loud squeaking

[carmonkey]

Hi all

Wonder if anyone has had loud squeaking coming from their Ls1 engine powered cars at approx 45-50k miles or 6-7 years old.

Seems I have this on my c5 vette 99 and now on my camaro its also a 99 year, first I thought it was the accessory belt tension or idle pulleys tried wd40 thought I proved it was, but I swapped them with another car (lucky i have another vette) for a final check but came back after a few miles squeak squeak

So disconnected the air con belt to eliminate the idle and tension rollers there still squeaks after a warm up period.

Getting louder now after a few 1000s miles have passed

Swapped the alternator , still the same and now looking at the water pump or steering pump guess one of them must be on the way out

Camaros now got the same problem too ! but sounds more a rumble more convinced its idle and tension rollers now i need a 2nd camaro to swap parts but the vettes the same guess i can go prove it.

Anyone had this experiance

[Vet Guru]

sometimes even a new belt can make a noise they seem to dry up and crack it may be a new belt to you, But sitting on a parts shelf for a few years.

[carmonkey]

Hi

I did swap the belt over with a 2001 vette to eliminate that along with all the tension and idle pulleys and alternator too, I disconnected the air con belt before this to eliminate those pulleys/belts.

I have been looking Corvette forum, they recommend gator belts, but I have swapped all those parts onto another car and the sound is still there on the older vette so I don’t think its belts.

Its getting louder over the last 2k miles more high pitched, but its quiet from cold the louder during warm up but when the cars hot it really does squeek squeek squeek very loudly.

I am just pricing the water pump as it look simple to replace, I did read also that the harmonic balancer might break up

I am not sure where that is but I will try to find it and check it this weekend and swap it if that’s possible.

So if anyone knows where is the harmonic balancer pls tel me before I replace a water pump that’s good. J

Thanks

[seefive]

This may not be the same issue, but if your engine sounds a little like a clockwork train, with a non-constant squeak it may be worth a try.

The only squeak I had on my c5 (90,000 ish) has been on the idler pulley - that is the one in the front centre of the vee low down. WD 40 only works momentarily for me - dribbling engine oil down a screwdriver onto the edge of the cover plate and letting it soak thrugh lasts slightly longer, but not much.

The cure for me was to remove the dust cover bolt and take off the cover. Then pack the bearing with grease and put the cover back on, being careful not to overtighten the bolt as this distorts the older style thin cover plate, and causes a squeak!! If this has happened, you need to replace the cover plate - preferably with the newer, thicker type.

Hope it's inexpensive for you in the end.

Kev.

[carmonkey]

Ok thanks for the idea, dont know if it will work for my case as i have swapped both idle pulleys on the vette but i will certainly give it a try,also might solve the camaros problem as it sounds like the noise is coming from the idle pulley area.

cheers

[ZR1cliff]

Its called a 'Woman',the cure is driving alone.

[franv8]

Harmonic balancer is basically the bottom (crank) pulley. It's needed on V8 engines due to the torsional vibrations set up in the cranks, and is normally a weighted circular piece bonded with rubber onto an inner piece. Often they have timing marks on them.

[LuS1fer]

Calm down dear, it's the idler pulley. Best taken off, soaked in spirits and then and forced with grease but it may also be due to distortion:

www.corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/question.php?qstId=258

Every fault ever reported on the Vette can be found at www.corvetteactioncenter.com, a veritable goldmine of information.

My Camaro did it too. There are more than one pulley to remove and grease. Greasing cured mine.

[carmonkey]

thanks chaps

i will check the balancer and the idle pulley again, thanks for the info lusifer seem like i have another vette site to look around for tech info looks like i will be greasing all of those bearings this weekend.

BTW how is the mustang going ? v fast i hope with that supercharger on it

cheers

[LuS1fer]

carmonkey said:

thanks chaps

i will check the balancer and the idle pulley again, thanks for the info lusifer seem like i have another vette site to look around for tech info looks like i will be greasing all of those bearings this weekend.

BTW how is the mustang going ? v fast i hope with that supercharger on it

cheers

It's going superbly. The only squeaks on it are ones I've installed. He he.

[seefive]

Did you get your squeak sorted?? If so, thanks, it's obviously my turn 'cos I've got it back again

After 18 months, the road salt must have washed the grease out. Guess I'll sort it tomorrow - and the baffle rattle (damn custom exhausts).... and a clean and vac... But, it is still probably the most reliable and cheap car of its type to run so I don't care about a few cold fingers now and again.

[carmonkey]

hi well i hope to have time this weekend to gease the idle and tension pulleys i will let
you know if it fixes them, i have also ordered some new ones and a new belt.

but it sounds like a pump gone to me.

As for cheap i guess so , however i have had to change the clutch n flywheel , master and slave cyl last year big job at home cos pedal on the floor syndrome.

But did it and since then its been ok , however its still pinking when you go for WOT, did replace the lamda sensors (garage advised me to) made no diff tho.

And the headlights were stickin gup and down, replaced the headlight sw and thats been ok too

So if i fix the squeek and pinking it will be great

But i do love that car the sound and looks cant think of another car ....well maybe a 996 or 997 might be ok

hmmmm nope next time a zo6

cheers