Gatorback Belts=Annoying Noise

[Silver 99 Camaro]

FYI...I put an Goodyear Gatorback Belt on a year ago and shortly thereafter noticed a high-pitched whine that changes with engine speed. Naturally, I figure like many other on the board I had a bad bearing on the idler or tensioner pulley, or my alternator was starting to go out which all seem like common problems. Just for fun, I put my factory, hard as rock, cracked belt back on an took a drive. SILENT! The Gatorback is back on since it cost 35 bucks and has a lifetime warranty, but I drive around with this horrible whine that people ask about. If you are looking for a serpentine belt, stick with a standard belt from Dayco or Goodyear, these Gatorbacks are loud! The "Quiet Belt" my a$$.

[speedy-v6-camaro]

Mine is completely quiet.

[Brett Garret]

Mines been a dream.

[AZv6camaro]

mine started out loud as hell, then got really quite, now the damn things loud again too...? Damn gatorback

[Ian]

did you guys put it on upsidown?

mine has been quiet since day one, and it says right on the package "our quietest belt ever"

[Silver 99 Camaro]

I flipped it...tried both directions with the same result.

[ARTFART]

Maybe you bought a bad belt . Try to replace it !

Edit : Try to get goodyear to send you a free replacement belt !

[ October 22, 2004, 10:00 PM: Message edited by: ARTFART ]

[ARTFART]

How long are belts suppose to last anyway ? My car has 83k miles on it and I dont think it has ever been changed , and it still looks real good !

[FbodTrek]

They sound like you have a blower under the hood sometimes. SOme of my customers like the sound, others whine like little biznatches. I'm all for a loud engine, valvetrain, exhaust, belts etc, the louder the better.

[camaroincal]

I think these cars ...and many cars for that matter, are just prone to noisyness. I have a bad habit of turning off my radio and listening to all the little noises my car makes and I start thinking it's falling apart. So lately I've been turning up the radio and just having fun, screw the noises...lol

[Everglades W68]

Originally posted by speedy-v6-camaro:
Mine is completely quiet.

Same here.

[97rs]

My gatorback is really loud too. I have had 3 gatorbacks on in the last year (the first 2 shredded), and the first 2 were really quiet, the one that is on there now is extremely loud at times, sometimes its quiet. I dont see how anyone could like a noise like that.

[majeskyb]

Mine has been noisy since I put it on. You can do a search for a thread I started in here. But, yeah, it's common for these to make noise, it's from the ribs on it. My stock belt went out at 61k miles, taking the oil sending unit with it.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

It does sound like a supercharger, and it is worse sometimes and other times not there. I could try to get a new one for free, but if there is nothing wrong with the car, why bother?

camaroincal...no kidding! When I shut my radio off I start getting worried! There's a creak, 2 squeaks, a rattle, and the clunking posi unit. This car is noisy at 57K!