Squeaky Pullies?

[V6Maniac]

The pullies in the front of my car (I think that's what they're called) where the belts are seem to be squeaky and noisy. Is it ok to just like spray them with WD-40 to get rid of the noise, or can I hurt something by doing that?

[Shadly]

NONONONONONONO!!! Don't get lubricants anywhere near the belt. Take the belt off and check each pully for looseness or noises. If you can't easily find it, replace the belt.

[Skullcamaro]

You can also try cleaning the belt with belt dressing/cleaner. But no matter what take the belt off and do this, don't just spray stuff on the belt.

[GregWS6'01]

Just spray some WD-40 on the pullies. It won't hurt anything. It'll save you more time and hassle than pulling your belt of just to see if one may happen to be lose. Spray around the pulleys. If your belt gets a little wet don't worry about it. It won't be the end of the world

[MustangEater8251]

yep you can spray wd40, personaaly I tink white lithium grease would work better. jsut try to avoid the belt. this is assuming your pulleys are the things squeking.

[Shadly]

Pulleys don't squeak. Bushings go bad, bearings wear out, belts get dry. Spraying a pulley will not quiet a squeak. After all, what are you going to spray? water pump? power steering? AC compressor? alternator? The first three are sealed and alternators die if they get oil in them. Getting even a little lubricant on your belt will sure cause a squeak.

[zccop2001]

but. if you do get any lubs on the contact surface of the belt.. its gunna possiablly slip.

[need4speed]

something under the hood of my car squeaks too. Usually only in the mornings tho, when it is cold. It will go away after a while. It doesn't squeak when it is hot out tho. Is it the belt or a pulley?

[Skullcamaro]

I would never spray wd40 or any other lubricants on my pulleys on anything around their. You do realize that your belt can come flying off all of a sudden if it slips a little bit and your at WOT. Your kind of stuck then, and it can damage tons of stuff in the process. The best bet is to take your belt off and clean it and wipe the pullies with some cleaner as well, where the belt contacts the pullies. This should get rid of the noise if it is in fact coming from the pullies/belt. Otherwise you may have to just replace the belt. I would start their first and then see what happens. Don't just go spraying Wd-40 or other lubricants. This WILL definantly damage parts and can cause some serious negative side effects, but its your car and your decision. Just want to let you know the possibilities. Good luck.

[John_D.]

If you've gotten any antifreeze (or other contaminants) on the belt, it will make noise all the time, especially noticeable (annoying) at idle and you won't notice it as much at speed.

If a pulley/bushing/bearing is going, it will be even higher pitched usually. If you're really careful, you can take a piece of garden hose (some people put a rod or stick in one end), to use as a stethoscope. Listen to each pulley to see if it is mostly coming from one. (using the open end of the garden hose by your ear...)

If you narrow it down to one, you can go from there. Replace the accessory, or the idler/tension pulley, or whatever it is. You probably will not be able to lubricate it. (unless you are only looking only for a short term fix, like quieting it down to trade/sell the car ;) )

If it's the belt, clean it and the belt surface of all the pullies. You may have to replace the belt. Still clean all the pullies. Soapy washcloth and rinse.

Antifreeze is a pain when it's on the outside of the engine. Permanently kills plug wires too.

[ April 13, 2002: Message edited by: John_D. ]</p>

[DominusEtDeusNatus]

I had a coolant splash all over the belt. It flew off. Don't lubricate the belt. Get a new one.

[nova]

Belt could definately be slipping.

When I changed my alternator the was slightly looser and squeaked pretty bad at idle but would disappear with any higher rev. I just bought a new belt and it fixed it. If I remember right it was &lt;$10 at autozone.

[Shadly]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by John_D.:
If you're really careful, you can take a piece of garden hose (some people put a rod or stick in one end), to use as a stethoscope. Listen to each pulley to see if it is mostly coming from one. (using the open end of the garden hose by your ear...) <hr></blockquote>
Wow, Innovative! I used to use a foot and a half long Craftsman screwdriver. Touch the blade end to the part, put the bulb on the end of the handle to my ear. I got myself a stethescope when I realized that a screwdriver could go through my head if I slipped.

[Everglades W68]

You need to find out if the pulleys themselves are squeaking or if the belt is squealing as it goes around. If the belt is causing the noise, you need to clean all of the pulleys and the belt itself to get rid of all grease, etc. "Belt dressing" can make this type of squealing worse (the dressing will make the squealing disappear for a while and then it will come back, probably worse than before).