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Have a neighbor who's a good shade-tree mechanic and unemployed (a handy thing in a neighbor) and a couple of months ago he did a tune-up and replaced the squealing fan belts in my old truck. It's my old back-up truck and because of its vintage I'm happy to pay my neighbor $20 for basic maintenance stuff.
Runs great but after about a month the fan belt or belts started squealing again, loud and usually at start-up and sometimes when slowing down or taking off from a stop (I swear putting the clutch in makes the squeal but there's surely no connection?)
The pulleys I can see look like they are running true; belt dressing makes the squeal go away only briefly.
Any ideas? Should I not even worry and just wince every time I turn the ignition key? Or could this be something serious that I ought to take to a real shop for?
A good mechanic can judge belt tension just by feel. If the belts are over-tensioned, then the squeal could come from the bearings in the water-pump, etc. That would be a real problem. Hopefully, the belts are just loose, as previous posters mentioned.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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It could be a loose belt, but more likely alternator, power steering pump
or water pump bearings. You have to remove the belt and check them all for
free play on the shafts.
It could be a loose belt, but more likely alternator, power steering pump
or water pump bearings. You have to remove the belt and check them all for
free play on the shafts.
The OP said that dressing removes the sound temporarily. A bearing wouldn't smooth out just because the belt is wet.
Had a S-10 2.8 for many yrs and the belts were always squealing on me. Did the usual squirting some juice on them...lasted for a while and squeak came back. Top it off I'm a mechanic of 28 yrs and during the many yrs I had that truck the squeak was always there.
Believe it is the nature of the design or pullys. Definetly a POS but it served my needs during the time period. Had to replace head gskts more then once.
Yo.Go get a can of "556" spray lube and spray down the pulley bearings and then go buy another 2 dollar belt and replace it. Your neighbor works cheap..too cheap.......You surely dont think for the 20 bucks you gave him to replace the belts that he was suppose to give a diagnosis as to why they needed replacing ...lol
Thanks all....think I'll take it to a good little shop I know and have it looked at this weekend. No overheating or anything but it is the original water pump and I should be sure and not cook my engine or something! To me the belts seem to have about the right amount on tension but I'm no expert.
Thanks!
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