Noisy belt or water pump

[ToolmanJohn]

So no replies to my previos inquiries . I replaced the tensioner pulley and serpentine belt a while ago to fix a squeal coming from the accessory belt. This was fine until the weather started getting cold.

Now the squeal is back and it is louder than before for at least 10 minutes before getting quiter. I have also repalced the other 3 idler pulleys, and installed a new serpentine belt, and tried a belt conditioner.... No luck, noise still there.

Now I am wondering if it is the water pump? The fan clutch/water pump spin very smoothly and free without the belt on. No noticeable play, grinding, or abnormal noise turn by hand. I also cannot find a single drip of coolant anywhere . So the water pump seals don't seem to be leaking.

Any suggestions before I take it into a garage? I am really not crazy about spending $500+ on getting the water pump replaced only to find out the noise is still there.

 

[bensanders]

How many miles do you have?

 

[ToolmanJohn]

How many miles do you have?

Currently at 104,800 miles . Squeaking started back in May 2011. That's when the tensioner pulley and belt were replaced the first time ( at 94,000 miles). No noise again until earlier this December at around 103,500 miles. Replaced the other 3 idler pulleys. But still noisy. Very aggravating.

 

[TechWrench]

Currently at 104,800 miles . Squeaking started back in May 2011. That's when the tensioner pulley and belt were replaced the first time ( at 94,000 miles). No noise again until earlier this December at around 103,500 miles. Replaced the other 3 idler pulleys. But still noisy. Very aggravating.

Do you know if you had the serpentine belt tensioner TSB done? There was a problem with the belt tensioner not being properly aligned with the other pulleys on the V6's, which would cause the belt to make noise as it transitioned between the crank and water pump pulleys. If not, it will cause the belt to make noise after it wears in. If you are not sure, try this: With the engine running, and the noise occuring, lightly spray some WD-40 on the back side (not ribbed) of the serpentine belt (try to not get it on the ribbed side). If the noise imediately goes away, then you may still have a problem with the tensioner not being aligned properly. It is also possible that when the tensioner pulley was replaced at 94k, it wasn't properly aligned, and is now causing the belt to make noise.

 

[ToolmanJohn]

I'll give the wd-40 a try. Although the tensioner arm itself was not replaced, just the pulley, so the pulley can be no more mis-aligned than originally. I used a mechanics stethescope yesterday , without the metal rod attatched, and the noise does seem to be concentrated at the water pump pulley.

I got a feeling it's the water pumpbearing ....

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Well, well, well..... I tried spraying some wd-40 on the belt.. Terribly noisy, got a whole lot worse... So after watching some videos from Dayco about belt chirp and squeal, I sprayed water on the belt while running... NOISE WENT AWAY!!! It comes right back in about 20 seconds after the water gets rubbed off... SO it's NOT bearings.

SO after ANOTHER $50 for a higher quality Gates belt... NOISE IS GONE!! WFT... A Dayco belt only lasted less than a year, then a replacement Dayco belt didn't solve the problem, but a Gates belt (NAPA branded) solved it??? The Dayco belts were only $23 each. Who knew you get what you pay for?

 

[ToolmanJohn]

So the noise came back as the weather got colder..Grrrrr.... Bought a new tensioner with pulley, installed in a little under 4 hours. So far it is very quiet, but it is very warm for January (50 degrees F ). Hopefully this fully takes care of the problem.

 

[TechWrench]

So the noise came back as the weather got colder..Grrrrr.... Bought a new tensioner with pulley, installed in a little under 4 hours. So far it is very quiet, but it is very warm for January (50 degrees F ). Hopefully this fully takes care of the problem.

As I said in my earlier post, replacing the serpentine belt is only a temp fix, if your problem is with the belt tensioner pulley alignment. As I understand it, even replacing the entire tensioner assembly will not permentantly fix the belt noise problem if the pulley is not aligned properly with the other pulleys. There is a Toyota TSB, (I think the number is EG012-03), which is supposed to correct the alignment problem. In addition to replacing the tensioner, there is a new flange bolt and a shim kit that is used to correct the alignment issue. I went through 5 visits to the dealer before they finally got it right. Since then, the only belt noise I have had has been when one or more of the other idler pulley bearings went bad. I would check and see if the TSB was done on your vehicle, and even if it was done if it wasn't done correctly (it took them three tries to get mine right), the noise will return.

 

[ToolmanJohn]

TSB fro 104,ooo miles???

As I said in my earlier post, replacing the serpentine belt is only a temp fix, if your problem is with the belt tensioner pulley alignment. As I understand it, even replacing the entire tensioner assembly will not permentantly fix the belt noise problem if the pulley is not aligned properly with the other pulleys. There is a Toyota TSB, (I think the number is EG012-03), which is supposed to correct the alignment problem. In addition to replacing the tensioner, there is a new flange bolt and a shim kit that is used to correct the alignment issue. I went through 5 visits to the dealer before they finally got it right. Since then, the only belt noise I have had has been when one or more of the other idler pulley bearings went bad. I would check and see if the TSB was done on your vehicle, and even if it was done if it wasn't done correctly (it took them three tries to get mine right), the noise will return.

A service bulletin is for when a customer complains about a particular problem that is a known issue for a particular vehicle (DURING WARRANTY PERIOD). Obviously on my vehicle there was NEVER previous tensioner alignment issue during the initial warranty period because this problem didn't appear until close 100,000 miles . WHAT REALLY happened was that the tensioner arm wore out (and it was intermittent / difficult to diagnose) and caused slight belt tracking/squeal issues.... That is NOT a service bulletin issue... I believe I have resolved the problem for another 100,000 miles (hopefully).. And it was 23 degrees this morning and NO NOISE from the belt!!! So hopefully this is solved.

The dealership WILL NOT apply a TSB to any vehicle UNLESS the customer specifically states there is a a problem in that area covered by the TSB. My local stealership won't anyway....

 

[TechWrench]

A service bulletin is for when a customer complains about a particular problem that is a known issue for a particular vehicle (DURING WARRANTY PERIOD). Obviously on my vehicle there was NEVER previous tensioner alignment issue during the initial warranty period because this problem didn't appear until close 100,000 miles . WHAT REALLY happened was that the tensioner arm wore out (and it was intermittent / difficult to diagnose) and caused slight belt tracking/squeal issues.... That is NOT a service bulletin issue... I believe I have resolved the problem for another 100,000 miles (hopefully).. And it was 23 degrees this morning and NO NOISE from the belt!!! So hopefully this is solved.

The dealership WILL NOT apply a TSB to any vehicle UNLESS the customer specifically states there is a a problem in that area covered by the TSB. My local stealership won't anyway....

I fully understand how/when the dealership/manufacturer applies TSB's to a vehicle. I didn't mean you should take the vehicle to the dealership and demand the TSB be performed. My point was whether or not the TSB had ever been performed at all. I must have missed that you were the original owner, so I thought you may have not known about the TSB, or if it had been performed by a previous owner. And, my second point was that even if it had been done, it may not have been done correctly. And, I thought the info in the TSB might be of help to you in correcting any pulley alignment problems, if that is what you have. If none of this info is of any value to you, so be it.