BELT SQUEAL AT STARTUP!!!

I have searched and searched, but to no avail...
I replaced my serp belt on my '00 and from then on when I would go to start it up it would squeal horribly for about 5 seconds then go away. If I revved it up within a minuite after startup the belt would let out a little squeal. Then I got another belt and the same thing is happening. I'm pretty sure the belt is good and tight. And I'm pretty sure it's not the a/c clutch. New idler pully too. Help Me!

Sounds exactly like a water pump bearing that is about to go......

Replace your water pump and you should be fine....

Okay... Don't quote me on the belt being tight just yet. I'm going to school for auto mechanics and I work in a shop, I should have known better about the belt loosing a little tension after running a while. Before I go to school, I'm going to re-tighten my belt just to confirm that was the problem.:doh:

poorboy_616 said:

Sounds exactly like a water pump bearing that is about to go......

Replace your water pump and you should be fine....

Click to expand...

I could see the water pump being the culprit too, but from my experience don't they usually make noise more than just at startup? At least everyone I have had to replace did that. But I learn more everyday and my rig does have 107,000 on the same pump.

double check belt tension. are you running your a/c or defrost? if so, is it squeeling when the compressor clutch engages?

It's amazing that when you actually have belt tension, the belt doesn't slip...
Yeah, it was twisting past 90* on the tension test. All better now. Thanks for being a part of my nearly pointless thread!!arty:

I had the same thing. It ended up being the idler pulley bearing was about to go. It seized up and I ended up throwing the pulley and lost it and the belt on the highway. Replaced it and I have never had another squeal since.