Drive Belt Chirping

Drive Belt Chirping Diagnosis

Steps 1-15:

Diagnostic Aids
The symptom may be intermittent due to moisture on the drive belt(s) or the pulleys. It may be necessary to spray a small amount of water on the drive belt(s) in order to duplicate the customers concern. If spraying water on the drive belt(s) duplicates the symptom, cleaning the belt pulleys may be the probable solution.
A loose or incorrect installation of a body component, a suspension component, or other items of the vehicle may cause the chirping noise.

Test Description
The numbers refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.
2. The noise may not be engine related. This step verifies that the engine is making the noise. If the engine is not making the noise do not proceed further with this table.
3. The noise may be an internal engine noise. Removing the drive belt and operating the engine verifies the noise is related to the drive belt. When removing the drive belt(s) the water pump may not be operating and cause the engine to overheat. Also DTCs may set if the engine is operating with the drive belt removed.
4. Inspect all drive belt pulleys for pilling. Pilling is the small balls or strings in the drive belt grooves. Pilling occurs from the accumulation of rubber dust.
6. Misalignment of the pulleys may be caused from incorrect mounting of the accessory drive component, incorrect installation of the accessory drive component pulley, or the pulley bent inward or outward from a previous repair. Test for an incorrectly aligned pulley. Use a straight edge in the pulley grooves across two or three pulleys. If a misaligned pulley is found, refer to that accessory drive component for the correct installation procedure.
10. Inspection of the fasteners eliminates the installment of incorrect: bolts, nuts, spacers, or washers.
12. Inspecting the pulleys for being bent should include inspecting for a dent or other damage to the pulleys that would prevent the drive belt from not seating correctly in all of the pulley grooves or on the smooth surface of a pulley when the back side of the belt is used to drive the pulley.
14. Replacing the drive belt when it is not damaged, or if there is no excessive pilling will be a temporary repair.