2004 v8 Serpentine Belt / Tensioner

[drallan]

My wife's 04 4.7 v8 w/ 212k on it has been driving just fine. She is due for a timing belt job (215k will be 100k) but I'm hoping I can make it until tax refunds come in.

The reason I am here is the other night her serpentine belt started making a crazy squeal. We had been on vacation and the car was sitting in a cold airport parking garage for 4 days. It drove fine on the way up, but when we got off the plane and back to the car when it started up it made an awful squeal that wouldn't stop. I turned it off, popped the hood and everything looked ok, keep in mind it was 9pm and 40 degrees outside. All fluids were topped off and no puddles under the vehicle. I tried it again and it started up just fine, no squeal or anything. We had 2 toddlers with us and just wanted to get home, so loaded everything up and crossed my fingers.

Made it home w/o any issues. When I went out to start it up this morning, the exact same thing happened. This time I let it run a little longer to see if the belt would quiet down, but it never did. In fact the battery light came on and I had no power steering. Again, turned it off popped the hood and checked the tension on the belt. The belt didn't appear frayed and was in one piece, but there was a lot of play. Started it up again and she ran fine w/o a problem.

I'm assuming I need a new belt as just the squealing alone probably glazed it over, but is this an indication that I need a new tensioner as well? Or can the belt just stretch that much? I have no idea how old the belt is, we have only had the car for 2 years and have not changed the belt, but that is all I know. I'm planning on getting a new belt, and some belt spray, but should I get a new tensioner as well?

Thanks,
Dustin

 

[cpark_12]

It's more than likely the bearing in the tensioner. Same thing happened to me in traffic a few months back. Loosen the belt and see if you can spin the tensioner. If not, then it's time to change it.

 

[CXS]

It doesn't look like this does it?

:drum:

 

[drallan]

Thanks for the replies.

It's definitely not the timing belt, and definitely not an inverted one. I don't think the tensioner bearing is seized, as it doesn't make much racket when running (not squealing) and I don't smell hear anything other than an occasional squeak. I got some belt dressing and it changes pitch/frequency when sprayed/watered. I also picked up a new belt and tensioner assembly. Hopefully it is just a bad belt, but I will check for play/resistance of the pulley while I'm in there.

Are there any other pulleys that I should replace at the same time? For $20-30 a piece I wouldn't mind just knocking them out now. From the diagrams it looks like there are only 2 more? Or is it just 1? Also, do they have a name or part #? I'm planning on just picking them up a local advance auto but want to get the right ones.