exclusively - If you get my drift. And I have been contemplating going to another dealership as well. What do you think? :E:
 
I had the same squeek with mine. Dealer just replaced the belt and all is well for 5000 miles now. Maybe another belt might work. You just could have gotten another bad one.

I would think as long as your dealer is trying to resolve your problem there would be no reason to seek another.

Good luck.

Buy the way...welcome aboard ! :)
 
There has been a lot of discussion about a strange noise on a cold startup and I think that it may (without going back and looking for it) have had something to do with the power steering unit. Most of the discussion was being done by AV owners in colder climates and seemed to only be when the temp was below freezing. Don't think you get that in LA. ;) At any rate, the PS Unit was about the only thing that you didn't mention as a possible source. Good Luck !!!!
 
2002 - 2500 AV, same noise. Squeaking when cold start up. Now that it is getting colder weather here in NC, it is louder and last a little longer. Normally it won't stop until it is ALL the way warmed up. So I just let it warm up about 15 minutes before leaving home. Kinda embarrassing though when you are cranking it first time at someone else's house, etc. I have had the belt replaced and no such luck. My father-in-law put some kind of lub on it and it stopped for a day or so, then came back and was louder and lasted even after it was warmed up. :E:

Anyone out there that could help with this miserable squeaking noise when cold, PLEASE HELP.
Thanks, SHAY :B:
 
On the 2500 Lemon that I just turned in, I went through 5 or 6 belts and a few pulleys. Was worse when cold but the thing had a low level squeal continuously, one of the many probs with my 2500. Good luck!
 
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